Early Years & Operations Lead — Apollo NurseryOlympus Learning Collective
Location: Apollo Nursery, Lydden / Dover and surrounding wraparound sites
Company: Olympus Learning Collective
Setting: Apollo Nursery
Salary: £33,000–£38,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications and leadership background
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Start date: To be discussed
A higher salary may be considered for an exceptional candidate who brings additional experience or qualifications, such as QTS/EYTS, Forest School Leader qualification, DSL/SENCO experience, strong baby room leadership or proven multi-site leadership experience.
The Role
Olympus Learning Collective is looking for an exceptional Early Years & Operations Lead to become a key part of our senior leadership team at Apollo Nursery & OLC, our brand-new early years setting in Lydden.
This is not a traditional nursery management role. We are building something different, and we are looking for someone who wants to be part of that journey from the very beginning.
The successful candidate will work closely alongside the owner/manager as a trusted senior lead, supporting the opening and development of Apollo Nursery, while also helping to oversee our growing wraparound provision across multiple school sites.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate will be visible within the nursery, counted in ratios when needed, modelling excellent early years practice, supporting staff, and helping to shape the daily experience for children.
This is a rare opportunity to make a direct impact from day one. You will help shape the environment, routines, standards, staff culture, parent experience and quality of practice as Apollo Nursery grows.
We are looking for someone who is confident, reflective and forward-thinking. Someone who understands early years deeply, but who is also excited by new ideas, outdoor learning, strong relationships and creating a setting that feels different from the norm.
About Us
Olympus Learning Collective provides high-quality early years and wraparound care with a focus on:
Real experiences. Real learning. Real childhood.
Apollo Nursery will offer a calm, nurturing and ambitious early years environment, where children are supported through strong relationships, meaningful experiences, outdoor learning, independence, emotional wellbeing and high-quality care.
As we open and grow our new nursery provision, we are looking for someone who can help lead with professionalism, warmth, confidence and care.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will support with:
- Helping to open, establish and develop Apollo Nursery from day one
- Supporting the creation of high-quality baby, toddler and preschool provision
- Being hands-on within the nursery and counted in ratios when required
- Modelling excellent early years practice across the setting
- Leading and supporting nursery practice, staff and daily operations
- Overseeing wraparound provision across multiple school sites
- Supporting staff supervision, training, mentoring and performance
- Maintaining high standards of safeguarding, health and safety, behaviour and inclusion
- Building positive relationships with children, families, staff, schools and external professionals
- Supporting Ofsted readiness, compliance, policies and quality assurance
- Helping with rotas, staffing, bookings, occupancy and day-to-day organisation
- Supporting SEND, transitions, parent communication and partnership working
- Acting as a strong role model for the team
- Supporting the owner/manager with strategic development and operational decisions
- Helping to create a strong, positive and professional staff culture
We Are Looking For Someone Who Is
- Experienced in senior early years leadership
- Confident working with babies and younger children
- Knowledgeable about baby room routines, attachments, sleep, feeding, care needs and development
- Confident managing staff and supporting team development
- Warm, professional and approachable
- Highly organised and able to manage several priorities at once
- Confident with safeguarding, the EYFS, Ofsted expectations and nursery compliance
- Able to use initiative and make sensible decisions
- Passionate about high-quality early years practice
- Comfortable working across nursery and wraparound settings
- Reflective, open-minded and forward-thinking
- Excited by the opportunity to help shape something new
- Honest, reliable and committed
- Able to bring calm, confidence and consistency to the team
Essential Requirements
- Full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above
- Strong baby room or under-2s experience
- Experience in a senior early years leadership role, such as Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Nursery Manager, Operations Lead or similar
- Strong understanding of the EYFS
- Good safeguarding knowledge
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to lead and motivate a team
- Enhanced DBS check, or willingness to complete one
- Paediatric First Aid, or willingness to complete training
Desirable
- Level 5 or above in Early Years, Childcare or Leadership
- Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Teacher Status or Early Years Professional Status
- Forest School Leader qualification
- DSL or Deputy DSL experience
- SENCO experience
- Experience working with Ofsted
- Experience helping to open or develop a new nursery setting
- Experience overseeing more than one site
- Experience with wraparound, breakfast club or afterschool club provision
- Strong outdoor learning, nature-based learning or Forest School experience
Salary
The salary for this role is £34,000–£38,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications and leadership background.
A higher salary may be considered for an exceptional candidate who brings additional experience or qualifications, such as QTS/EYTS, Forest School Leader qualification, DSL/SENCO experience, strong baby room leadership or proven multi-site leadership experience.
What We Can Offer
- A senior leadership role with genuine responsibility
- Salary of £34,000–£38,000 depending on experience
- Higher salary consideration for an exceptional candidate with additional qualifications or specialist experience
- The opportunity to help shape Apollo Nursery from day one
- The chance to directly influence practice, environment, routines and staff culture
- A role that is broader than traditional nursery management
- The opportunity to work across both early years and wraparound provision
- Supportive leadership and clear expectations
- Ongoing professional development
- A role where your ideas, standards and experience will be valued
- The chance to be part of something ambitious, meaningful and child-centred
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a short covering message explaining why you feel you would be the right person for this role.
We are looking for someone who is ready to lead, support, grow and make a real difference.
Olympus Learning Collective is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be required to complete safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and suitable references.
Olympus Learning Collective
Real experiences. Real learning. Real childhood.
Pay: £33,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
