Nursery Manager

Bright Horizons UK; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A childcare organization in Cambridge is seeking a Nursery Manager to lead a dedicated team in delivering exceptional care and education. The ideal candidate will have a Level 3 Early Years qualification and experience in a leadership role. Responsibilities include managing safeguarding policies and optimizing nursery performance. Join a company recognized for its supportive culture and commitment to quality education.

Benefits

100% discount for first child

Enhanced parental leave

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Pension

Financial wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience within an Early Years leadership role (Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, etc.).
• Participation in regulatory inspections leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome.
• Ability to develop high performance teams and ensure regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to deliver outstanding care and education.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Collaborate with support office teams for recruitment and development.

Skills

Leadership

Child Protection

Safeguarding knowledge

Decision making

Education

Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Hinxton Day Nursery & Pre-School

Salary – From £43,724 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Hinxton, CB10 1R

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.”

Crocus Hinxton is a 91-place nursery nestled within the inspiring grounds of the Wellcome Genome Campus, home. Surrounded by nature, children and staff enjoy regular walks by the carp lake, orchards, and nature trails.

Awarded the Green Flag with distinction in 2025, our nursery champions sustainability and outdoor learning. Our dedicated team has been celebrated with multiple accolades, including “Team of the Year” and the prestigious “Adam Hay Award.”

At Crocus Hinxton, we embrace Bright Horizons’ Nurture Approach, placing children at the heart of everything we do.

Our Benefits

• From £43,724 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

• Childcare discount of 100% for first child

• 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 Nursery Manager, you will lead a team to deliver outstanding care and education to all the children in your setting, and through inspirational leadership drive employee engagement, retention and performance. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, holding overall responsibility for the day to day running of the nursery, and management of safeguarding policies. You will work in partnership with support office teams to recruit, nurture, and continuously develop high performing colleagues, as well as identify and implement commercial plans and strategies to deliver FTE growth. You will optimise nursery performance, revenue generation, and cost efficiency in line with staff ratio requirements.

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 Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager or similar)

• Experience of participating with a regulatory inspection, leading to a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ outcome

• Experience of developing high performance teams, with effective regulatory compliance, quality improvement, delivery of high-quality pedagogy, innovation and service excellence

• Confident decision maker, with ability to support change and understanding of complex relationship between commercial and service excellence within a regulated setting

• 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

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

If you want to make a difference, with a company who has been voted Great Place to Work every year since 2006, apply today!

INDLEH

We look forward to receiving your application!

If you experience any problems, please email [e-mail] and we will be happy to help.