Early Years Manager

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Early Years Manager
Field Based

Salary: Competitive
Benefits: Car allowance, mileage paid, private healthcare, generous annual leave, wellbeing support, ongoing professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package.

At Grandir UK, exceptional early years education and care is at the heart of everything we do. As a growing organisation with nurseries across England, we are committed to creating inspiring environments where children thrive, families feel valued, and teams are empowered to deliver excellence every day.

We are now looking for an experienced and passionate Early Years Manager to lead our Early Learning and Training Partners team and drive outstanding quality across our nursery portfolio. This is a high-impact leadership role focused on safeguarding, quality improvement, operational excellence, and supporting Strong and Exceptional outcomes across our settings.

Working closely with senior leaders across the business, you will influence strategy, champion best practice, and use data-driven insight to shape continuous improvement. If you are an inspiring leader with deep Early Years expertise, a strong understanding of the EYFS and Ofsted framework, and a passion for developing high-performing teams, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead the Early Learning and Training Partners team, ensuring effectiveness in role and impact across assigned nurseries.
• Manage team performance through regular 1:1s, annual leave approvals, and wellbeing support.
• Support the professional development and growth of team members.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Performance & Quality Improvement

• Set clear, measurable objectives aligned with organisational priorities and quality strategy.
• Monitor individual and team performance using data and KPIs.
• Support nursery teams to develop high-quality education and care, aiming for Strong and Exceptional inspection outcomes.
• Analyse and present quality performance data, trends, and improvement opportunities.

Operational Support & Nursery Improvement

• Work in partnership with Regional Managers and nursery leaders to support intensive support nurseries.
• Lead annual Compliance & Regulatory Assessments across nursery portfolios.
• Support nurseries through leadership transitions and improvement journeys.
• Attend and support Ofsted inspections where required.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture across all nurseries.
• Ensure compliance with EYFS Welfare Requirements and company policies.
• Champion the principle that "safety starts with me".
• Maintain up-to-date safeguarding and sector knowledge.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Contribution

• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support nursery leaders in managing parent concerns relating to education and care.
• Act as an active member of the Early Years Board.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Early Years strategy and wider organisational priorities.

Reporting & Administration

• Produce high-quality reports, presentations, and performance analysis.
• Maintain accurate record keeping and reporting standards.
• Demonstrate strong IT capability including Excel and PowerPoint.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
• Proven experience leading teams within the Early Years sector.
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework and Ofsted inspection process.
• Experience driving quality improvement and performance outcomes.
• Excellent safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Strong communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyse and present performance data effectively.
• Willingness to travel.

Desirable

• EYT, EYPS, teaching qualification, or equivalent higher-level Early Years qualification.
• Train the Trainer qualification.
• Experience working across multiple sites or within a nursery group.
• Experience contributing to governance or board-level discussions.

About You

You will be:

• Passionate about delivering exceptional early years education.
• A confident and inspiring leader.
• Strategic yet hands-on in your approach.
• Resilient, proactive, and solutions-focused.
• Calm under pressure and adaptable to change.
• Child-centred with excellent professional judgement.

Core Benefits

• Car allowance
• Mileage paid
• Private healthcare
• 36 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Christmas and New Year shutdown
• Flexible working options available
• Big childcare discount
• £500 refer a friend bonus
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions
• Statutory Sick Pay from day 1
• Life assurance for employees aged 18 to 65

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Wellbeing Day - an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event - up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years' service

Even More Benefits

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M&S and major supermarkets
• 24 hour remote GP appointments
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams
• Tailored in-house training and genuine progression opportunities
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation
• Certified Great Place to Work, voted for by our current colleagues

Safeguarding and Recruitment Statement

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team.

Apply today. We review applications as they are received and may close the role early.

INDUQ