Nursery Area Manager

Location: Hertfordshire

Salary: £55,000 per annum + £6,000 Car Allowance

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Area Manager to oversee a portfolio of seven nursery settings across Hertfordshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and ambitious childcare organisation committed to delivering exceptional early years education and care. Reporting directly to the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and ongoing support to Nursery Managers, ensuring every setting delivers outstanding outcomes for children, families, and staff.

As Area Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Leading and supporting Nursery Managers across seven settings.
• Driving high standards of care, education, safeguarding, and compliance.
• Ensuring all nurseries meet and exceed EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
• Monitoring operational performance, occupancy levels, budgets, and staffing.
• Implementing continuous quality improvement plans across all settings.
• Supporting recruitment, retention, succession planning, and team development.
• Conducting regular nursery visits, audits, and performance reviews.
• Building strong relationships with parents, local authorities, and external stakeholders.
• Identifying opportunities for growth and business development.
• Promoting a positive culture focused on excellence, accountability, and child-centred practice.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A minimum Level 3 Qualification in Children and Education (a Degree in Early Childcare is preferred).
• Extensive senior management experience in a multi-setting childcare context.
• Proven ability in staff leadership, service planning, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Strong commercial awareness and exceptional leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation abilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant industry software.

• £55,000 annual salary + £6k car allowance
• Pension scheme.
• Ongoing professional development and leadership training.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing organisation.
• Supportive senior leadership team.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Employee wellbeing and recognition initiatives.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact across multiple nursery settings, helping to shape the highest standards of early years education and care while developing and empowering nursery leaders to succeed. If you are passionate about delivering excellence and ready for your next leadership challenge, we would love to hear from you.