Consultant in oral & maxillofacial surgery

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Consultant in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

The closing date is 05 July 2026

This permanent Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Consultant post is based in West Sussex, working across St Richard's Hospital, Worthing Hospital, and other UHSx sites. The role offers the opportunity to develop a sub‑specialty interest in head and neck oncology and/or head and neck skin cancer. The post‑holder will contribute to shaping services as MFU reconfiguration progresses across Sussex.

The consultant will join an established Maxillofacial Unit at St Richard's Hospital, providing a comprehensive OMFS service and caring for patients with complex multidisciplinary needs. Responsibilities include supporting junior medical and nursing staff and contributing to the ongoing development of the service.

The team includes seven Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons covering the full OMFS scope and head and neck surgical dermatology. The department also leads thyroid and parathyroid surgery locally, while major head and neck oncology is currently undertaken in Portsmouth.

The wider team includes a Specialist Doctor, four Specialty Doctors, two Specialist Registrars, six dental core trainees, three Consultant Orthodontists, and a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry. Dedicated nursing support is provided alongside Head & Neck and Dermatology CNSs and experienced dental nurses.

The unit is supported by a Maxillofacial Prosthetic Laboratory with maxillofacial technologists and orthodontic/restorative technicians.

Main duties of the job

Head and Neck Cancer Services

Initial clinics and diagnostic assessments for Head and Neck cancer are managed at St Richard's Hospital, while operations are performed jointly with a skilled and dynamic team at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. Together, they provide a wide range of Head and Neck surgical procedures, including microvascular tissue transfer.

Queen Alexandra Hospital is the main site of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, delivering excellent care to approximately 675,000 residents across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, as well as to many patients beyond the region. The hospital is equipped with state‑of‑the‑art theatres and diagnostic facilities.

An average of over 1,300 cases per year are discussed at the Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Meeting, including 326 new thyroid cases in 2024, with similar figures expected in 2025.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details of the post. Proposed interview date: August 2026.

Person Specification

Experience / Qualifications

• Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice
• FRCS (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) or appropriate specialist qualification
• CCT in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or equivalent (equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register in OMFS, or eligibility for entry, within 6 months of the date of the AAC
• ES and CS certification
• Full GDC Registration
• Post‑training fellowship in Head & Neck surgical oncology
• Training the Trainers course

Clinical Skills and Experience

• Ability to perform the clinical requirements of the post, in particular experience of surgical oncology in the management of head and neck cancers, and head and neck skin cancers
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Experience in the management of head, neck and facial trauma
• Experience of working in an MDT setting for management of head and neck skin cancer
• Experience of navigational surgery
• ER related specialties
• Experience of sentinel lymph node biopsy

Knowledge

• Appropriate level of clinical knowledge / up to date
• Breadth of experience in and outside specialty

Organisation & Planning

• Able to organise oneself and prioritise clinical need
• Experience and ability to work in multi‑professional teams
• Evidence of managerial skills: achievements / course attended

Teaching Skills

• Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
• Recognised teaching qualification

Academic & Research

• Evidence of participation in audit
• Research experience
• Publications
• Prize and honours

Career Progression and Personal Attributes

• Appropriate progression of career to date
• Good communication skills both oral and written

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)