MPNG Business Manager
Full Time £47,000 / yearJob Overview
We’re looking for a Nursery Group Business Manager to support and strengthen the commercial and operational performance of our group-owned nurseries across London and the Southeast. Reporting to the Head of Business Operations, you will work closely with and develop 8 Nursery Managers, helping them deliver outstanding parent experiences, strong financial results and a consistent way of working across the group.
This is a hands-on leadership role focused on people, business performance and operational improvement. You won’t be responsible for Early Years curriculum or regulatory compliance, we already have specialist leaders for that. Instead, your focus will be on ensuring our settings run brilliantly from a commercial, operational and people management perspective.
You’ll join an ambitious and supportive team and play a key part in helping us grow and continually improve.
You’ll typically split your time between sites and Head Office, with around 2 days a week in our Hertfordshire headquarters and 3 days on-site with our nurseries.
This is a hands-on leadership role focused on people, business performance and operational improvement. You won’t be responsible for Early Years curriculum or regulatory compliance, we already have specialist leaders for that. Instead, your focus will be on ensuring our settings run brilliantly from a commercial, operational and people management perspective.
You’ll join an ambitious and supportive team and play a key part in helping us grow and continually improve.
You’ll typically split your time between sites and Head Office, with around 2 days a week in our Hertfordshire headquarters and 3 days on-site with our nurseries.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
• Lead, coach and support 8 Nursery Managers, helping them deliver strong commercial and operational results.
• Act as line manager to all MPNG Nursery Managers, including 1:1s, inductions, performance management and ongoing professional development.
• Support and empower Nursery Managers to build strong, engaged and high-performing teams.
• Monitor and support the wellbeing of Nursery Managers, ensuring they feel equipped, supported and motivated.
Operational Excellence
• Work alongside the Head of Business Ops to support Nursery Managers, ensuring commercial goals remain aligned.
• Ensure consistency in processes, systems and performance across sites.
• Maintain high standards across the nursery environments, ensuring each setting is safe, well presented, well-maintained and always ready to welcome families.
• Work with Nursery Managers on staffing models, budgets, rotas and operational systems.
• Deliver improvements that make nurseries more efficient, cost-effective and parent-friendly.
People & HR Support
• Line manage Head of Recruitment
• Oversee and manage the recruitment function for the nursery group, ensuring staffing levels, resourcing and onboarding meet the needs of each setting.
• Provide support for staffing challenges and ensure effective deployment of staff across MPNG.
• Provide and signpost towards HR support including coaching and development of Nursery Managers and nursery teams.
• Responsible for the implementation and ongoing management of the Nursery Group’s employee benefits, ensuring they remain up to date and that staff are fully informed on eligibility and access.
Commercial Performance
• Manage key commercial drivers across the group: occupancy, conversions, staffing efficiency, customer experience and revenue.
• Take ownership of commercial KPIs and performance reporting at site level.
• Use performance data and insights to inform decisions and drive improvements.
• Collaborate with central teams (Early Years, Quality, Marketing, HR and Finance) to drive operational and commercial success at site level, supporting the planning and delivery of Nursery Group–wide initiatives and events.
• Provide hands-on support for the onboarding of new Nursery Group settings and acquisitions, coordinating with central teams to ensure operational readiness
• Lead, coach and support 8 Nursery Managers, helping them deliver strong commercial and operational results.
• Act as line manager to all MPNG Nursery Managers, including 1:1s, inductions, performance management and ongoing professional development.
• Support and empower Nursery Managers to build strong, engaged and high-performing teams.
• Monitor and support the wellbeing of Nursery Managers, ensuring they feel equipped, supported and motivated.
Operational Excellence
• Work alongside the Head of Business Ops to support Nursery Managers, ensuring commercial goals remain aligned.
• Ensure consistency in processes, systems and performance across sites.
• Maintain high standards across the nursery environments, ensuring each setting is safe, well presented, well-maintained and always ready to welcome families.
• Work with Nursery Managers on staffing models, budgets, rotas and operational systems.
• Deliver improvements that make nurseries more efficient, cost-effective and parent-friendly.
People & HR Support
• Line manage Head of Recruitment
• Oversee and manage the recruitment function for the nursery group, ensuring staffing levels, resourcing and onboarding meet the needs of each setting.
• Provide support for staffing challenges and ensure effective deployment of staff across MPNG.
• Provide and signpost towards HR support including coaching and development of Nursery Managers and nursery teams.
• Responsible for the implementation and ongoing management of the Nursery Group’s employee benefits, ensuring they remain up to date and that staff are fully informed on eligibility and access.
Commercial Performance
• Manage key commercial drivers across the group: occupancy, conversions, staffing efficiency, customer experience and revenue.
• Take ownership of commercial KPIs and performance reporting at site level.
• Use performance data and insights to inform decisions and drive improvements.
• Collaborate with central teams (Early Years, Quality, Marketing, HR and Finance) to drive operational and commercial success at site level, supporting the planning and delivery of Nursery Group–wide initiatives and events.
• Provide hands-on support for the onboarding of new Nursery Group settings and acquisitions, coordinating with central teams to ensure operational readiness
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
• Proven commercial leadership experience within a multi-site nursery group. (This is essential, we need someone who understands occupancy, fee revenue, admissions, profitability and how nursery businesses operate.)
Desirable Skills & Attributes
• Strong people leadership skills and experience developing managers.
• A commercial and operational mindset, with confidence managing budgets and KPIs.
• A collaborative, hands-on style with a positive, approachable attitude.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong, trusted relationships.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel across the region.
• Proven commercial leadership experience within a multi-site nursery group. (This is essential, we need someone who understands occupancy, fee revenue, admissions, profitability and how nursery businesses operate.)
Desirable Skills & Attributes
• Strong people leadership skills and experience developing managers.
• A commercial and operational mindset, with confidence managing budgets and KPIs.
• A collaborative, hands-on style with a positive, approachable attitude.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong, trusted relationships.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel across the region.