Hiring Now: Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim) Near You – Apply Today!

Your Next Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim) Job Starts Here – Apply Now!

Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim)

Job Posted: 4 days ago

Salary: £ Competitive
Job Type: Contract
Location: Chichester, West Sussex

Expire in: 24 days

Job Description

Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim)
Fixed-Term Assignment | Flexible Working
Chichester
Competitive Salary
Are you an experienced early years leader with a strong commercial mindset? I’m looking for a strategic consultant to help unlock growth, strengthen workforce capacity, and build a sustainable future across three nursery settings.
The Role
You’ll work closely with senior leadership to tackle one of the biggest challenges in early years provision: staffing and capacity.
Despite strong demand and full registration capacity, current staffing levels are limiting occupancy to around 50–60%. One rural setting faces additional recruitment challenges—creating a unique and impactful brief.
This is a high-impact, short-term assignment where your expertise will directly shape future growth and sustainability.
What You’ll Deliver
  * A full diagnostic review of staffing, deployment, and workforce capacity
  * A targeted recruitment plan for a hard-to-staff rural nursery
  * A costed 3-year workforce and capacity strategy across all settings
  * Practical recommendations to improve:
      * Staffing models
      * Leadership capacity
      * Recruitment and retention
  * A clear action plan with risks, priorities, and next steps
What You’ll Be Doing
  * Reviewing current staffing structures, ratios, and leadership capacity
  * Analysing how staffing impacts occupancy and financial performance
  * Identifying barriers to recruitment and retention (including rural challenges)
  * Designing innovative, realistic recruitment solutions, such as:
      * Flexible working models
      * Apprenticeships and “grow your own” pathways
      * Employer branding and attraction strategies
  * Building a phased plan to safely increase occupancy while maintaining quality and compliance
What We’re Looking For
  * Significant senior leadership experience in early years education
  * Proven success in: Commercial nursery operations and Workforce planning and scaling capacity
  * Strong knowledge of: EYFS statutory framework | Ofsted requirements | Staffing ratios and operational delivery
  * Experience solving recruitment and retention challenges, ideally in rural or hard-to-fill settings
Desirable Experience
  * Multi-site nursery leadership
  * Financial or commercial planning expertise
  * Developing apprenticeship or workforce pipeline models
Apply now or call Lynsey at Key Recruitment for more information

Before You Apply

Do not include the following in your job application, CV, or cover letter:

Bank details.
National Insurance number.
Date of birth.

You should not be asked for payment or irrelevant information. If you have concerns about a job advert or employer, seek guidance on how to proceed.

Looking for your next career move? Join a top company hiring Early Years Strategy Lead (Interim) job near me in Chichester, West Sussex! This is your chance to work on exciting projects, grow professionally, and enjoy a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits. Whether you're an experienced professional or looking to take the next step, this role offers the perfect opportunity to enhance your skills and make an impact. Don’t miss out—apply today via Vita CV and take your career to the next level!