Dental Area Manager

Dental Area Manager | South West | Cornwall and South Devon | £40,000 + Fuel Allowance + Bonus | Multi-Site Leadership If you’re an experienced Dental Practice Manager who feels ready for more, this could be the step you’ve been waiting for. We’re working with a growing independent dental group looking to appoint an Area Manager to take operational responsibility for three practices across Cornwall and South Devon. This is a hands-on, visible leadership role. You’ll work closely with the Practice Managers at each site, supporting performance, people, compliance and day-to-day operations while ensuring each practice is running consistently and effectively. Previous Area Manager experience preferred, but it isn’t essential. We’re equally interested in hearing from strong, commercially aware Dental Practice Managers who are ready to take their first step into multi-site leadership. The Role You’ll take overall operational responsibility across all three practices, regularly spending time within each location and acting as the link between practice-level management and the senior leadership team. Your responsibilities will include: Supporting and developing Practice Managers and wider practice teams Monitoring the day-to-day operational performance of each site Maintaining a visible management presence across Cornwall and South Devon Ensuring compliance with CQC, NHS and internal policies and procedures Reviewing audits, risk assessments, compliance documentation and action plans Monitoring mandatory training, GDC registrations, indemnity and staff compliance requirements Supporting recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, induction and retention Overseeing staffing levels, rotas, annual leave, sickness and practice cover Supporting Practice Managers with appraisals, probation reviews, performance management and HR matters Monitoring clinician diaries, utilisation, cancellations and surgery capacity Reviewing NHS contract performance, UDA activity and claims where applicable Monitoring KPIs, income, expenditure and wider operational performance Ensuring appropriate stock control and identifying unnecessary expenditure Overseeing equipment servicing, maintenance contracts and outstanding repairs Ensuring key compliance areas including fire safety, legionella, decontamination, radiography, emergency drugs and medical emergency equipment are properly managed and documented Reviewing complaints, incidents, significant events and patient feedback Supporting CQC inspections, registrations and NHS commissioner requirements Identifying operational challenges early and taking ownership of resolving them Providing regular updates to senior management across staffing, performance, compliance and operational activity Supporting new practice mobilisation and maintaining consistent standards across the group Who We’re Looking For You’ll ideally already have strong experience managing within dentistry and understand the realities of running a busy dental practice. You don’t necessarily need to have held an Area Manager title before. What matters more is that you can demonstrate... Strong Dental Practice Management experience Confidence leading and supporting managers and wider teams A solid understanding of CQC and dental compliance Commercial awareness and confidence working with KPIs The ability to identify problems and act before they escalate Strong organisation across multiple competing priorities Confidence working independently and making decisions A proactive rather than reactive management style Flexibility to travel regularly between all three practices This could be particularly suited to a Practice Manager, Senior Practice Manager, Dual-Site Manager or existing Area Manager looking for greater responsibility and genuine multi-site exposure. Package £40,000 salary Fuel allowance Performance-related bonus Genuine progression into multi-site leadership Opportunity to play a key role within a growing dental group Regular exposure to senior