Area Manager

Overview

Do you see potential in people? Are you a champion for high quality early education? Can you hold the standard across several settings at once? Can you deliver excellence through others? Are you determined to inspire your teams through the troughs as well as the peaks? If so, you might just be our Area Manager at Little Angels!

To be the Area Manager at Little Angels you will have excellent organisational skills and an ability to prioritise. You will demonstrate unwavering commitment to the people you manage and empower to achieve, to our company and it's objectives, and to our children and their families. You will find creative solutions to a whole host of potential challenges.

We're looking for a leader of leaders who will model and champion our company's core values.

Job Purpose

You will be the nominated individual with Ofsted for all eight of our settings, holding responsibility and accountability for the quality, safety and compliance of our provision.

You will lead and challenge our nursery managers to deliver excellent education and care, strengthening curriculum, pedagogy and the implementation of learning across the group.

You will ensure robust safeguarding, health and safety and EYFS compliance across all sites, working closely with our Operations Director.

You will work alongside the CEO and senior leadership team as we embrace the exciting new phase of our carefully considered expansion programme.

Knowledge and Experience

• Extensive and successful senior leadership experience, including experience in a large setting, school or group settings
• Previous responsibility as a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams
• Excellent knowledge of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), underpinned by a strong understanding of early years pedagogy
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring and supporting the professional development of others
• Ability to build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with parents, families and external professionals
• A successful track record of leading a nursery setting or school through an Ofsted inspection
• Demonstrable success in achieving financial targets, managing budgets and implementing effective financial controls

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to think strategically
• Good organisational and time management skills
• Keen to keep up to date with developments in the sector and be able to read and disseminate new legislation
• Ability to make timely decisions, sometimes under pressure
• Ability to oversee and evaluate the quality of practice across multiple settings, identify areas for improvement and produce clear, accurate and informative reports
• Able to demonstrate creative problem-solving
• Demonstrate skills of a reflective practitioner, with a growth mindset

Education and Training

• Relevant and recognised Level 6 qualification in early years, education or a related discipline
• Relevant leadership qualifications, such as NPQH or NPQEYL
• Health and Safety training
• Willingness to continue with professional development
• Additional child development training

The Role and Working Conditions

• Salary: Around £70,000 FTE depending on experience and qualifications
• Hours: 40 hours per week flexible
• Location: Our eight settings are based across 5 local authorities from Northumberland to Stockton, so a driving license is essential.

Safeguarding: Please note that Little Angels is committed to safeguarding children and all roles are subject to at least two satisfactory references and appropriate DBS checks prior to starting.

Benefits

• FTE 38 days paid holiday (including bank holidays) per year. An unpaid holiday scheme is provided for long service after two years, riding to 43 days per year.
• Company car
• 100% discounted childcare
• Health and wellbeing package (this includes free physiotherapy, counselling, weight loss, nurse support, menopause support, GP and video consultations, stress awareness sessions, health screening days)
• Company pension contributions
• Private medical insurance (after five years' service)
• Free on-site parking
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave (after two years 'service)
• Free lunches when at nursery
• Professional development and coaching opportunities
• Flexible hours with autonomy over working hours
• Access to a strong network of support and training from sector specialists in education, early years and business, plus five designed training days per year
• Company provided technology pack

What do I need to do if I want to apply?

Please visit www.littleangels.info/careers and read through the person specification and job description, and if you meet the essential criteria, complete your application form.

Please also ensure that you write a personal statement of no more than 500 words

which explains why you think you are suitable and send it to [email protected]

Application deadline is 12 noon on Monday 26th October 2026, although we do reserve the right to appoint earlier for the right candidate.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to £70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Childcare
• Company car
• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance

Application question(s):

• Do you have extensive senior leadership experience?
• Do you have a relevant and recognised Level 6 qualification in early years, education or a related discipline?

Work Location: In person