(27/10/2025) Centre Director Range 1

Centre Director - Early Learning Victoria Bani Walup

Salary band - $113,600 - $132,891

Early Learning Victoria has established a new government-owned early learning and childcare centre located at Murtoa College. Opened in 2025, this 57-place centre offers childcare, Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep for four-year-olds.

Early Learning Victoria has an application in progress with the Australian Government Department of Education for the Worker Retention Grant.

Role Purpose

The Centre Director will lead recruitment, staff development, and enrolment management, with assistance from the Early Learning Victoria central team. They will oversee daily operations at the service, delivering high-quality programs while ensuring compliance with regulations and organisational policies. This role involves close collaboration with the Educational Leader to lead pedagogy and implement high-quality educational programs for children across the service. This role will be integral in fostering a positive team culture that contributes to a long term, sustainable workforce within the centre.

Role Requirements

- Committed to providing an environment where children can flourish and thrive, supported by pedagogy and practice that upholds all elements of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations and the National Quality Standards and is guided by the philosophy of Early Learning Victoria.

- Encourages reflective practice where feedback is used constructively to improve teaching and learning experiences.

- Stays informed about current research and trends to ensure the service delivers high-quality, innovative programs that meet the needs of children and families.

- Ensures the centre is compliant with all aspects of the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, National Quality Standards, Child Protection and Child Safe Standards, Approved Frameworks and all Early Learning Victoria policies and procedures.

- Leads day-to-day operations of the centre including staffing, child enrolment, budgeting and expenditure, stakeholder management and centre related communications.

- Oversees the implementation of high-quality care and educational programs that advances children's holistic development. Upholds the Early Learning Victoria philosophy and translates this into centre-level values, goals and behaviours. Builds and maintains meaningful relationships with families. Facilitates collaboration with co-located services and schools. Ensures centre alignment with the strategic and operational direction of Early Learning Victoria.

- Manages all aspects of centre staffing including recruitment, induction, rostering, performance, professional development and mentoring, safety and wellbeing and promoting a positive team culture that values diversity and innovation.

- Develops strategies for workforce attraction, retention and development and provides feedback to the central office about opportunities and challenges.

- Engages with staff on all aspects of operations, fostering a collaborative centre dynamic that encourages communication and shared problem-solving.

- Ensures the centre is compliant with all aspects of the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, National Quality Standards, Child Protection and Child Safe Standards, Approved Frameworks and all Early Learning Victoria policies and procedures.

Capabilities

Communication: Utilises effective communication skills to develop and maintain meaningful relationships with staff, families, and children, fostering a supportive and collaborative centre environment. Promotes respectful relationship and conflict resolution.

Personal Attributes: Demonstrates the public sector values of responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.

Flexibility and adaptability: Operates effectively in a flexible and changing environment and manages workload efficiently to meet the centre's needs.

Working Collaboratively: Leads a culture of collaboration within the centre and builds relationships with stakeholders and the community to support operations and maximise impact of the centre.

People Leadership: Holds self and team accountable to public sector values and agreed performance standards. Supports the achievement of educational and developmental outcomes by proactively addressing and resolving issues. Establishes and implements strategies to enhance staff engagement and motivation. Creates opportunities to recognise and celebrate the performance and contributions of the team.

High Quality Practice: Committed to providing an environment where children can flourish and thrive, supported by pedagogy and practice that upholds all elements of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations and the National Quality Standards and is guided by the philosophy of Early Learning Victoria. Encourages reflective practice where feedback is used constructively to improve teaching and learning experiences. Stays informed about current research and trends to ensure the service delivers high-quality, innovative programs that meet the needs of children and families.

Selection Criteria

Criteria 1: Demonstrates the Child Safety and Compliance – please see role requirements.

Criteria 2: People Leadership – please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Criteria 3: Personal Attributes – please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Criteria 4: High Quality Practice – please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email link].

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at: (link).

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at: (link).

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role. In your cover letter, please also respond directly to the Key Selection Criteria.

Please note, applications will only be reviewed after the job ad close date. We will not be contacting applicants before this time. For more information about the role please contact Julie Turner at julie.turner@education.vic.gov.au.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 02 November 2025

Applications close Saturday 1 November 2025 at 11.59pm

Who May Apply

Experience required will include:

- Demonstrated management and leadership experience in early childhood education and care.

- Demonstrated understanding of Education Care Services National Law and Regulations, the National Quality Framework, Child Safe Standards, Quality Improvement Plan and the Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework.

- Financial management and administrative experience specific to early childhood education and care.

- Ability to lead and guide teaching teams and competency in all aspects of staff management.

- Effective communication and relationship-building skills with staff, children, families and communities.

- Experience working with children and families experiencing vulnerability.

- Proficiency in relevant administrative systems.

Specific skills/qualifications required

- Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or higher (Bachelor of Education/Teaching (Early Childhood) will be highly regarded)

- Current 'Employee' Working with Children's Check

- Willingness to consent to a National Police Check (to be arranged by Early Learning Victoria)

- International Police Check required if resided outside of Australia for 12 months or more during the last 10 years

- First Aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and asthma qualifications

- Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting online learning (or willing to obtain)

- Food Handling Certificate and Safe Sleep Training is desirable.

About Early Learning Victoria

The Victorian Government is establishing 50 government-owned and operated early learning centres by 2032 as part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms. The centres will offer childcare, Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep. The centres will provide high-quality, accessible and inclusive early childhood education and care that is child centred, focused on learning through play and in nature, with strong connections to local communities.

Early Learning Victoria's central office is part of the Victorian Department of Education. The central team is leading the roll-out of the 50 centres and will support and oversee centre operations once they open.

Staff in the Early Learning Victoria centres will be part of a new Victorian government-employed early childhood workforce. We are committed to creating a supportive and enriching work environment for our employees, offering a range of benefits and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Early Learning Victoria is committed to Child Safety and the safeguarding of children from harm.

#J-18808-Ljbffr