Area Manager - North West - Sandbach

Partou Childcare; Sandbach; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Job summary

Partou UK is seeking an Area Manager to oversee 8–10 nurseries in the North West (Cheshire, Merseyside & Stafford). The role offers a salary up to £50,000 plus £6,000 car allowance on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

You will lead across operations, safeguarding, and commercial performance, ensuring outstanding childcare, strong occupancy and a positive parent and team experience. Travel across sites is required and a DBS check applies.

Qualifications

• Proven multi-site leadership experience (early years or a regulated care environment).
• A Level 3 childcare qualification; Level 5+ preferred.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted, and safeguarding.
• Track record of improving performance across multiple settings.
• Commercial acumen - managing budgets, occupancy and costs.
• Coaching leadership style building confident teams.
• Excellent data analysis and decision-making skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop Nursery Managers to deliver high standards.
• Drive accountability through expectations, performance reviews and action planning.
• Maintain visibility via regular site visits and engagement.
• Champion high quality EYFS practice and safeguarding compliance.
• Partner with safeguarding and quality specialists to raise standards.
• Deliver occupancy, revenue, and cost targets across the portfolio.
• Use data to drive improvements and support parent experience and retention.
• Build leadership teams and support talent development and succession.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

Data analysis

Coaching leadership

Commercial acumen

Education

Level 3 childcare qualification

Level 5+ preferred

Job description

Area Manager in the North West area (Cheshire, Merseyside & Stafford)

Salary: up to £50,000 plus £6,000 car allowance

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

About Us

An exciting opportunity awaits you at Partou UK, a proud member of the global Partou group, where we are shaping the future of childcare. As the 4th largest childcare provider in England, and with over 1,000 nurseries worldwide, we care for more than 75,000 children with the support of our 11,000+ dedicated team members. Our commitment to quality and growth continues to strengthen our position as a leader in the UK's childcare sector.

Why This Role Matters

We're now looking for an exceptional Area Manager - a confident, commercially aware leader who can inspire excellence across a portfolio of nurseries and play a pivotal role in our next phase of growth.

As an Area Manager, you'll take ownership of 8-10 nurseries across our North West locations, ensuring they deliver outstanding childcare, strong commercial performance, and exceptional experiences for children, families, and teams.

You'll be the critical link between strategy and delivery, translating regional priorities into meaningful, measurable impact on the ground.

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership & Operations

• Lead, coach, and develop Nursery Managers to deliver consistently high standards
• Drive accountability through clear expectations, performance reviews, and action planning
• Stay visible and connected through regular site visits and engagement

Quality & Safeguarding

• Champion exceptional early years practice and child outcomes
• Ensure full compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, and safeguarding standards
• Partner with quality and safeguarding specialists to raise standards and manage risk

Commercial Performance

• Deliver on occupancy, revenue, and cost targets across your portfolio
• Use data and insight to drive performance improvementsSupport local initiatives to enhance parent experience and retention

People & Culture

• Build strong, capable leadership teams
• Support talent development, succession planning, and retention
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with Partou's values

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and quality
• Lead and embed change initiatives across your nurseries
• Share best practice and encourage innovation

Who We`re Looking For:

You're a visible, hands on leader who thrives in a fast paced, multi-site environment. You know how to balance quality, people, and commercial priorities, and you bring others with you on the journey.

What It Takes

• Proven multi-site leadership experience (early years or a regulated care environment)
• A Level 3 childcare qualification (Level 5+ preferred)
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted, and safeguarding
• A track record of improving performance across multiple settings
• Commercial acumen - confident managing budgets, occupancy, and costs
• A coaching leadership style that builds confident, accountable teams
• Excellent data analysis and decision-making skills
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Partou is proud be a part of the National Partnership in Early Learning and Childcare (NPELC) - a group of 10 of the largest childcare providers across England. Together, we operate over 1,300 childcare settings, employ more than 38,000 people, and take care of over 160,000 children.