Area Manager – Early Years in Sheffield - The Lime Trees Group CIC

Are you ready to make a real impact in children’s lives and lead a team that’s shaping the future of wraparound childcare? At The Lime Trees, we’re on the lookout for an inspirational and hands-on Area Manager to oversee our thriving Breakfast and After School Clubs across the Sheffield/ Rotherham region.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with leadership experience in early years or education who’s looking to take the next step in their career, with the flexibility of a four-day working week and the reward of seeing your work make a difference every single day.

About the Role

As an Area Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to provide safe, engaging, and inclusive environments where children can learn, play, and grow. You’ll lead and support a network of sites, empower staff teams, and ensure each setting delivers exceptional care and creativity.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Operational Leadership: Overseeing multiple clubs to ensure quality, safety, and fun are at the forefront of everything we do.
• Team Support: Coaching, developing, and inspiring staff to reach their full potential.
• Partnership Building: Strengthening relationships with schools, communities, and local organisations to grow and enrich our services.
• Strategic Development: Driving forward new initiatives that make a lasting positive impact on families and children.

What We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• Experienced in managing multi-site childcare, education, or playwork settings
• Confident in safeguarding, compliance, and operational excellence
• Organised, proactive, and passionate about supporting teams and children
• An excellent communicator with great people skills and attention to detail
• IT confident and familiar with digital systems
• Able to travel across Sheffield and Rotherham (own transport essential)
• Flexible to occasionally visit our Nottingham Head Office

Why Join The Lime Trees?

We know our people are our greatest strength — so we look after you with:

• A competitive hourly rate and recognition for your experience
• Four-day working week (giving you more balance and flexibility)
• 24 days’ annual leave (pro rata) + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and company wellbeing initiatives
• Ongoing training, development, and career growth opportunities
• A positive, supportive, and family-first culture — where your ideas and energy are truly valued

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding you will also be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and other suitability checks as part of our safer recruitment procedures.