Deputy Manager

Bright Horizons; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

25 days annual leave

Childcare discount 75%

enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Bright Horizons’ Elsie Inglis nursery in Edinburgh is seeking a Deputy Manager to lead a team delivering high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. You will be a visible leader, ensuring consistent practice, safeguarding, and a welcoming environment for families.

You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, supporting staff development, managing safeguarding policies, and building strong partnerships with parents and Local Authority while helping to drive occupancy

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in an Early Years setting.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Excellent communication with colleagues, parents and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team to deliver exceptional care and education.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversee safeguarding policies.
• Contribute to succession planning, training, and staff development plans.
• Maintain strong partnerships with parents, Local Authority and other professionals, and support nursery budgets and occupancy growth.

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

Nursery – Elsie Inglis

Salary – From £34,299 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Edinburgh

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for a Deputy Manager to join our Elsie Inglis nursery. Nestled within the historic former Elsie Inglis maternity hospital, in the heart of Abbeyhill and just a short walk from Holyrood Park, our welcoming one‑storey nursery is full of warmth and character. With vibrant playrooms and children aged 3 months to 5 years, Elsie’s is a place where curiosity thrives, laughter echoes, and every day feels a little bit special.

Our team is a wonderful blend of long‑standing staff and fresh faces — all friendly, supportive, and united by one shared purpose: giving children the very best start in life

Our Benefits

• From £34,299 per annum
• Childcare discount of 75% for first child * T&C’s apply
• Enhanced parental leave
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach
• *Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Deputy Manager, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing day to day running of the nursery and management of safeguarding and child protection policies. You will contribute to succession planning, training, and supporting team professional development plans, maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals (such as the Local Authority), and support the commercial success of the nursery through retention, occupancy growth, and maintaining budgets.

What we’re looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Experience within an Early Years leadership role (ideally as a Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Third in Charge or similar)
• Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including a PVG check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

INDNH

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.