At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape Early Years and Childcare services to improve outcomes for children.
- Company: Join Southampton City Council, a values-driven organisation focused on community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, flexible working, and health support.
- Other info: Enjoy excellent career growth opportunities and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and drive quality improvement in early education.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience in early years or related fields with strong strategic planning skills.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 73834 £ per year.
Southampton City Council is looking for an experienced, values-driven Service Manager – Best Start in Life to lead and shape our Early Years and Childcare service. This is a pivotal leadership role focused on improving outcomes for children from conception to age five, strengthening childcare sufficiency, and ensuring high-quality early education and inclusion across the city. You will provide strategic and operational leadership across early years improvement, childcare markets, funded entitlements, inclusion and SEND pathways, quality assurance, and partnership delivery. You will be working closely with families, settings, schools, health, voluntary sector partners, and regional/national stakeholders.
About The Role
- Provide strategic leadership for the Early Years & Childcare Service, aligning delivery to council priorities and statutory responsibilities.
- Lead on childcare sufficiency and market management, ensuring families can access high-quality, affordable childcare in their communities.
- Drive quality improvement across early years settings, supporting strong practice and improved outcomes, especially for vulnerable children and those with SEND.
- Oversee delivery of funded early education entitlements, ensuring compliance, robust processes, and excellent customer experience.
- Manage performance, budgets, risk, and governance, using insight and data to improve impact and value for money.
About You
- Substantial leadership experience in early years, childcare, children’s services or a related field, including strategic planning and operational delivery.
- Strong understanding of the early years landscape, including childcare markets, funded entitlements, quality improvement, and inclusion.
- Evidence of delivering measurable improvement through performance management, quality assurance, and partnership working.
- Experience managing budgets, commissioning/contract management, and delivering services within complex systems.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to work across agencies.
- A strong commitment to equity, safeguarding, and improving outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children.
What We Can Offer You
- Salary: The salary band for this role is £65,222 – £73,834. The starting salary is £65,222 with annual progression through the salary bands.
- Excellent Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution).
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service.
- Flexible working options (role-dependent).
- Family-friendly policies – Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents.
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring.
- Health and wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks.
- Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform.
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres.
- Sustainable travel benefits – low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans.
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer.
Interview Information
Please note that interviews are scheduled for week commencing 13th April. Contact: Tel: 023 8083 4033.
Service Manager - Best Start in Life in Southampton employer: Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. With a strong focus on professional development, flexible working options, and a commitment to employee wellbeing, the council empowers its staff to make a meaningful impact in the community. The role of Service Manager – Best Start in Life offers the opportunity to lead transformative initiatives that improve outcomes for children and families, all while enjoying generous benefits and a collaborative culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Best Start in Life in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years and childcare sector. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet people who might know about job openings or can give you insider tips.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Southampton City Council's values and priorities, especially around early years services. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can make a real impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of specific examples from your past roles where you've driven quality improvement or managed budgets effectively. Use these stories to demonstrate your capability during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Best Start in Life in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Service Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and how it aligns with improving outcomes for children, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see the impact you've made in previous roles. Use specific examples of how you've driven quality improvement or managed budgets effectively to demonstrate your capabilities.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key messages about your skills and experiences shine through without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application via our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southampton City Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the early years landscape, especially around childcare markets and funded entitlements. Brush up on current policies and practices that impact children from conception to age five, as this will show your commitment and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in strategic planning and operational delivery, particularly in improving outcomes for vulnerable children and those with SEND. This will demonstrate your capability to lead the Early Years & Childcare Service effectively.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve worked with families, schools, and other partners in previous roles. Be ready to discuss your communication and influencing skills, as well as how you’ve built strong relationships across agencies. This is crucial for the collaborative nature of the role.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with performance management and quality assurance metrics relevant to early years services. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to drive improvements and manage budgets effectively. This will show that you can make informed decisions that benefit the service and the children it supports.
