Area Director

Busy Bees In Portishead; Chasetown; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A childcare services provider in the UK seeks an Area Director to lead the management of multiple childcare centres. This dynamic role requires a visionary leader with extensive senior management experience and a passion for early years education. You will champion safeguarding and quality, ensuring compliance and operational excellence. The position offers flexibility with home-based work and travel. Ideal for someone eager to make a substantial impact in early childhood development.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior management experience in early years settings.
• Experience managing multiple sites or centres is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational management of childcare centres.
• Create and maintain a strong safeguarding culture.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership & Management

Commercial Acumen

Communication

Coaching & Mentoring

Change Management

Job description

Job Title: Area Director North Midlands

Reports to: Divisional Director

Based: Home with travel to centres in North Midlands area

Employment type: FTC for 6 months covering maternity leave

Salary: DOE

About the role

As an Area Director, you will lead the strategic and operational management of multiple childcare centres across your area.

You will be a champion of safeguarding, quality, and performance, ensuring every centre achieves excellence while supporting the development of staff and the wider team.

This is a dynamic leadership role, perfect for a visionary, proactive, and experienced early years professional who thrives in a multi-site environment.

About Busy Bees

At Busy Bees, our vision is to give every child the best start in life. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality childcare and exciting learning opportunities that prepare every child for school.

Our core values define who we are:

• Care: We take care seriously.

• Quality: We maintain the highest standards of safety and early years education.

• Service: We provide exceptional support to families and parents.

• Value: We value our people and provide outstanding value to our families.

Why Join Busy Bees?

This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children while leading and developing exceptional teams. At Busy Bees, your leadership will shape the future of early years education across multiple centres, helping every child get the best possible start in life.

Key Responsibilities

Childcare & Education

• Create and maintain a strong safeguarding culture across all centres.

• Serve as the main point of contact for centres in your area.

• Oversee the implementation and effectiveness of educational programmes, monitoring performance and outcomes.

• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.

Compliance & Safety

• Conduct regular site visits (at least every six weeks) to monitor safety, health, and operational standards.

• Prepare centres for inspections, audits, and regulatory visits.

• Lead responses to crises or emergencies, ensuring swift and effective resolution.

• Complete all mandatory training required for your role.

People & Leadership

• Ensure timely payroll, recruitment, and adherence to safer recruitment practices.

• Attract, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across centres.

• Promote a positive, fair, and respectful work environment, supporting staff wellbeing and retention.

• Facilitate training, coaching, and professional development for all direct reports.

• Lead engagement initiatives, including surveys and action plans, to improve team performance.

Performance & Operations

• Act as the key liaison between centres and the National Support Centre.

• Monitor performance metrics for centres and drive operational improvements.

• Oversee marketing and community engagement initiatives to enhance centre reputation.

• Manage financial performance, budgets, and identify opportunities to improve value.

• Set and uphold high standards of customer service, addressing issues promptly.

• Ensure smooth implementation of new initiatives and policies across all centres.

The Ideal Candidate

Experience

• Extensive senior management experience, in early years settings.

• Experience managing multiple sites or centres is essential.

Skills & Competencies

• Leadership & Management: Inspire, motivate, and guide teams to achieve excellence.

• Commercial Acumen: Maximise operational and financial performance.

• Communication: Clear, professional, and effective verbal and written communication.

• Coaching & Mentoring: Support teams to reach their full potential.

• Change Management: Lead teams confidently through change and challenges.

Personal Attributes

• Visionary leader with a passion for early years education.

• Reliable, responsible, and with high integrity.

• Empathetic, supportive, and capable of building strong relationships.

• Adaptable, proactive, and committed to continuous improvement.

Other Requirements

• Must pass a criminal record check (enhanced DBS or equivalent).

• Flexible working hours, including travel between centres and occasional early mornings/evenings.