Area Manager

Lime Tree Nursery; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A vibrant nursery organization in South Yorkshire is seeking an Area Manager to lead multiple settings. You will support and inspire Nursery Managers, ensuring compliance with Ofsted and EYFS standards, and foster a positive environment for young children. The ideal candidate will have leadership experience and a Level 3 Early Years qualification. This full-time position offers a salary of £36,000–£39,000 plus perks including a travel allowance and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Car allowance

CPD training

Leadership retreats

Wellness days

Childcare discounts

Qualifications

• Qualified Early Years professional with Level 3 minimum.
• Proven leadership abilities across multiple nursery settings.
• Confident communicator and mentor.

Responsibilities

• Support and inspire Nursery Managers.
• Ensure nurseries meet Ofsted and EYFS standards.
• Monitor performance and compliance across the region.
• Lead on audits and strategic planning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Quality Assurance

Education

Level 3 Early Years Qualification

Job description

We're Hiring! AREA MANAGER – Early Years Extraordinaire

Location: Covering South Yorkshire
Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: £36,000–£39,000 DOE + Travel Allowance
Perks: Car allowance, CPD training, leadership retreats, wellness days, childcare discounts & more!

Who Are Lime Tree?

We’re a vibrant family of nurseries that believe in magical beginnings and muddy wellies. Every day, our teams bring imagination to life for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. Now, we're looking for a passionate Area Manager to lead the fun across multiple settings and help our teams shine even brighter!

Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept...)

As our new Nursery Area Manager, you’ll be the glue that keeps our settings strong, smiling, and successful. You will;

Support, coach, and inspire Nursery Managers to deliver exceptional care and education
Ensure each nursery shines brightly – meeting (and exceeding!) Ofsted and EYFS standards
Monitor performance, quality, and compliance across the region
Lead on audits, action planning, and all things strategy
Be the go-to for safeguarding, people development, and parent partnerships
Travel regularly between sites – you’re never stuck behind a desk!


What We’re Looking For:

A qualified Early Years pro (Level 3 minimum – higher preferred)
Proven leadership across multiple nursery settings
A confident communicator, motivator and mentor
Obsessed with quality, safety, and creating warm, inspiring environments
Able to juggle KPIs, team dynamics, and the occasional glitter explosion
Driver’s licence & flexibility to travel (we’ll keep the coffee flowing!)

Why Join Us?

A team-first culture where ideas, fun, and kindness matter
Access to leadership coaching, NPQEL opportunities & paid CPD
Regular Area Manager meetups (with snacks – we don’t mess around)
A real chance to make an impact in young children’s lives and in your career
Celebrations, including meals out for achieving Outstanding Ofsted rating.
Awards, and the kind of people you’d actually want to Zoom with