Centre Manager — Best Start Brickfield
Location: Brickfield, Dublin 12 Job Type:
Full-Time, Permanent — Immediate Start
Salary: starting at €20.25 per hour (aligned with qualification level and experience)
Be Heard. Be Valued. Be Happy. You Matter.About the Role
Best Start is an established multi-centre early years provider in Dublin, and we are currently recruiting a Centre Manager for our newest branch at Brickfield. This is a purpose-designed, modern setting with a warm team already in place — and we're looking for an experienced, passionate leader to take it forward.
If you are a confident early years professional looking for a setting where your leadership is genuinely valued, and your professional development is taken seriously, we would love to hear from you.
Quality at Best Start — A Better Start Partnership
Best Start has worked with the Better Start Quality Mentoring Service for the past five years across our established branches, building a strong culture of reflective practice, professional development, and continuous improvement.
Our Brickfield branch is now beginning its own Better Start engagement, starting with a full day of onsite training and continuing with dedicated mentoring over the next six months. As Centre Manager, you will lead this quality journey with expert support behind you.
What You'll Do
As Centre Manager, you will have full responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of the centre:
- Lead and inspire your team to create a nurturing, respectful workplace where staff feel empowered, supported, and recognised
- Induct, support, supervise, and develop your team, promoting continuous professional development
- Oversee warm, child-centred, play-based care and Aistear-aligned learning, where every child feels important, heard, and loved
- Lead the centre's Better Start quality mentoring engagement, embedding reflective practice with your team
- Act as Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for safeguarding and child protection under Children First
- Maintain full compliance with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, keeping the service Tusla and Pobal inspection-ready at all times
- Build strong, trusting relationships with families through viewings, inductions, parent meetings, and family events
- Manage enrolments, waiting lists, occupancy, rotas, and daily operations — including NCS and ECCE , AIM administration and use of the Hive (or willingness to learn it)
Who We're Looking For
Essential
- A relevant qualification at QQI Level 7/8 (or recognised equivalent) in Early Childhood Care & Education
- At least 2 years' experience in a childcare leadership or management role
- Solid working knowledge of the legislation governing early years services in Ireland, and of AIM, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and ECCE
- Strong knowledge of the Aistear and Síolta frameworks and regulatory compliance
- Excellent interpersonal, organisational, and leadership skills
- A warm, team-focused approach and a genuine "You Matter" mindset
- The right to work in Ireland
- Fluent English
Desirable
- Experience opening, growing, or leading quality improvement in an early years setting
- Experience as a DLP or Deputy DLP
- Familiarity with the Hive
What We Offer
- Salary aligned with qualification level and experience starting from €20.25 per hour
- Additional annual leave based on length of service
- Statutory Sick pay
- Ongoing CPD and paid training
- Six months of dedicated Better Start Quality Mentoring support as you lead the centre
- Company events
Please Read Before Applying
To be considered for this position, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Hold a minimum QQI Level 7 qualification (or higher, or recognised equivalent) in Early Learning and Care / Early Childhood Care and Education
- Have at least 2 years' leadership or management experience in an early years setting
- Have fluent spoken and written English
- Be currently living in Ireland and/or legally entitled to work full-time in Ireland
- Be available to work full-time, with an immediate or short-notice start
Garda vetting (and international police clearance where applicable), reference checks, and verification of qualifications apply.
Ready to Join Us?
If this sounds like your kind of role, we'd love to hear from you — come and lead something special at our Brickfield branch.
Apply with your CV via Indeed. This position is available immediately, so early applications are strongly encouraged
Pay: From €20.25 per hour
Work Location: In person
