Early Learning Area Manager

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time / From 15/12/2024

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1452205

**Location Profile**:
**Area Manager - Early Learning and Childcare Centres - Early Learning Victoria**

Salary band - $154,865 - $175,025

The first four centres to be established are located at Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner, Murtoa College in Murtoa, Eaglehawk North Primary School in Eaglehawk, and Sunshine Primary School in Sunshine. Opening in 2025, these centres will offer childcare, and Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, eventually transitioning to include Pre-Prep. The incumbent will be based at a primary location of work and may be expected to travel where required.

**Role Purpose**:
The Area Manager is responsible for providing oversight and day-to-day operational support for and to Early Learning Victoria (ELV) centres. This includes the establishment of new ELV centres across Victoria in both Metropolitan and Regional areas. This role provides operational management and leadership to Centre Directors and the Centre Leadership teams to ensure high quality programs and operational excellence.

**Capabilities**:
**Administration**:

- Facilitate coordination and communication between ELV centres and the ELV central office.
- Offer direction, coaching, and mentorship to Centre Directors and centre leadership teams, fostering excellence in quality care, child development, and education while achieving operational and business objectives.
- Guide and support Centre Directors in areas including HR management, program and service delivery, compliance, enrolments, stakeholder relationships, finances, and child safety.
- Oversee and establish area-wide guidance, advice, and communication strategies in consultation with ELV.
- Provide expert advice on pedagogical practices, collaborating with Centre Directors and centre leadership teams to ensure the highest standards of service delivery and optimal child learning outcomes.

**Service Delivery**:

- Oversee the implementation of educational programs that support children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, ensuring they are age-appropriate and meet community needs in line with the ELV philosophy.
- Oversee the centre-led enrolment process, including inquiries, family support, debtors, attendance monitoring, and contribute to marketing strategies that enhance enrolment.
- Report on service and individual child achievements to ELV, families, and stakeholders.
- Promote on-site co-located services by facilitating staff-family relationships and maintain strong connections with local schools and the community.
- Ensures practices at each ELV centre are consistent with and directly informed by ELV policies, including pedagogy based upon the ELV philosophy.
- Operate as an interface between key functions in the central ELV team and Centre Directors.
- Supports Centre Directors with addressing and resolving family complaints

**Financial Oversight**:

- Oversee centre-based budgets, including revenue, expenditure and forecasting.
- Work with Centre Directors to maximise occupancy and revenue via local area marketing, enrolments and value add services.
- Support central office with budget allocation to ELV centres for the effective functioning of the centre (e.g. for fit outs, perishables, etc)
- Report to Central Office on financial status of the allocated ELV centres and ensure ELV centres operate within approved budget allocations.

**People Management**:

- Develop and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders, including community groups, agencies, service providers, union representatives, neighbouring early learning services, and other organisations.
- Foster a culture that aligns with the VPS values of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
- Attend relevant events, consultations, and training programs relevant to Early Childhood Education and Care service delivery
- Support Centre Directors to develop and maintain positive relationship between schools and ELCs on school sites
- Support Centre Directors to manage relationships with internal Department of Education colleagues including Early Childhood Improvement Branches
- Support Centre Directors with guidance on HR matters including recruitment, payroll, people management and workforce strategies.

**Compliance and child safety**:

- Coordinate, communicate and report to the central ELV team on all regulatory, compliance and child safety matters.
- Adhere to ELV policies and procedures and the National Quality Framework.
- Regularly review each the ELV centres¿ quality improvement plans, and implementation of the Victorian Early Learning and Development Framework.
- Provide support and guidance through the Assessment and Rating process.
- Oversee and implement compliance improvement strategies where necessary.
- Communic