Hearings Committee Secretary

Hearings Committee Secretary

Salary: £47,862 - £55,514 (including £4,500 location allowance) pa pro rata

Location: London/Hybrid

Contract: Fixed-term contract – up to 31 December 2026 (must be available for immediate start)

Hours: Full-time

About us:

Our purpose is to protect the public by regulating dental professionals in the UK. All dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists must be registered with us to work in the UK. The support and experience of our dedicated and highly focused teams is invaluable. This is your chance to build on your own skills and experience and make a worthwhile contribution to our work.

About the role:

Do you have significant experience in committee work and drafting, especially in a regulatory body or similar field? Are you seeking a chance to enhance your skills and knowledge within an organisation that offers diverse, engaging, and challenging work? If so, join us and make a meaningful impact supporting the General Dental Council in its most high-profile and public forum.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patient safety and upholding public trust in dental services, we conduct formal public hearings to address cases involving dental professionals. In the role of Committee Secretary, you will play a crucial role in both drafting decisions and providing support for the coordination and management of hearings related to fitness to practice allegations against dentists and dental care professionals.

Key Responsibilities:

- Sitting as Committee Secretary in hearings, facilitating and providing support, process advice and guidance to the Chair, Committee Members, Legal Adviser, parties and witnesses.
- Summarising cases and preparing draft determinations, reflecting a Committee’s decisions and its reasons.
- Resolving problems that may arise during a hearing and keeping cases on track.
- Ensuring administrative procedures are carried out in accordance with GDC rules and regulations.
- Processing payment of fees due to the Chair and Committee Members for hearings.
- Examining legal information and evaluating case bundles prior to the commencement of cases.

Most hearings are conducted virtually, although sometimes hearings are listed in-person at the GDC’s Central London office. The successful postholder will be expected to be available in either setting.

About you:

- In-depth knowledge of adjudicatory or regulatory fitness to practise hearings.
- Experience of drafting as a Committee Clerk/Panel Secretary – producing full, detailed decisions, not simply minutes of meetings.
- Proficiency in determination writing reflecting the Committee’s reasoning/discussions.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to provide a professional presence in a formal and public tribunal setting.
- The ability to work well in a highly pressured environment of a public hearing, with tight time constraints.

Benefits:

The GDC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that provides an environment that reflects our values and culture and allows employees to flourish.

To support this, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, including flexible working arrangements from day one and employee networks that aid growth and development.

Some of our benefits include:

- 27 days’ holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) - rising to 30 days (plus 8 bank holidays) after 2 years’ service (pro rata)
- Flexi-time scheme
- Employer pension contributions up to 10%
- Buy/Sell annual leave
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave from 1 years’ service
- Life assurance, income protection plan and enhanced sick leave policy
- Staff discounts, including retail discounts, eye care contributions and discounted gym membership

We encourage and support the recruitment, retention, and career development of people from as wide a range as possible of ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds.

How To Apply:

You can view the job description by clicking the attachment via the apply button. Please apply by clicking the apply button below.

As part of your supporting statement, please give examples of how you meet the following criteria using the S.T.A.R format:

- Experience of drafting as a Committee Clerk/Panel Secretary – producing full, detailed decisions, not simply minutes of meetings.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to provide a professional presence in a formal and public tribunal setting.
- The ability to work well in a highly pressured environment of a public hearing, with tight time constraints.

Closing date: 23:59 on 23 August 2026

Please note that we reserve the right to bring this recruitment campaign to an end without notice, and we encourage all interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Please no agencies unless instructed otherwise.