Deputy Nursery Manager in Oxford

Role: Deputy Nursery Manager (supernumerary).

Location: Julia Durbin Day Nursery | Headington, Oxford | OX3 7JU (next to Churchill Hospital).

Nursery capacity: 131 places.

Contract: Permanent | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday–Friday between 07:00–18:30 | Choose a 4 or 5 day week.

Salary: £38,356.50–£41,437.50 per annum (pro-rata).

Responsible to: Nursery Manager.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 25 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Childcare discount: 75% discount (or 40% grandparent discount) on your fees at any Childbase nursery, from day one.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About Us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow; our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About You

• You are a qualified early years professional: You hold a DfE approved early years qualification at level 3 or above and are currently working in a leadership capacity in an early years environment, ideally as a Third-in-Charge, Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager.
• You are passionate about developing your team: You have experience of building and retaining a knowledgeable and happy workforce, using positive role modelling and performance review processes to guide colleagues to deliver outstanding early years practice, promoting the best outcomes for children’s learning.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You always will ensure the well-being of the children and your colleagues is promoted at all times.
• You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Manager, you will achieve occupancy, budget, recruitment and retention targets, implement our corporate plan and uphold the nursery’s reputation within the community, resuming full responsibility of the nursery in the absence of the manager.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step. Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check. If you’re not early years qualified, visit our Careers Page to explore other opportunities.