Nursery Manager Operational Lead

Castle Employment Agency Ltd; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading early years provider in York seeks an experienced Nursery Manager & Operations Lead. This role initially involves managing a nursery and gradually transitioning into an operational leadership position. Strong leadership and nursery management skills are essential, as well as a commitment to upholding high standards in early years education.

Qualifications

• Significant nursery management experience, ideally across more than one setting.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and safeguarding requirements.
• Confident leader with the ability to inspire and support others.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and support a team of Early Years Practitioners.
• Maintain full compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, and internal policies.
• Oversee policy updates, training initiatives and compliance monitoring.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisational Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Level 3 qualification in Early Years

Level 5 qualification in Early Years (desirable)

Job description

Nursery Manager & Operations Lead
Full-time | 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday, between 8am–6pm
Salary: £32,000–£35,000 per annum
Location: York

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and passionate Nursery Manager to join a well-established early years provider in York. This is a unique dual-role position that will initially focus on managing one nursery setting, before transitioning into a broader operational leadership role across multiple settings.

This is a fantastic step for someone looking to build on their leadership experience within a supportive and progressive early years environment.

About the Role

The successful candidate will begin with full management responsibility for a single nursery setting, leading on all aspects of day-to-day operations. This includes team leadership, curriculum delivery, safeguarding, health and safety compliance, and maintaining a high standard of care and education.

After the first year, the role will evolve into an Operations Lead position, supporting the wider leadership team to maintain consistency, drive quality, and embed best practice across three nursery settings.

Key Responsibilities

Nursery Manager (initial focus):

• Lead, develop, and support a team of Early Years Practitioners
  
  
• Maintain full compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, and internal policies
  
  
• Foster strong relationships with parents, carers and staff
  
  
• Promote high occupancy levels and a positive nursery reputation
  
  
• Ensure the delivery of an inclusive, safe and stimulating learning environment
  
  

Operations Lead (progressive focus):

• Support and mentor Nursery Managers across multiple settings
  
  
• Drive continuous improvement and implement strategic development plans
  
  
• Provide operational guidance, staff development, and leadership support
  
  
• Oversee policy updates, training initiatives and compliance monitoring
  
  
• Support with recruitment, retention, and HR processes in collaboration with senior management
  
  

Person Specification

• Significant nursery management experience, ideally across more than one setting
  
  
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and safeguarding requirements
  
  
• Confident leader with the ability to inspire and support others
  
  
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills
  
  
• A collaborative, professional and proactive approach
  
  
• Minimum Level 3 qualification in Early Years (Level 5 or above desirable)
  
  

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Thursday 5th June
  
  
• Shortlisting: Friday 6th June
  
  
• Initial interviews (via Teams): Friday 13th June
  
  
• Final stage interviews and assessments: Week commencing 16th June
  
  

This is a fantastic opportunity for a confident and capable Nursery Manager ready to step into a broader leadership role and help shape the future of early years provision. If you’re motivated by quality, consistency and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply or find out more, please get in touch today.