Third in Charge

Bright Horizons; Hill; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave + bank holidays

Pension

Wellbeing and financial benefits

Professional development access

Job summary

Bright Horizons Kings Hill seeks a Third in Charge to lead a dedicated nursery team at Kings Hill. You will mentor staff, safeguard children, and strengthen partnerships with parents to deliver outstanding care and education.

You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead when required, engage with Local Authority partners, and support occupancy growth through proactive practice and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Early Years qualification or higher is required.
• Experience in an Early Years setting is preferred, ideally as Third in Charge, Room Leader, or similar.
• Ability to lead and support a team with confidence and clarity.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and understanding of child protection requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a nursery team to deliver high-quality care and education.
• Promote child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding at all times.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead when required and support occupancy growth.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Decision making

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification or higher

Job description

Nursery – Bright Horizons Kings Hill

Salary – £30,754 - £38,368 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – West Malling

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We’re looking for a Third in Charge to join our Kings Hill nursery, room based.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 50% for first child
• Enhanced parental leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach

*Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As a Third in Charge, you will lead, mentor, support, and inspire a team to deliver exception care and education. You will promote and ensure child welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding, and maintain strong partnerships with colleagues, parents, and other professionals to meet each child’s needs. When required, you will also act as Designated Safeguarding Lead at the nursery, promote the nursery to support retention and ongoing occupancy growth, and engage with the Local Authority to understand the local offering and support practice across all areas of the nursery.

What we’re looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification
• Previous experience working within an Early Years setting – ideally as a Third in Charge, Room Leader, Early Years Educator or similar
• Confident decision maker, with previous experience providing support and leadership to others
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection, and the wider legislative requirements for working with children
• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers
• Ability to use a variety of communication techniques with both children and adults

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.