Assistant Nursery Manager

Busy Bees Nurseries; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career progression

Hive benefits and discounts

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Your birthday off

50% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave and return to be

Peppy menopause support

Salary Finance support

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Pension access

Private Medical Insurance

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd. in Royal Tunbridge Wells is seeking an Assistant Centre Director to support the Centre Director in day-to-day operations and educational leadership. You will guide staff, shape the curriculum, and ensure high standards of safety and regulatory compliance.

Ideal candidates have Level 3 in early years and leadership experience, with strong communication and teamwork skills. The role offers a path to career progression within Busy Bees’ network of nurseries.

Qualifications

• An approved Level 3 qualification in early years education.
• Experience in leadership or supervisory roles (Assistant Nursery Manager or Deputy Nursery Manager preferred).
• Proven track record of achieving educational excellence and curriculum development.
• Strong communication and organisational skills with teamwork focus.
• Experience maintaining regulatory standards and health and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Support the Centre Director in overseeing daily operations and maintaining educational standards.
• Assist in delivering an engaging, high-quality curriculum for children.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and uphold safety standards.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff for a cohesive team.
• Enhance customer satisfaction by delivering exceptional service and positive centre experience for families.
• Assist with administration including scheduling, payroll, and recruitment.
• Manage operational records and support financial planning for sustainability.

Skills

Leadership experience

Curriculum development

Communication

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Health & safety

Regulatory compliance

Education

Level 3 qualification in early years education

Job description

Are you a passionate leader with a background in early childhood education and management? As an Assistant Centre Director at Busy Bees, you will support the Centre Director in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the centre. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and wants to make a difference in the lives of children while leading a team towards educational excellence.

About Us

Busy Bees is the UK's leading nursery group, with nearly 400 nurseries across the UK and more overseas. We are dedicated to giving every child the best start in life and are proud to have won awards for our workplace culture. At Busy Bees, we ensure that every member of our team feels heard, valued, and nurtured.

Why Work at Busy Bees?

We offer a supportive environment that empowers you to create engaging, educational spaces where children can thrive. As part of our team, you’ll be introduced to our unique Bee Curious curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and confidence in young learners.

About Our Nursery

Our homely nursery is based on a housing estate and located close to main bus and train routes into Tunbridge Wells town centre and into London.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Our 'Hive' benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off - it's our gift to you!
• 50% childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Financial support through Salary Finance
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Easy access to your workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
• Opportunities to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and learn new practices.

But wait, there's more! You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering huge array huge of retail discounts helping your money to go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcasing the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

Join our supportive and collaborative work environment, learn from experienced colleagues, and make meaningful connections.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Centre Director in overseeing the daily operations and maintaining educational standards.
• Assist in developing and delivering an engaging, high-quality curriculum tailored to the needs of children.
• Ensure the centre complies with all relevant regulatory requirements and maintains high safety and health standards.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, ensuring a cohesive and motivated team.
• Lead efforts to enhance customer satisfaction by delivering exceptional service and promoting a positive centre experience for families.
• Assist with administrative tasks, including scheduling, payroll, and recruitment.
• Manage operational records and support financial planning to ensure sustainability.

Ideal Candidate

• An approved Level 3 qualification or above in early years education.
• Experience within an early years setting, with leadership or supervisory experience ideally as either a Assistant Nursery Manager or Deputy Nursery Manager.
• Proven track record of ensuring educational excellence and curriculum development.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with a focus on teamwork.
• Experience in maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and health and safety protocols.