Nursery Manager

Love Childcare Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Electric company car

Performance-related bonus

Job summary

South Manchester's premium independent nursery is seeking an experienced Nursery Manager to take full ownership of the setting. You will lead a 25-strong team, manage day-to-day operations and work directly with owners on key decisions, with monthly sign-offs on major issues.

Offering £50-60k depending on experience, plus an electric company car and a performance-related bonus, the role provides real autonomy and a clear path to Nominated Individual status within a supportive culture focused on

Qualifications

• Experience managing a substantial nursery or area/regional management experience.
• Ownership mindset with autonomous decision-making.
• Driven, senior-level leadership with ambition to progress.

Responsibilities

• Operational leadership: run the day-to-day of the nursery.
• Lead and develop the leadership team and staff.
• Maintain high quality, safeguarding and Ofsted readiness.
• Set direction and nurture a positive, supportive culture.
• Develop people and support deputy/room leaders' growth.
• Collaborate with owners towards the Nominated Individual role.

Job description

Nursery Manager / Nursery General Manager in South Manchester - Premium Independent Nursery

£50-60k (experience dependent) + electric company car and performance bonus

Our client is a premium independent nursery in South Manchester, rated Good by Ofsted in every area, with 90 registered places, a team of around 25 and an annual turnover of around £1.25 million. They’re looking for an experienced Nursery Manager to take full ownership of the setting, as the owners step back and hand the running of the nursery over to their new leader.

This is a rare chance for a highly motivated nursery leader who wants genuine authority rather than another layer of management above them. Monthly check-ins replace daily oversight, with owner sign-off kept only for major financial and structural decisions, so the decisions, the team and the standard really are yours. The nursery is well resourced, in an attractive and sought-after location, and admin support is already in place so you can spend your time where it matters most, in the rooms with the children and the team.

On offer is £50-60k plus an electric company car and a performance-related bonus, a warm, no-blame culture built on staff welfare, continuous development and growing its own people, and a clear path to becoming the Nominated Individual.

Working pattern: Full time, Monday to Friday, with flexibility within the nursery’s opening hours of 7:30am to 6:30pm.

Key responsibilities:

• Operational leadership: Taking full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the nursery.
• Leading the team: Managing and developing a leadership team that includes the deputy manager, room leaders, deputy room leaders, SENCO, apprenticeship lead and chef.
• Quality and safeguarding: Keeping quality, compliance and safeguarding at a consistently high standard, so the nursery is inspection-ready every day.
• Direction and culture: Setting the direction of the setting and protecting the culture that makes it special.
• Growing your people: Putting your leadership stamp on a strong, settled team and helping your deputy and room leaders develop under you.
• Owner partnership: Working closely with the owners through monthly check-ins and toward the Nominated Individual role.

About you:

• Experience: You’ve managed a substantial nursery, or you’re an area or regional manager ready to own a nursery setting.
• Ownership: You thrive on autonomy and take full ownership of your decisions and results.
• Drive: You’re driven, self-motivated and ready for a genuinely senior role.
• Ambition: You have Nominated Individual experience, or the ambition to get there.
• Sector knowledge: You’re confident with Ofsted, the EYFS and safeguarding.
• Leadership style: You lead people with respect, energy and support.

What’s in it for you:

• Electric company car.
• Performance-related bonus.
• Real autonomy, with monthly owner check-ins instead of daily oversight.
• A clear path to becoming the Nominated Individual.
• Admin support already in place, so you can be present in the rooms.
• A supportive, no-blame culture focused on staff welfare and continuous development.
• A confidential process with feedback within 24 hours of every stage.