Area Manager - Early Years

MaxAd Fixed Fee Recruitment; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel between sites

Job summary

MaxAd Fixed Fee Recruitment is seeking an experienced Early Years Area Manager to lead quality and operations across Leeds and Wakefield nurseries. You will support and develop Nursery Managers and Deputies, driving EYFS standards and Ofsted readiness.

This role shapes growth across the group, reviews KPIs, and collaborates on systems, budgets and staffing. Salary £50,000–£60,000 DOE + up to 10% bonus, with travel between sites and a values‑led culture.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple nurseries with strong leadership and development skills.
• Solid understanding of EYFS, safeguarding and Ofsted requirements.
• Minimum Level 3 Early Years qualification; Level 5+ desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support and develop Nursery Managers and Deputies across the group.
• Drive high standards of childcare, EYFS practice and Ofsted readiness.
• Maintain safeguarding culture and regulatory health and safety compliance.
• Review KPIs on occupancy, staffing, sickness, agency use, parent satisfaction, quality and finances.
• Create action plans and hold managers to deadlines.
• Identify risks and work with managers to resolve them.
• Support recruitment, retention, staff development and succession planning.
• Build collaborative leadership culture with trust and accountability.
• Share best practice across settings and support opening new nurseries.
• Collaborate with Head of Operations on systems, budgets and processes.
• Provide strategic input on performance and future growth.

Skills

Area Manager experience

Nursery leadership

EYFS knowledge

Ofsted readiness

KPIs analysis

Team development

Travel between Leeds Wakefield

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Level 5+ desirable

Job description

£50,000 - £60,000 DOE + Up to 10% Performance Bonus

Are you an experienced Early Years Area Manager looking for the autonomy and influence to help shape a growing nursery group? Would you enjoy developing nursery leaders, raising standards and introducing new ideas across an ambitious, values-led organisation?

Our client is a warm, innovative nursery group with established settings in Leeds and Wakefield. Providing high-quality, inclusive and child-led early years education, the group places nature, nutrition and nurture at the heart of its approach.

With a third nursery due to open in Leeds and further growth planned, we are looking for an accomplished Area Manager to lead quality, performance and nursery operations across the group.

Your ideas will be welcomed, and you will have the opportunity to introduce systems and working practices that support sustainable growth. You’ll provide experienced leadership to a developing management team, ensuring Nursery Managers receive the guidance, challenge and support they need.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, support and develop Nursery Managers and Deputies across the group.
• Drive consistently high standards of childcare, EYFS practice and Ofsted readiness.
• Maintain a strong safeguarding culture and ensure compliance with regulatory and health and safety requirements.
• Review KPIs covering occupancy, staffing, sickness, agency use, parent satisfaction, quality and financial performance.
• Create clear action plans and hold managers accountable for agreed priorities and deadlines.
• Identify operational or quality risks early and work with managers to resolve them.
• Support recruitment, retention, staff development and succession planning.
• Build a collaborative leadership culture based on trust, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Share successful ideas and best practice across each setting.
• Support the opening and operational readiness of new nurseries.
• Work closely with the Head of Operations on systems, budgets, staffing information and business processes.
• Provide strategic input to the owner on performance, leadership structure and future growth.

Skills & Experience

• Established experience in an Early Years Area Manager or comparable multi-site leadership role.
• A strong background in nursery management and leading other managers.
• Comprehensive knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, Ofsted requirements and early years quality standards.
• A minimum Level 3 Early Years qualification, with Level 5 or above desirable.
• Evidence of improving quality, leadership or commercial performance across previous settings.
• Confidence using KPIs, reports and financial data to inform decisions and drive improvement.
• Strong understanding of occupancy, staffing, recruitment, retention, sickness and agency management.
• An organised, proactive and self-directed approach, with the confidence to work autonomously.
• Commercial awareness combined with an unwavering commitment to childcare quality.
• A collaborative approach suited to a relatively flat management structure.
• Enthusiasm for technology, innovation and more effective ways of working.
• The flexibility to travel regularly between nursery settings in Leeds and Wakefield.

This is an exceptional opportunity to bring your experience to an ambitious organisation at the beginning of an exciting period of growth. You will have the trust, freedom and support to make a genuine impact across quality, culture, performance and strategy, with excellent scope for your own role to develop as the group expands.

The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references, right-to-work verification and an Enhanced DBS check.