Early Years Strategic L&D Manager

Benefits to You:

• Health Cash Plan (including optical, dental and medical, plus online discounts)
• Employer pension contribution
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays FTE, increasing with length of service up to a maximum of 30 days
• Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 10 days per annum)
• Celebration Leave
• Life Assurance
• Refer a friend scheme
• Employee Assistance Program with Health Assured
• 50% discount on nursery fees
• Day camps discounts: 1 week free and 1 week at 50% per child per annum
• Campsite and activities discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor
• Cycle to work scheme

Job Purpose:

The Early Years Strategic L&D Manager will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Early Years workforce talent development including setting up the YMCAFG Early Years Academy as a centre of excellence for early childhood education, learning, and workforce development.

The postholder will coordinate, quality assure, and oversee the delivery of learning and development programmes, build strong partnerships with external agencies, and ensure that the Academy delivers sector leading standards in research informed practice.

This is a strategic, non-training delivery role: the postholder will work closely with the YMCAFG People team to support and lead systems, partnerships, commissioning, quality assurance, and organisational development, working with internal and external specialists who deliver training and expertise.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & Service Development

• Lead the development and implementation of the Academy’s strategic plan, vision, and learning framework.
• Translate organisational priorities and sector research into coherent development programmes.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across the Academy.
• Position the Academy as a recognised centre of excellence in early years learning and workforce development.

External Partnerships & Sector Collaboration

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with external agencies including local authorities, health services, universities, professional bodies, and specialist SEND services.
• Lead collaborative projects, research links, and sector innovation pilots.
• Represent YMCA Fairthorne Group at local, regional, and national forums related to early years and workforce development.
• Identify opportunities for partnership funding and external programme development.

Learning & Development Programme Coordination

• Oversee the design, commissioning, and coordination of internal and external training and development programmes.
• Ensure all CPD and specialist training is high quality, aligned to organisational priorities, and grounded in evidence-based practice.
• Oversee career pathways, induction frameworks, apprenticeships, and leadership development programmes.
• Implement systems for measuring the impact and effectiveness of workforce development.

Quality Assurance & Performance Monitoring

• Lead the Academy’s quality assurance systems to ensure alignment with EYFS, Ofsted requirements and sector best practice.
• Oversee processes for tracking staff capability, progression, and training impact.
• Lead audits, evaluation cycles, and data reviews to monitor performance and drive improvement.
• Ensure a continuous improvement culture across all Academy operations.

Operational Oversight

• Maintain effective operational systems, planning cycles, scheduling, and communication processes.
• Manage budgets for training, consultancy, partnerships, and Academy development.
• Ensure safeguarding, data protection and compliance standards are consistently upheld.
• Support development of resources, environments, and infrastructure required for delivery.

Leadership of People & Practice (Non‑Delivery Role)

• Provide leadership and direction to internal trainers, subject leads, consultants, and specialist partners.
• Manage the annual CPD calendar and L&D roadmap.
• Promote a culture of reflective practice, collaboration, and professional curiosity.
• Contribute to supervision structures related to development priorities and performance indicators.
• You will be responsible for the management, guidance, and ongoing support of volunteers within your department, ensuring they are integrated effectively to help achieve charity goals.

Person Specification:Personal Attributes

• A strategic, confident leader with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Able to inspire, influence and collaborate across internal teams and external agencies.
• Highly organised, proactive and solutions focused.
• Committed to the YMCA values and mission, with a passion for early years excellence.

Essential

• Qualification in Early Childhood Studies, Education, Leadership, Learning & Development, or related field.
• Significant experience in senior leadership within early years, education, or workforce development.
• Proven ability to build and manage multi agency partnerships.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS, child development, safeguarding and sector standards.
• Experience coordinating or overseeing organisational L&D programmes or quality assurance.
• Confident in analysing data and using it to shape strategic decisions.
• Experience managing complex programmes and multiple stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience establishing a new service, training function or L&D hub.
• Knowledge of Reggio Emilia, nature pedagogy, or other specialist early years approaches.
• Experience in strategic SEND or inclusion leadership.
• Experience managing budgets and commissioning external providers.

Successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service.

We are an equal opportunities charity with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.

Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity who continue to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.

Apply now

Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity that continues to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.

The successful applicant must undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service.

We are an equal opportunities charity with a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.