Nursery Area Manager

Olympus Recruitment; Southampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Job summary

Olympus Recruitment is seeking an experienced Early Years Area Manager to oversee four settings on the South Coast. You will lead operational, commercial and quality performance while ensuring regulatory compliance and safeguarding standards across all sites.

You will manage budgets, occupancy and fee income, provide guidance to Early Years Managers and drive improvement initiatives with a strong focus on KPI achievement and market growth.

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple Early Years settings or dispersed teams.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted, safeguarding.
• Budgeting, P&L and occupancy KPIs experience.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Clean UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Early Years Managers across four settings.
• Ensure EYFS, Ofsted, safeguarding and safer recruitment compliance.
• Conduct quality audits and drive continuous improvement.
• Support Ofsted inspections and improvement plans.
• Manage P&L, budgets, occupancy and fee income.
• Analyze KPIs and implement actions to improve operations.
• Lead workforce planning, development and performance management.
• Support local marketing to boost registrations.
• Maintain health, safety and regulatory standards across sites.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

P&L management

KPIs

Regulatory compliance

Education

Early Years qualification (Level 3+)

Job description

Early Years Area Manager

Location: South Coast

Salary: £50,000–£55,000 + £5,000 car allowance

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

We are seeking an experienced Early Years Area Manager to oversee 4 settings, providing strong operational, commercial and quality leadership across the South Coast.

This is a key leadership role, responsible for ensuring high standards of childcare and education while driving regulatory compliance, team performance and commercial success across the area.

The Role

You will work closely with Early Years Managers, supporting them to deliver excellent outcomes across their settings. Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing leadership and support to Early Years Managers.
• Ensuring compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements.
• Conducting regular quality audits and driving continuous improvement.
• Supporting settings through Ofsted inspections and improvement plans.
• Taking responsibility for P&L, budgets, occupancy, fee income and cost management.
• Analysing KPIs and implementing action plans to improve operational performance.
• Leading workforce planning, succession and management development.
• Managing performance and employee relations matters effectively.
• Supporting local marketing initiatives to increase registrations.
• Ensuring strong health, safety and compliance standards across all sites.

About You

You will be an experienced Early Years leader with a strong understanding of EYFS, Ofsted and safeguarding, combined with commercial and operational management experience.

You will have:

• Experience managing multiple Early Years settings or geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong knowledge of Ofsted inspection frameworks and regulatory requirements.
• A Level 3 or above full and relevant Early Years qualification.
• Experience managing budgets, P&L and commercial KPIs such as occupancy.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop managers.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A proactive, commercially aware and solutions-focused approach.
• A clean UK driving licence.

What's on Offer

• £50,000–£55,000 salary
• £5,000 car allowance
• Permanent, full-time position
• Responsibility for 4 settings
• Opportunity to drive quality, operational and commercial performance