At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire multiple nursery settings to deliver exceptional early years education.
- Company: A mission-driven childcare organisation focused on nurturing and development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment with a focus on operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while shaping educational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in early years education and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Your Company: A growing early years education provider is partnering with NET Recruit to appoint an Operations/General Manager on a permanent basis, overseeing multiple nursery settings across South East London. This well-established childcare organisation operates a network of high-quality early years settings, delivering safe, nurturing and development-focused environments for children. With a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence, creativity and exploration, the organisation works closely with families and local communities to support positive outcomes for every child. With a clear focus on operational excellence, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement, the organisation invests heavily in leadership capability and performance management across its settings. The group is recognised for maintaining high standards of care, strong safeguarding practices and a consistent drive toward outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
Your Role and Responsibilities: While in this position your duties may include but are not limited to:
- Providing strategic and operational leadership across multiple nursery settings within the region
- Leading, coaching and developing Nursery Managers to drive accountability, performance and team effectiveness
- Driving operational excellence, ensuring consistency in service delivery, educational standards and safeguarding practices
- Overseeing staffing structures, recruitment, retention and performance management across the nursery portfolio
- Monitoring key performance indicators including occupancy, revenue, staffing ratios and cost control
- Conducting regular site visits, audits and performance reviews to identify risks and improvement opportunities
- Implementing and embedding operational processes, policies and best practices across all locations
- Ensuring full compliance with EYFS, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding regulations
- Acting as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and providing oversight on safeguarding matters and investigations
- Supporting nurseries to achieve and maintain strong Ofsted ratings
- Collaborating with senior leadership to analyse data, drive decision-making and deliver business improvements
- Leading the integration and operational setup of new nursery settings within the region
- Building strong stakeholder relationships with parents, teams and the wider community
- Representing the organisation in external meetings, inspections and sector engagements
What You Will Need To Apply:
- Significant experience in early years education, ideally within a multi-site, regional or senior leadership role
- Proven track record of managing operations across multiple locations or driving performance improvements at scale
- Degree educated, ideally in Early Years Education, Child Development, Education Leadership or a related discipline
- Strong working knowledge of EYFS, Ofsted frameworks and safeguarding requirements
- Demonstrated leadership capability with experience coaching and developing managers
- Strong commercial and operational awareness, including financial performance and resource management
- Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action
- Confident communicator with the ability to influence at all levels
- Designated Safeguarding Lead training and Paediatric First Aid (desirable)
- Full UK working rights and willingness to travel regularly across sites
What You Will Get In Return: The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary and access to a comprehensive benefits package designed to support wellbeing, career development and professional growth. This organisation offers a collaborative and forward-thinking environment, with a strong emphasis on leadership development and operational excellence. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact across multiple settings, shaping performance, culture and outcomes within a growing, mission-driven organisation.
Operations/General Manager in London employer: Energy Jobline ZR
Contact Detail:
Energy Jobline ZR Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations/General Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years education sector. Attend local events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show up prepared! If you land an interview, research the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent achievements. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in making a difference in their nursery settings.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and how you can contribute to their operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got a range of opportunities waiting for you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s a great way to stay updated on new roles as they come up!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations/General Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Operations/General Manager. Highlight your experience in early years education and any leadership roles you've held, especially in multi-site settings. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about early years education and how you can contribute to our organisation's goals. Be sure to mention specific experiences that demonstrate your operational excellence and leadership skills.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to illustrate your impact, like improvements in Ofsted ratings or successful implementation of new processes. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Jobline ZR
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the EYFS and Ofsted frameworks. Brush up on the latest regulations and best practices in early years education, as this will show your commitment to operational excellence and safeguarding.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or improved performance in previous roles. Think about specific situations where you coached managers or implemented effective processes, as these will highlight your leadership capability.
✨Be Data Savvy
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators relevant to nursery settings. Be ready to discuss how you’ve used data to drive decision-making and improve outcomes, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would build relationships with parents, teams, and the community. Prepare to discuss your approach to stakeholder engagement and how you would represent the organisation in external meetings.