The DEN Nursery Group
Area/ Operations Manager
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We’re looking for an Area / Operations Manager to join DEN. 🌱
At DEN, we believe the best nurseries are built around people.
- Children who are known and understood.
- Families who feel they belong.
- Practitioners who are trusted to do what they do brilliantly.
- And leaders who bring all of that together.
We’ve grown from one nursery to a group of six across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire, and we’re looking for an experienced early years leader to help make our nurseries, our leaders and our organisation even stronger.
About the Role
As our Area / Operations Manager, you’ll lead the day-to-day operational performance of our nurseries and, importantly, the Nursery Managers who lead them.
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- You’ll spend time where it matters – in our nurseries.
- Coaching and developing leaders.
- Strengthening quality.
- Supporting occupancy and performance.
- Preparing for Ofsted.
- Helping us open and integrate new settings as DEN continues to grow.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has significant multi-site leadership experience within early years.
- Builds trust rather than relying on hierarchy.
- Is warm and approachable, but confident enough to challenge.
- Understands both people and performance.
- Believes developing great leaders is one of the most important parts of the job.
- Can create consistency without expecting every nursery or every leader to look the same.
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Our beliefs and values shape how we work. Every Child Deserves to Flourish. Relationships Matter Most. Childhood Should Feel Like Childhood.
And above all, we care deeply, champion every individual, ignite wonder, grow together and build trust.
£44,000–£48,000 DOE + car allowance and benefits
If you’re an experienced early years leader who believes great leadership is about bringing out the best in people and creating nurseries where children can genuinely flourish, we’d love to hear from you.
Area /Operations Manager, Derby DE65 6AA - Job Details - Indeed for Employers
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