kinderzimmer uk
Early Years Director
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Early Years Director - kinderzimmer UK
Location: Office based in London, with a group of nurseries across London and the Home Counties
Job Type: Full-time, permanent, 40 hours per week (Hybrid, a minimum of 3 days in nursery, 1 day in office, 1 day home)
Salary: Competitive salary, dependent on qualifications and experience, plus up to 10% annual performance bonus
We are proud to share that kinderzimmer UK is an Ofsted Outstanding provider, and named a Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 (Medium Organisation)!
At kinderzimmer UK, we're on a mission to make the world a better place through education. Since opening our first nursery in June 2023, we've grown rapidly, earning Ofsted Outstanding status and recognition as one of the Sunday Times' Best Places to Work in 2026. We provide an inspiring environment where your career can flourish whilst nurturing our children's independence, exploration and wonder. As an award-winning nursery group, we're also rated 4.9 stars on Glassdoor and 5 stars on Indeed, reflecting our dedication to both excellence and making our teams feel valued.
We're now looking for an Early Years Director to provide senior strategic and operational leadership across a group of our nurseries, a hands-on, field-based leadership role at the heart of our Senior Leadership Team.
What you will be doing
- Hold accountability for the quality, health and safety, and performance of a group of nurseries within kinderzimmer UK.
- Carry direct line management responsibility, including but not limited to, Heads of Nursery, Operations and Quality field team within your group.
- Lead, support, and performance-manage Nursery Management teams, working in partnership with fellow Early Years Directors to maintain consistency across the wider group.
- Act as, or work towards becoming, the registered Nominated Individual with Ofsted for a selection of nurseries. This responsibility is phased in over time, dependent on tenure and performance, with full support provided.
- Hold lead responsibility for safeguarding within your group of nurseries, as part of a shared safeguarding leadership team.
- Help shape curriculum and pedagogy, monitor educational outcomes, and champion continuous professional development across your settings.
- Coach and lead your team of setting managers, supporting recruitment, retention, and workforce planning across the nursery group.
- Be visible and hands-on, working alongside management teams in nurseries and modelling best practice and values.
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What we can offer you
In exchange for your leadership, commitment and passion, you'll get a lot in return. kinderzimmer UK has a market-leading benefits package tailored to the individual employee's needs.
The benefits package includes but is not limited to:
- A free or discounted childcare place for your child at a kinderzimmer nursery (terms and conditions apply)
- Annual personal development budget
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Wellness day
- Company events
- And much, much more!
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Who you are
We want all staff to embody our values of Kindness, In It Together, Excellence, Joy & Wonder. Alongside this, you will bring:
- Level 6 qualification (degree level) in Early Years or a related field
- Significant senior leadership experience across multiple nursery/childcare settings
- Extensive knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework and Ofsted's regulatory and inspection requirements
- A proven track record of driving quality and compliance outcomes across a group of settings
- Strong safeguarding knowledge, with experience operating as a senior safeguarding lead
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and people management skills, with experience managing managers
- Strong commercial acumen, including budget and P&L management experience
- Willing and able to work at ground level, supporting management teams directly
How to apply
If you're ready to bring your leadership, energy, and passion for early years education to kinderzimmer UK, apply within and submit your CV. A member of the kinderzimmer UK team will be in touch to discuss your application.
We look forward to meeting you!
Please note, all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
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