Field Manager

Location: Multi-site to cover Essex/Basildon areas (travel required)
Contract Type: Full Time
Contract Length: Permanent  Salary: Competitive

Benefits: Birthday Off, 6 fully paid sick days, Cashback Healthcare Plan, Retail Discounts, Recognition & Reward, 50 % Childcare Discount, 24/7 Virtual GP Access, 24/7 Counselling Support, Discounted gym Membership, Personal Financial Advisor Access, Pension Discovery, Learning platform Access

Join the Kindred Family – A Place to Grow, Thrive, and Make a Difference

What You’ll Need

As Field Manager you will provide strong, experienced leadership across Kindred nursery settings on a temporary and responsive basis. This role supports nurseries during periods of management vacancy, induction of new managers, or when a setting requires stabilisation, improvement, or additional operational support.

This role requires flexibility to travel between settings and a proactive, resilient approach to driving engagement, performance, and stability across teams.

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience leading teams in a Good or Outstanding early years setting
• Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above) + Level 2?GCSE grade C or above English and Maths
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework and Ofsted requirements
• Full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle, and flexibility to travel (including occasional overnight stays)

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Provide hands-on leadership and operational management across assigned nurseries
• Lead, motivate, and support management teams
• Mentor leaders and support succession planning
• Promote a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Ensure compliance with EYFS, Ofsted, statutory requirements, and company policies
• Lead inspections, audits, and Ofsted readiness
• Maintain high standards of health and safety

Quality of Care & Education

• Ensure delivery of a broad, balanced curriculum aligned with Kindred pedagogy
• Oversee observation, assessment, and reporting
• Promote inclusive practice, including SEND
• Maintain safe, inspiring learning environments

People & Performance

• Manage and support nursery teams
• Conduct supervisions and performance reviews
• Support recruitment, induction, and onboarding
• Drive engagement, retention, and performance

Operations & Finance

• Oversee staffing, ratios, occupancy, and daily operations
• Manage labour budgets and deployment
• Work with Area Managers, Finance, HR, and Marketing to meet KPIs
• Monitor performance metrics including revenue and cost control
• Support occupancy growth and enquiry conversion

Partnership & Communication

• Build strong relationships with families, colleagues, and communities
• Communicate effectively with parents and carers
• Liaise with Local Authorities
• Collaborate across the Kindred nursery network

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend staff meetings, training sessions, parent events, and marketing activities (including evenings/weekends where required)
• Participate in wider company projects and meetings, including at Head Office
• Act as a key holder and respond to emergency situations when required
• Keep the Area Manager informed of progress, challenges, and key developments

What We’re Looking For

You will be an experienced, confident early years leader with strong communication and organisational skills, able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.

Why Join Kindred?

At Kindred, we’re more than a nursery group – we’re a family.

Supportive Culture – Our nurseries are built on strong relationships, teamwork, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Career Development – Whether you're an apprentice or a seasoned professional, we offer clear progression pathways, structured training, and mentorship.
Work-Life Balance – Enjoy structured working hours, flexible shift options, and hybrid roles (where applicable).
Competitive Pay & Benefits – We regularly benchmark our salaries and offer generous benefits including bonuses, pensions, and paid leave.
Award-Winning Family – Join a company that values recognition, personal growth, and team success.

Our Recruitment Process
Interviews: Rolling Interviews
Expected Start Date: ASAP

Our process includes:

1. A video interview followed by a face-to-face interview with a stay and play at the nursery
2. ‘Stay and Play’ session to observe you working with children *fully supervised
3. Background checks, References, DBS, Qualification Verification will be carried out in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Policy

Ready to Start Your Kindred Journey?

To apply for the Field Manager position with us, please click the "Quick Apply" button and submit your CV and a short cover letter explaining your interest in the role.

We aim to respond to all applicants within 2–5 working days. Thank you for considering a career with Kindred!

As part of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in our care, the successful candidate is expected to undergo an enhanced DBS check

Safeguarding Commitment

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at Kindred. All employees are expected to uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, health, and safety at all times and to participate in mandatory training. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

IND1 ROL