Area Manager - Early Years (Multi-Site Leadership) - £65k Package
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About the Role
Area Manager – Early Years (Multi-Site Leadership) – £65k Package
Field-Based | Regional Travel Required | Circa 10 Nurseries based around Oxfordshire/M40 Corridor
Competitive Salary + Car Allowance + Bonus + Benefits
Are you an experienced Area Manager ready to lead at scale and make a real impact?
We’re partnering with a well-established, premium childcare provider to appoint a high-calibre Area Manager to oversee a portfolio of nursery settings. This is a senior leadership role offering real autonomy, commercial influence, and the opportunity to shape performance across a thriving region.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
- Lead a multi-site portfolio within a growing, well-backed Early Years Organisation
- Take full ownership of performance, people, and profitability
- Influence strategy, culture, and operational excellence
- Be part of an organisation committed to quality, innovation, and growth
- Clear progression into senior operational leadership roles
The Role
This is a hands-on, commercially focused leadership role where you will drive performance and inspire excellence across your region.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead, coach, and develop Nursery Managers to deliver exceptional standards in care, education, and customer experience
- Own regional performance, including financial targets, occupancy, and quality KPIs
- Manage and optimise budgets and P&L performance, identifying opportunities to improve margins
- Ensure full compliance with regulatory, safeguarding, and quality standards
- Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across all sites
- Lead new nursery openings and acquisitions, ensuring successful integration
- Act as a senior representative in meetings with stakeholders, parents, and external bodies
Driving Culture & Quality:
- Lead and embed a high-performance culture focused on accountability, consistency, and excellence
- Drive measurable improvements in quality standards across all settings, ensuring best-in-class childcare and education delivery
- Challenge and support underperforming sites, implementing structured improvement plans and raising standards rapidly
- Champion a culture of continuous feedback, learning, and development across all teams
- Ensure alignment to organisational values, creating engaged, motivated, and high-performing nursery teams
About You
You are an experienced operator who combines strong commercial awareness with inspirational leadership.
Essential:
- Proven track record as an Area Manager (or equivalent multi-site leadership role) within Early Years
- Relevant Early Years qualifications
- Strong experience managing P&L, budgets, and performance metrics
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory and safeguarding requirements
- Demonstrated success in leading, developing, and retaining high-performing teams
Your Leadership Style
- Strategic but hands-on, comfortable operating at both operational and strategic levels
- Results-driven with a strong focus on performance and accountability
- A natural leader who inspires, coaches, and challenges teams
- Resilient, adaptable, and solutions-focused in a fast-paced environment
Location & Travel
- Field-based role with regular regional travel and occasional wider UK travel
- Flexibility for some home working
Additional Information
- Enhanced DBS and references required as part of a safeguarding-focused recruitment process
- Full details shared at shortlist stage due to confidentiality
Apply Now
If you are an established Area Manager or Multi-Site Early Years leader looking for a role where you can truly influence performance, culture and drive growth, we would like to hear from you.
Apply today for immediate consideration or contact us for a confidential discussion.