Start-Up Growth Strategist

Aspire is seeking a seasoned leader to drive the successful launch of our new centres across Australia. This strategic 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. As a trusted advisor, you will provide oversight for our national start-up and acquisition plans, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest compliance and operational standards.

• Lead start-up strategy: Provide guidance on the development of comprehensive start-up plans, outlining key milestones, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Manage a high-performing team: Coach and develop start-up area 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.

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.

At Aspire, we believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for both children and employees. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Aspire has zero tolerance for child abuse and a strong commitment to child safety and wellbeing in both physical and digital environments.