retail area manager jobs

Area Manager – Early Years

Purple Lion Day Nurseries is an award-winning and growing nursery group dedicated to providing outstanding early years education and care. We are looking for an experienced, passionate and motivated Area Manager to oversee our Manchester nursery setting/settings, while supporting the continued growth and success of our organisation.

Reporting directly to the Early Years Director, you will provide operational leadership across multiple nursery settings, ensuring the highest standards of care, education, safeguarding, compliance and customer service. You will work closely with Nursery Managers to drive quality improvements, develop high-performing teams, increase occupancy and ensure each setting consistently delivers an exceptional experience for children and families.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring regular travel between settings and the ability to build strong relationships with managers, staff, parents and external professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership across multiple nursery settings within the Manchester region.
• Support, mentor and develop Nursery Managers and leadership teams to achieve outstanding performance.
• Ensure full compliance with the EYFS Framework, Ofsted requirements, safeguarding legislation, Health & Safety and company policies.
• Monitor the quality of childcare and education, implementing improvement plans where required.
• Carry out regular quality assurance visits, audits and compliance checks across all settings.
• Support nurseries in preparing for and achieving Good or Outstanding Ofsted inspections.
• Monitor occupancy, staffing, agency usage, payroll and budgets, ensuring strong commercial performance.
• Analyse operational KPIs and nursery performance, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and profitability.
• Lead recruitment, retention, succession planning and workforce development across the region.
• Support managers with employee relations, investigations, disciplinary, grievance and performance management processes.
• Ensure robust safeguarding practices are embedded across every setting and promote a strong safeguarding culture.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with parents, local authorities, schools and external agencies.
• Support the opening of new nursery settings and other business development projects.
• Produce accurate reports and updates for the Senior Leadership Team.
• Promote Purple Lion Day Nurseries' values and maintain consistently high standards across every setting.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in an Area Manager, Operations Manager or Multi-Site Nursery Manager role within the Early Years sector.
• Proven experience successfully managing multiple nursery settings.
• Excellent knowledge of the EYFS Framework, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding legislation.
• Strong understanding of nursery operations, staffing ratios, occupancy management and budget control.
• Experience managing and developing Nursery Managers and leadership teams.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the confidence to make operational decisions.
• Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle, with the ability to travel regularly between nursery settings.

Desirable

• Level 3 Early Years qualification (minimum).
• Level 5 Leadership & Management qualification or equivalent.
• Experience supporting Good or Outstanding Ofsted inspections.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead training.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Mileage allowance for travel between settings/ company car
• Company pension scheme.
• Ongoing leadership and professional development opportunities.
• Career progression within a growing and ambitious nursery group.
• Employee recognition and wellbeing initiatives.
• Company events.
• A supportive and collaborative Senior Leadership Team.

Purple Lion Day Nurseries is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

If you are an experienced multi-site nursery leader who is passionate about developing teams, driving excellence and making a positive impact across multiple settings, we would love to hear from you.

Pay: £50,000.00-£55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company car
• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking

Experience:

• Area Manager or Multi-Site Nursery Manager : 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person