Nursery Manager in Lightwater

Are you an experienced and inspiring Nursery Manager ready to lead a high‑performing large‑scale setting? At Monkey Puzzle Lightwater, our 74‑place nursery is flourishing and we’re looking for a hands‑on, strategic leader to ensure that every child, parent, and team member continues to thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Culture: Lead, inspire, and motivate a large multi‑room team to deliver excellence in every area. Create a positive, collaborative culture that supports wellbeing and encourages continuous improvement. Coach and mentor Deputy Managers, Room Leaders and key staff, helping them grow into confident leaders of their own teams. Champion inclusion and diversity within the nursery community.
• Quality & Curriculum: Ensure the EYFS curriculum is embedded effectively across all age groups, promoting inspiring learning environments. Maintain a consistent focus on safeguarding, health & safety, and children’s wellbeing.
• Compliance & Standards: Maintain regulatory compliance at all times, keeping the nursery inspection‑ready for Ofsted and local authority visits. Implement and monitor policies, risk assessments, and safeguarding procedures, ensuring they’re understood and followed by the team. Lead incident reporting, audits, and action plans to uphold high operational standards.
• People Management: Recruit, induct, and retain talented team members, managing staffing levels for a large‑scale setting. Conduct appraisals, supervisions, and one‑to‑ones to drive professional growth and team engagement. Identify training needs and implement development plans to build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
• Parent & Community Partnerships: Act as the main point of contact for parents, promoting open communication and trust. Host parent information sessions, open days, and nursery events to build a strong community presence. Work in partnership with external agencies, schools, and local community groups to support children’s learning and transitions.
• Business & Financial Management: Manage the nursery budget effectively, including forecasting occupancy, monitoring income and expenditure, and controlling running costs. Analyse occupancy trends to maximise capacity across all rooms, ensuring strong financial performance. Collaborate with Head Office on marketing initiatives and business development projects to keep the nursery thriving. Ensure the nursery achieves or exceeds its KPIs in occupancy, quality, and parent satisfaction.
• Innovation & Growth: Champion environmental and sustainability initiatives within the nursery. Lead continuous improvement projects, drawing on staff feedback, inspection recommendations, and parent surveys. Explore new enrichment activities and curriculum enhancements to set the nursery apart in the local market.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:

• Minimum Level 3 Early Years qualification (Level 5+ desirable)
• Designated Safeguarding Lead trained with strong safeguarding knowledge
• Safer Recruitment training and proven experience in managing large teams
• Minimum 2+ years in a Deputy or Manager role in a busy nursery/preschool (experience in settings of 80+ places desirable)
• Strong track record of delivering ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted results
• Financially astute, confident managing budgets and occupancy planning
• Excellent communication, organisation, and IT skills
• A natural leader with a passion for creating a happy, high‑performing team culture

Benefits:

• Length of Service Recognition: We want you stay with us! We recognise and reward your length of service with Monkey Puzzle with vouchers.
• Competitive Salaries: Our salaries are competitive based on your position and the job market. Salaries are reviewed throughout the year.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay: Enhanced pay after 2 years’ service.
• Medicash: Cover for dental treatments, optical, doctor consultations, therapies, and prescriptions as well as mental health support.
• YuLife: You will be enrolled into our Group Life Assurance policy and have access to the YuLife app.
• Refer a Friend: Bring connections to work with us and earn rewards.
• Flexible Working: We would like to give you the choice and flexibility to reduce your working hours.
• Social Events: We arrange catch‑ups with the team alongside our Christmas parties.