Nursery Manager / Nursery General Manager

Love Childcare Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Electric company car

Performance-related bonus

Job summary

Love Childcare Recruitment partners with a premium independent nursery in South Manchester to appoint a Nursery Manager who is excited to run the setting with real authority. You’ll lead a team of around 25 across a 90-place nursery, maintain high-quality care, oversee safeguarding and compliance, and pursue progression toward the Nominated Individual role.

The package offers up to £70,000 total, plus an electric company car and a performance bonus; standard hours Monday to Friday with some

Qualifications

• Managed a substantial nursery or equivalent senior leadership role.
• Experience taking ownership and autonomy over decision-making.
• Experience with Ofsted inspections, EYFS and safeguarding.
• Leads people with energy, respect and support.

Responsibilities

• Run the day-to-day operations of the nursery with full responsibility.
• Lead a leadership team including deputy managers and senior staff.
• Ensure quality, compliance and safeguarding standards are consistently met.
• Shape the direction and culture of the setting.

Skills

Autonomy

Leadership

Ofsted

EYFS

Safeguarding

People management

Job description

Nursery Manager / Nursery General Manager

Up to £70,000 total package, including electric car and bonus

South Manchester | Full time, Monday to Friday

The chance to run a nursery as your own: your decisions, your team, your standard This is a rare opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced nursery leader who wants genuine authority, not another layer of management above them. Love Childcare Recruitment is partnering exclusively with a premium independent nursery in South Manchester to find a Nursery Manager / Nursery General Manager who is excited by the prospect of truly running a setting.

Why this role is different

• You lead, you decide: the owners are stepping back and handing the running of the nursery to you. You’ll have monthly check-ins in place of daily oversight, with owner sign-off kept only for major financial and structural decisions

• Room to grow: a clear path to becoming the Nominated Individual

• A strong platform: 90 registered places, a team of around 25, annual turnover of around £1.25 million, and rated Good by Ofsted in every area. Well resourced, in an attractive, sought-after location

• A culture worth leading: staff welfare, no blame, continuous development, and a real commitment to inclusion and to growing its own people

• Time where it counts: admin support is already in place, so you can be present in the rooms

What you’ll own

• The day-to-day running of the nursery, with full operational responsibility

• A leadership team including the deputy manager, room leaders, deputy room leaders, SENCO, apprenticeship lead and chef

• Quality, compliance and safeguarding to a consistently high standard

• The direction of the setting, and the culture that makes it special

What success looks like in your first year

• Your leadership stamp on a strong, settled team

• A nursery that is inspection-ready, every day

• Your deputy and room leaders developing and growing under you

• Working with the owners toward the Nominated Individual role

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has managed a substantial nursery, or is an area or regional manager ready to own one setting

• Thrives on autonomy and takes full ownership of decisions and results

• Is driven, self-motivated and ready for a genuinely senior role

• Has Nominated Individual experience, or the ambition to get there

• Is confident with Ofsted, the EYFS and safeguarding

• Leads people with respect, energy and support

The package

• Up to £70,000 total package, including an electric company car and a performance-related bonus

• Full time, Monday to Friday, with flexibility within opening hours (7:30am to 6:30pm)

The process

An initial confidential chat with Love Childcare Recruitment, followed by two stages with the owners. You’ll have feedback within 24 hours of every stage.