
Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead
3 days ago
Join to apply for the Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead role at Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Join to apply for the Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead role at Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten
Connect, Learn & Grow with Aspire Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is a proudly Australian-owned organisation delivering exceptional care and education across Victoria and Western Australia — and soon, New South Wales. Since opening our first centre in 2017, we've grown to 34 open centres, with more than 80 additional centres planned over the next few years.
We're now seeking a Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead to drive the successful launch of Aspire's new centres across Australia. Based at our Support Office in South Yarra, this leadership role oversees a dedicated team of Start-Up Area Managers and Coordinators, ensuring every centre opens with operational excellence, strong community engagement, and compliance with all regulatory standards.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future growth of a rapidly expanding organisation, embedding scalable processes and ensuring a seamless handover from start-up to established operations. At Aspire, we believe in empowering our people to grow alongside our centres.
What You'll Do
- Lead start-up strategy - Provide oversight for Aspire's national start-up and acquisition plans, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest compliance and operational standards.
- Manage a high-performing team - Coach and develop Start-Up Managers and Coordinators, building capability, consistency, and ownership across all new centres.
- Drive operational readiness - Oversee pre-opening audits, licensing, staffing, and risk management to guarantee centres are compliant and set up for success.
- Strengthen cross-functional collaboration - Act as the central liaison across Property, Compliance, HR, Marketing, Enquiry, and Executive Leadership, ensuring alignment and proactive risk management.
- Monitor performance & handover - Implement a structured five-month tracking framework post-opening, using key data points to evaluate centre readiness before transition to established operations.
- Embed continuous improvement - Refine start-up frameworks, handover processes, and best-practice toolkits based on evaluation and team feedback.
- Proven experience in senior operations or start-up leadership within the childcare sector.
- Minimum 4 years' experience in an operations role or start-up leadership, ideally with more than 5 services.
- Strong track record managing large, complex projects and leading multi-site operations.
- In-depth knowledge of the National Quality Framework (NQF), ACECQA standards, Child Safe Standards, and relevant regulations.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills — confident working with regulators, executives, centre leaders, and external partners.
- Tertiary qualification in Early Childhood, Business Management, or related field (required).
- Current Working with Children Check, Police Check, and First Aid certification.
- Flexibility to travel regularly across Victoria and other states (as required) to support new centre sites.
- Up to 50% childcare discount at any Aspire centre.
- Paid birthday leave - celebrate your day, your way.
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Genuine career growth and progression opportunities.
- A supportive, inclusive, values-led culture.
Aspire Early Education has zero tolerance for child abuse and a strong commitment to child safety and wellbeing in both physical and digital environments.Seniority level
- Seniority levelMid-Senior level
- Employment typeFull-time
- Job functionManagement and Manufacturing
- IndustriesEducation Administration Programs
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten by 2x
Sign in to set job alerts for "Operations Lead" roles.Operations Lead - Scaling Technology startupPort Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 month ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Manager Operations Improvement and AnalysisLaverton North, Victoria, Australia A$120,000.00-A$160,000.00 3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 4 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 weeks ago
Business Operations Lead - ISO9001 - Technology StartupPort Melbourne, Victoria, Australia A$100,000.00-A$120,000.00 1 week ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3 weeks ago
Operations Manager Australia (all genders)Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 month ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 4 days ago
OSHC Operations Manager - Regional VictoriaWerribee, Victoria, Australia 3 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Process & Performance – AustraliaMelbourne, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Strategy & Operations Manager, MarketplaceMelbourne, Victoria, Australia 3 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia A$140,000.00-A$170,000.00 1 day ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 16 hours ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 19 hours ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 5 days ago
Sunshine West, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 days ago
Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia A$150,000.00-A$160,000.00 2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia A$110,000.00-A$130,000.00 3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia A$120.00-A$140.00 3 weeks ago
Collingwood, Victoria, Australia 1 week ago
Chief Operating Officer – Contract LogisticsAltona North, Victoria, Australia 3 days ago
We're unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr-
Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead
3 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Aspire Early Education Full timeAdd expected salary to your profile for insightsAspire Early Education & Kindergarten is a proudly Australian-owned organisation delivering exceptional care and education across Victoria and Western Australia — and soon, New South Wales. Since opening our first centre in 2017, we've grown to 34 open centres, with more than 80 additional centres planned...
-
Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead
2 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Aspire Early Education Full timeAdd expected salary to your profile for insightsAspire Early Education & Kindergarten is a proudly Australian-owned organisation delivering exceptional care and education across Victoria and Western Australia — and soon, New South Wales.Since opening our first centre in 2017, we've grown to 34 open centres, with more than 80 additional centres planned over...
-
Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead
3 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Aspire Early Education Full timeAdd expected salary to your profile for insightsAspire Early Education & Kindergarten is a proudly Australian-owned organisation delivering exceptional care and education across Victoria and Western Australia — and soon, New South Wales. Since opening our first centre in 2017, we've grown to 34 open centres, with more than 80 additional centres planned...
-
Lead Data Scientist
2 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Culture Amp Full timeThis is a Lead Data Scientist role with Culture Amp based in Melbourne, VIC, AU == Culture Amp ==Role Seniority - seniorMore about the Lead Data Scientist role at Culture AmpJoin us on our mission to make a better world of work.Culture Amp is the world's leading employee experience platform, revolutionizing how 25 million employees across more than 6,500...
-
Lead Finance Business Partner
3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Culture Amp Full timeJoin us on our mission to make a better world of work.Culture Amp is the world's leading employee experience platform, revolutionizing how 25 million employees across more than 6,500 companies create a better world of work. Culture Amp empowers companies of all sizes and industries to transform employee engagement, drive performance management, and develop...
-
Start-Up & Growth Leader
3 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia beBeeOperations Full time $120,000 - $140,000Job Title: Start-Up & Acquisition Operations LeadWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced leader to drive the successful launch of new centres across Australia. As the Start-Up & Acquisition Operations Lead, you will oversee a dedicated team of professionals responsible for ensuring every centre opens with operational excellence, strong community...
-
Lead Finance Business Partner Only 24h Left
3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Culture Amp Full timeJoin us on our mission to make a better world of work.Culture Amp is the world's leading employee experience platform, revolutionizing how 25 million employees across more than 6,500 companies create a better world of work. Culture Amp empowers companies of all sizes and industries to transform employee engagement, drive performance management, and develop...
-
Lead Product Designer
3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Culture Amp Full timeLead Product Designer - Core Experiences - CoachMelbourneJoin us on our mission to make a better world of work.Culture Amp is the world's leading employee experience platform, revolutionizing how 25 million employees across more than 6,500 companies create a better world of work. Culture Amp empowers companies of all sizes and industries to transform...
-
Lead Product Designer
2 weeks ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Culture Amp Full timeLead Product Designer - Core Experiences - CoachMelbourneJoin us on our mission to make a better world of work.Culture Amp is the world's leading employee experience platform, revolutionizing how 25 million employees across more than 6,500 companies create a better world of work. Culture Amp empowers companies of all sizes and industries to transform...
-
New Business Manager, Wrap Platforms
3 days ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia AMP Full timeJoin to apply for the New Business Manager, Wrap Platforms role at AMP5 days ago Be among the first 25 applicantsJoin to apply for the New Business Manager, Wrap Platforms role at AMPGet AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you've likely heard of AMP. But at a time when society is changing, we are...