Area Director
Job Title: Area Director Shropshire & Warwickshire
Reports to: Divisional Director
Based: Home with travel to centres in Shropshire/Warwickshire area (you must live within a commutable distance)
Employment type: Full time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive DOE with a company car
About the role
As an Area Director, you will lead the strategic and operational management of multiple childcare centres across your area.
You will be a champion of safeguarding, quality, and performance, ensuring every centre achieves excellence while supporting the development of staff and the wider team.
This is a dynamic leadership role, perfect for a visionary, proactive, and experienced early years professional who thrives in a multi-site environment.
About Busy Bees
At Busy Bees, our vision is to give every child the best start in life. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality childcare and exciting learning opportunities that prepare every child for school.
Our core values define who we are:
Care: We take care seriously.
Quality: We maintain the highest standards of safety and early years education.
Service: We provide exceptional support to families and parents.
Value: We value our people and provide outstanding value to our families.
Why Join Busy Bees?
This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children while leading and developing exceptional teams. At Busy Bees, your leadership will shape the future of early years education across multiple centres, helping every child get the best possible start in life.
Why you'll love working for us
- Annual Salary Bonus
- Sector-leading family leave, including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
- ‘Hive’ (Reward Gateway)
- Childcare discount
- Your birthday off every year plus 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
- Health and wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme, Peppy, and Mental Health apps
- Professional development through our in-house training academy and access to further qualification
Key Responsibilities
Childcare & Education
Create and maintain a strong safeguarding culture across all centres.
Serve as the main point of contact for centres in your area.
Oversee the implementation and effectiveness of educational programmes, monitoring performance and outcomes.
Ensure full compliance with all regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.
Compliance & Safety
Conduct regular site visits (at least every six weeks) to monitor safety, health, and operational standards.
Prepare centres for inspections, audits, and regulatory visits.
Lead responses to crises or emergencies, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
Complete all mandatory training required for your role.
People & Leadership
Ensure timely payroll, recruitment, and adherence to safer recruitment practices.
Attract, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across centres.
Promote a positive, fair, and respectful work environment, supporting staff wellbeing and retention.
Facilitate training, coaching, and professional development for all direct reports.
Lead engagement initiatives, including surveys and action plans, to improve team performance.
Performance & Operations
Act as the key liaison between centres and the National Support Centre.
Monitor performance metrics for centres and drive operational improvements.
Oversee marketing and community engagement initiatives to enhance centre reputation.
Manage financial performance, budgets, and identify opportunities to improve value.
Set and uphold high standards of customer service, addressing issues promptly.
Ensure smooth implementation of new initiatives and policies across all centres.
The Ideal Candidate
Experience
Extensive senior management experience, in early years settings.
Experience managing multiple sites or centres is essential.
- Experience leading high performing teams and driving improvements.
Skills & Competencies
Leadership & Management: Inspire, motivate, and guide teams to achieve excellence.
Commercial Acumen: Maximise operational and financial performance.
Communication: Clear, professional, and effective verbal and written communication.
Coaching & Mentoring: Support teams to reach their full potential.
Change Management: Lead teams confidently through change and challenges.
Personal Attributes
Visionary leader with a passion for early years education.
Reliable, responsible, and with high integrity.
Empathetic, supportive, and capable of building strong relationships.
Adaptable, proactive, and committed to continuous improvement.
Other Requirements
Must pass a criminal record check (enhanced DBS or equivalent).
Flexible working hours, including travel between centres and occasional early mornings/evenings.