Job Title:
Office Manager - Sustainable Kindergarten
About us
Young Friends is an eco-led, fully plant-based kindergarten in Hove, rated Outstanding by Ofsted and named NDNA National Nursery of the Year 2026. We look after children from birth to five across two open plan floors, in a calm, natural environment where sustainability shapes everything we do — from the food we cook to the way we run the office.
We are a warm, close-knit team who love what we do. People stay with us, we invest in them, and we are proud of the setting we have built together. This role sits right at the heart of it.
The role
We are looking for an experienced, highly organised Office Manager to run the administrative side of the kindergarten — our systems, records, compliance, recruitment administration and family communication — so that everything behind the scenes runs beautifully and our team can give their full attention to the children.
It is a varied role with real breadth and genuine ownership. You would run your area with proper autonomy, work closely with our Early Years Manager, and have the scope to build the systems and routines that make it work well. Our bookkeeper and accountant look after the books and payroll, and our external HR provider supports you on employment matters, so you are working with expert backup.
What you would be doing
- Running a calm, well-organised office — a tidy, welcoming space where everything can be found and has its place.
- Managing Famly, our setting system: bookings, occupancy, parent invoicing and billing records.
- Being a friendly and reassuring first point of contact for families, and guiding new children and parents through a warm, well-planned onboarding.
- Designing, sending and collating regular parent satisfaction surveys, and reporting back on the themes so we keep getting better.
- HR administration — contracts, holiday, absence and personnel records — with guidance from our external HR provider.
- Safer Recruitment administration: advertising, DBS checks, references, onboarding and the Single Central Record.
- Building a reliable bank staff list so we can cover shifts with people who know and love the setting.
- Rotas, holiday planning and daily cover, working alongside our Early Years Manager.
- Looking after the building — arranging plumbers, electricians, decorators and repairs, and keeping servicing and certificates up to date.
- Managing supplier accounts, comparing quotes and finding good value without compromising on quality.
- Running all partnerships through sustainability checker
- Compliance administration: safeguarding records, GDPR, fire safety, accident and incident analysis, and audits.
- Organising events for families and the team, and making sure birthdays, work anniversaries and long service are properly celebrated.
- Keeping our office paper-light and digital-first, in line with the environmental standards we hold everywhere else.
A role of real trust
Confidentiality is central to this post. You would hold children’s records, safeguarding information, staff files and family circumstances, and families and colleagues need to know that information is treated with absolute discretion. We are looking for someone who understands that instinctively and takes it seriously.
What we are looking for
- Excellent organisation and time management, and someone who enjoys planning their own week and making sure everything gets done.
- Confidence to make sensible decisions independently, and good judgement about when to bring others in.
- Warmth and respect for everyone you work with, from the kitchen to the classroom to our suppliers and families.
- Accuracy and care with records, and a naturally tidy way of working.
- Complete discretion with confidential information and a sound grasp of GDPR.
- Strong written and spoken English, and strong confidence with digital systems.
- A genuine commitment to sustainability.
Experience of Famly, early years funding (we use Funding Loop to make things easier) or office management in an education setting would all be welcome, though we will happily train the right person on our systems.
What we offer
- Competitive, values-led pay in a Real Living Wage accredited setting.
- Company pension and employee discount.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- An award-winning, genuinely kind team to work with.
- A beautiful, calm setting where sustainability is practised rather than advertised.
- Real autonomy, a clear remit, and the space to do the job well.
To apply
Please apply here with your CV. If we would like to take things further, we will send you our application form to complete — we ask all candidates to complete it as part of our Safer Recruitment process.
Young Friends is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and right to work checks in line with Safer Recruitment. You will be asked to fill in an application form as is required for equalities purposes.
Pay: £34,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
Experience:
- Office Management: 2 years (required)
- Administrative: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
