Early Years Area Manager in Hampshire

Benefits to You

• Health Cash Plan (including optical, dental and medical, plus online discounts)
• Employer pension contribution
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays FTE, increasing with length of service up to a maximum of 30 days
• Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 10 days per annum)
• Celebration Leave
• Life Assurance
• Refer a friend scheme
• Employee Assistance Program with Health Assured
• 50% discount on nursery fees
• Day camps discounts: 1 week free and 1 week at 50% per child per annum
• Campsite and activities discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor
• Cycle to work scheme

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Early Years Director, the postholder will provide direct line management to Nursery Managers, ensuring clear accountability for standards, outcomes and performance across all settings. This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on operational leadership, ensuring every setting delivers high quality, inclusive early years provision aligned to YMCA values and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The role plays a critical part in stabilising underperforming settings, strengthening leadership capability, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, while also supporting sustainable growth and strong community engagement. Flexibility is essential, with regular travel between sites and the ability to respond to emerging operational needs at pace.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Line Management

• Provide direct line management, supervision and performance oversight to Nursery Managers across allocated settings.
• Set clear expectations for leadership practice, performance and accountability, holding Managers to account for outcomes.
• Model the YMCA Way through visible, values-led leadership that promotes inclusion, integrity and child-centred practice.
• Build strong, capable leadership teams through coaching, challenge and support.
• Lead on performance management processes, including supervision, appraisals, capability and absence management.
• You will be responsible for the management, guidance and ongoing support of volunteers within your department, ensuring they are integrated effectively to help achieve charity goals.

Quality, Curriculum & Compliance

• Lead the delivery of high-quality early education and care across all settings, aligned to EYFS and Ofsted frameworks.
• Provide strong curriculum leadership, ensuring consistency in teaching, learning, assessment and inclusive practice.
• Drive improvement through regular quality audits, learning walks and Ofsted readiness activity, with clear follow-up actions.
• Ensure all settings are fully compliant with safeguarding, welfare requirements and organisational policies.
• Work in close partnership with the Inclusion & SEND Manager to embed effective inclusive practice and strong outcomes for all children.

Performance & Business Management

• Oversee and challenge performance in relation to occupancy and admissions, income and budget management, staffing structures and ratios, recruitment, retention and workforce stability.
• Support Managers to deliver sustainable and efficient operations, identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Ensure consistent operational standards across all settings.
• Monitor risk and take proactive action to address underperformance.

Workforce Development & Talent

• Develop leadership capability across settings through coaching, mentoring and structured development planning.
• Support the design and implementation of training programmes in line with the Early Years Academy model.
• Identify future leaders and support succession planning across the organisation.
• Ensure effective induction and ongoing development for new and existing Managers.

Intervention & Improvement

• Lead targeted intervention in settings requiring improvement or experiencing instability.
• Undertake rapid assessments of quality, staffing and leadership, implementing clear action plans with measurable outcomes.
• Provide hands-on leadership support where needed, including short-term operational cover.
• Support teams to stabilise, rebuild confidence and improve outcomes for children and families.

Partnership & Representation

• Build strong relationships with families, local communities, schools and external partners.
• Represent YMCA Fairthorne Group positively with Ofsted, Local Authorities and other stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with sector developments, ensuring practice remains forward-thinking and informed.
• Contribute to organisational growth by identifying opportunities for expansion and partnership working.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Significant experience of managing multiple early years settings or managing through others (e.g. Nursery Managers).
• Proven track record of improving quality and outcomes, including in underperforming or complex settings.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, safeguarding, Ofsted EIF and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing others, including performance management.
• Strong commercial awareness, including occupancy, budgets and workforce planning.
• Ability to balance strategic oversight with operational delivery.
• Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills.
• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum).
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between settings.

Desirable

• Degree-level qualification in Early Years, Education or related field.
• Experience supporting Ofsted inspections or inspections in a leadership capacity.
• Knowledge or experience of SEND leadership and inclusive practice.
• Safeguarding qualification at Level 4 or above.

Personal Attributes

• Inspirational, resilient and values-driven leader.
• Confident in holding others to account while maintaining supportive relationships.
• High levels of emotional intelligence and professional integrity.
• Solution-focused, adaptable and able to respond quickly to challenge.
• Passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive early years provision.
• Committed to the YMCA mission and its impact on children, families and communities.

Successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities charity with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.