SAES1 Director, Workforce and Quality

Office for Early Childhood Development

Job reference: 689979

Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Unique opportunity to lead the strategic transformation of South Australia's early years workforce.

Why work with us:

The Office for Early Childhood Development has been formed with a clear mandate: to create a fairer and better future for all children in South Australia by implementing the accepted recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.

As the steward of the early childhood development system, the Office will act on government's behalf, and work in collaboration with the sector, to organise and connect the system to reduce developmental vulnerability.

This includes providing universal access to quality, teacher-led preschool from the age of 3, growing and sustaining a quality early childhood workforce, and greater supports and connected services for families in the 1000 days of a child's life.

About this role:

We are seeking a visionary, strategic, and collaborative leader to take on the pivotal role of Director, Workforce and Quality within the Office for Early Childhood Development.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Government Relations, Workforce and Quality and forming part of the executive leadership team, this role is critical in shaping the future of preschool education in South Australia. The Director will lead the development and delivery of innovative workforce strategies to ensure a well-prepared and sustainable early childhood workforce while enhancing the quality of preschool services across the state.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership of a highly skilled team to design, develop and deliver workforce and quality initiatives
• Develop and implement workforce attraction, training and retention initiatives to grow the supply of early childhood teachers and educators
• Monitor and forecast trends in the early years workforce to proactively adapt initiatives and strategies.
• Oversee policies and programs to enhance workforce quality and professional practice across government and non-government preschool services.
• Lead the Office's approach to professional practice support and quality initiatives, particularly for the expansion 3-year-old preschool programs.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with providers, educational institutions, regulators, and government agencies.
• Measure the impact of workforce and quality strategies and drive continuous improvement through evidence-based decision making.

About you:

To be successful in this role, you will be a dynamic, experienced leader who is passionate about early childhood education and system-level change. You will be a strong strategic thinker, capable of shaping long-term goals while delivering tangible short-term outcomes. With exceptional stakeholder engagement and leadership skills, you will work collaboratively across sectors to drive reform and ensure every child in South Australia has access to high-quality early learning.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in workforce strategy and planning with evidence of ensuring translation of priorities into executed deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire, lead and manage teams effectively in a reform environment.
• Strong policy, data analysis, project and financial management capabilities.
• Prior experience in developing and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships (preferably related to education, human services and/or child development).
• Familiarity with education policies, regulations, and funding mechanisms, particularly related to early childhood education, is highly desirable.
• Experience advocating for educational initiatives or policy changes, especially in the context of early childhood education, is beneficial.

Role Benefits:

• A role with real influence and impact on the state's generational Flying Start early childhood reform.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sector.
• Work with a diverse range of stakeholders across the agency and within the early childhood sector.
• Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia's children and families.
• Access to flexible working arrangements.

Application Instructions and Information:

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants must submit a CV and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the attached position description.

Classification:

SAES1 - South Australian Executive Service level 1.

Additional Note:

This is a full-time 2-year long term contract role (1.0 FTE).

Enquiries:

Enquiries can be directed to Bec Curtain, Executive Director, Government Relations, Workforce and Quality via Bec.Curtain@sa.gov.au

Special Conditions:

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close: 18/08/202511:45 PM

Attachments:

- Position Description - SAES1 Director, Workforce and Quality.pdf

Flexibility Statement

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.

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