Third in Charge

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

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Enhanced parental leave

Annual leave + bank holidays

Pension

Wellbeing benefits and GP access

Career development access

Job summary

Bright Horizons Kings Hill is seeking a Third in Charge to lead a room-based team at our West Malling nursery. You will drive high-quality care and education, ensuring safeguarding and strong partnerships with parents and professionals.

The role requires Level 3+ Early Years qualification, previous leadership experience in an Early Years setting, and a proactive approach to safeguarding and team development.

Qualifications

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification.
• Experience in Early Years settings, ideally as Third in Charge or Room Leader.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and ability to build trust with families.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Safeguarding

Decision making

Partnerships with parents

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

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.

We look forward to receiving your application!