Nursery Manager (12 months Maternity Cover) | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Southampton is seeking an experienced Early Years Manager to lead their nursery team. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Early Years Childcare and proven leadership skills. This role entails managing staff, ensuring high standards of care, and creating a positive environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Benefits include a generous leave allowance and a flexible working environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Variety of shifts

Discount scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing an Early Years setting or as a deputy manager.
• Ability to manage a large team and drive performance improvements.
• Flexibility to work shifts between 0700-1830 Monday to Friday.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team and work with children and their families.
• Create a positive learning environment for children.
• Ensure compliance with Early Years standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Flexible approach

Caring and calm demeanor

Strong communication

Education

Degree in Early Years Childcare or equivalent

Level 3 Early Years Qualification

Job description

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.

Are you passionate about being part of a team aspiring to deliver outstanding care and education to children aged 3 months- 5 years? Do you want to be part of a high performing supportive nursery Leadership team who are always looking to improve? Do you want to develop your own skills as well as the skills of practitioners in your team?

Taplins operates two day nurseries supporting our local NHS staff, one at University Hospital Southampton (where you will be based) and one at Western Community Hospital. Being part of the UHS family means you will have access to great benefits such as generous holiday allowance, variety of shifts, and a discount scheme.

We aim to make each child's early education experiences positive and meaningful. Our children learn best in our warm, secure and caring environment, where they are able to experiment and have fun indoors or play in our generous outdoor space from 7am to 6.30pm. We have a reputation of meeting the needs of both children and their parents and offer the most solid foundation in those important first years.

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

You’ll need to be calm, kind and caring, with a sense of humour- we like our nurseries to be happy places!

• You’ll have a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and inspiring approach to leading a team and working with children and their families.
• You’ll need to be committed and reliable with a flexible approach.
• You’ll hold a degree in an Early Years Childcare related subject/ Early Years Practitioner Status, or equivalent sector experience alongside a Level 3 Early years Qualification.
• You’ll have experience of managing an Early Years setting, or be an experienced deputy manager with skills and aspirations to work at this level.
• You’ll have the ability to manage a large team and drive improvements in performance.
• You’ll be able to provide flexibility to work shifts between 0700-1830 Monday to Friday throughout the year.

Please contact us for more details!

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.

This advert closes on Thursday 25 Sep 2025