Lab Leader and Crown & Bridge Ceramist
Location: High Wycombe
Salary: £50,000 to £60,000
Role Type: Full-time, split between laboratory leadership and hands-on Crown & Bridge ceramic work
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Crown & Bridge Ceramist to step into a senior Lab Leader position within a specialist dental laboratory in High Wycombe.
Following an internal promotion, the lab is looking for a technically strong ceramist who can support the Crown & Bridge department while also taking responsibility for day-to-day leadership, workflow, quality, communication, and operational performance.
This is a hands-on leadership role, combining bench-based ceramic work with the people, administrative, and commercial skills needed to help lead the laboratory through its next phase of growth.
The role would suit an accomplished Ceramist, Senior Dental Technician, Crown & Bridge Technician, Department Lead, Lab Manager, or experienced dental laboratory professional who is confident supporting a team while remaining technically active.
Key Responsibilities
Laboratory Leadership and Operations
Lead the day-to-day running of the laboratory, ensuring work is delivered efficiently, accurately, and to a consistently high standard.
Manage workflow, priorities, turnaround times, and communication across the team.
Support commercial and operational targets, including productivity, quality, output, client satisfaction, and profitability.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, capacity, efficiency, and overall laboratory performance.
Work closely with senior leadership to support site objectives and wider business initiatives.
Maintain high standards across quality, compliance, health and safety, and internal procedures.
Crown & Bridge Ceramic Work
Carry out hands-on Crown & Bridge ceramic work as part of the weekly role split.
Produce high-quality ceramic restorations, including e.max and zirconia.
Support stain and glaze, micro-layering, finishing, and case-specific technical requirements.
Assist with technical problem-solving across Crown & Bridge cases.
Review work, advise colleagues, and help ensure consistent standards across department output.
Liaise with dentists on cases, adjustments, expectations, and technical requirements.
People Leadership
Lead, motivate, and support the laboratory team.
Help build a positive, accountable, and high-performing culture.
Support training, development, and performance improvement across the team.
Provide guidance to technicians and maintain strong communication between departments.
Support staff engagement, retention, and succession planning where required.
Qualifications and Experience
GDC registration required.
Strong background in Crown & Bridge ceramics.
Confident with ceramic restorations, including e.max and zirconia.
Experience with stain and glaze, micro-layering, and high-quality finishing.
Previous experience in a dental laboratory environment.
Proven experience leading a team, department, or laboratory operation.
Able to commute to High Wycombe, ideally within approximately one hour.
Confident communicating directly with dentists, clients, and internal stakeholders.
Strong understanding of workflow, quality standards, and laboratory performance.
Skills and Attributes
Strong leadership and team development capability.
Technically confident in Crown & Bridge ceramic work.
Commercially aware and performance focused.
Organised, practical, and able to balance admin, leadership, and bench responsibilities.
Comfortable driving standards, accountability, and process improvement.
Strong communicator with a calm, professional approach.
Able to build relationships with new and existing clients.
Resilient, motivated, inclusive, and team minded.
Strong administrative and IT capability.
Systems
Microsoft Office 365, including Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
CAD/CAM exposure would be advantageous, but the priority is strong Crown & Bridge ceramic capability and leadership experience.
Summary
This is a strong opportunity for an experienced Crown & Bridge Ceramist who is ready to step into, or continue within, a senior laboratory leadership role while remaining hands-on technically.
The position offers the chance to lead a specialist dental laboratory team, support the Crown & Bridge department, improve operational performance, and play a key role in maintaining high-quality ceramic output.