Operations Director

Busy Bees Childcare; Burntwood; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider is seeking an experienced Operations Director to oversee performance and leadership across multiple centers. The role requires substantial leadership experience and a strong understanding of market dynamics. Responsibilities include ensuring operational excellence, managing budgets, and driving performance across the organization. This is a critical leadership position within a values-driven organization with ambitious growth plans.

Benefits

Company car or car allowance

Performance Bonus

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience at Operations Director/COO level.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-site teams.
• Strong understanding of the London market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of senior operational leaders.
• Ensure operational excellence and compliance.
• Be accountable for regional P&L and budget delivery.

Skills

Leadership and coaching skills

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Job description

Job Title: Operations Director

Location: London (or within a commutable distance, flexibility available for the right candidate in surrounding areas)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Reports to: CEO

Salary: Competitive + Company car or car allowance + Performance Bonus

About Busy Bees

Busy Bees are a global leader in early years education. We're a values-driven organisation built on care, quality, service and people. With over 1000 centres globally, and ambitious growth plans in the UK and Europe, there's never been a more exciting time to join our leadership team.

About the role

As Operations Director, you will be accountable for the overall performance, quality, compliance, and leadership of multiple early years education centres.

This is a strategic and delivery-focused role that will work closely with the CEO and wider UK and European leadership team to drive growth, performance and transformation across your region.

What you will do

• Lead and inspire a team of senior operational leaders across a portfolio of centres
• Ensure operational excellence, safeguarding, compliance, and high-quality education delivery
• Be accountable for regional P&L, budget delivery and resource optimisation
• Drive performance across occupancy, compliance, engagement and profitability
• Shape and implement initiatives across employee engagement, retention and talent development
• Scope and support the rollout of tech solutions, new processes and acquisition integrations
• Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, L&D, Finance, and IT to deliver best-in-class services
• Act as a change leader, embedding a culture of high performance, care, and continuous improvement

Who we're looking for

We are looking for a high-performing individual who is either currently operating at this level or above but ready to progress into a more complex, fast-paced, and high-growth environment. Someone highly commercial, people-focused, and operationally rigorous. You'll be confident making decisions at pace, navigating complex stakeholder environments, and delivering measurable results across a large, dispersed, service-based organisation.

Essential experience

• Substantial leadership experience at Operations Director/COO level
• Demonstrated success managing multi-site teams and senior direct reports
• Background in retail, healthcare, childcare or other regulated service environments
• Strong understanding of the London market including cost dynamics, workforce supply, and customer expectations
• Proven experience leading transformation and strategic initiatives
• Strong track record in budget ownership, financial performance, and KPI delivery

Key capabilities

• Exceptional leadership and coaching skills, you get the best from your people
• A commercial mind, with a strong grasp of cost, value and performance levers
• Data-driven decision making and proven experience using insights to drive change
• Excellent communicator, able to engage at every level from frontline teams to Board
• Strategic thinker with operational discipline and attention to detail
• Passion for early years education, safeguarding, and improving outcomes for children

Flexible approach to working hours, including travel across the UK and occasional European visits

If you're ready to bring your experience to a purpose-led, high-impact leadership role we want to hear from you!