Manager Childcare Services

Leadership position managing 85+ staff (FTE & casuals)
- Full-time permanent role with a competitve salary package
- Provide quality Community Services to residents across the Hills Shire

The Hills Shire is home to 200,000 residents and we expect this to grow to 300,000 over the next few decades. Our local government area includes 27 suburbs, spanning an impressive 380km2. The urban area makes up 1/3 of the shire, with the rest being peri-urban. We are referred to as ‘The Garden Shire’ due to the abundance of natural beauty, aesthetic appeal of the localities, and our well-maintained parks, gardens and ovals.

We have great schools, sporting facilities, outdoor recreation, shopping, food, a shared sense of community, transport links and attractive housing options. Our large organisation boasts quality people, coupled with sound governance and good financial underpinnings.

The Hills Shire Council office is based in Norwest, conveniently located just 30 mins North/West of the Sydney CBD, a pleasant 10-minute walk from the Norwest Metro Station, 20 mins North of Parramatta CBD, with easy access to the Western suburbs and Central Coast.

**Benefits**
- Full-time, permanent role
- Attractive annual remuneration package between $226,360 to $245,573 (inclusive of base salary, super and a vehicle allowance)
- Large modern office with free onsite undercover parking, an onsite café, cycling facilities, lockers and showers
- Leave entitlements: 4 weeks’ paid annual leave, 3 weeks’ paid sick leave, plus contract special leave of 8 days per year
- Learning & development opportunities
- Proactive wellbeing initiatives including; an active social club, aquatic and fitness membership discounts

**The Opportunity**
As the ‘Manager Childcare Services & Hills Community Care’ you will lead over 85 staff (FTE & casuals) working across Council’s 5 Childcare centres and Hills Community Care (HCC) which includes multiple aged care programs and services. You will be required to register with the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as a ‘person with management responsibility’ on behalf of Council.

This position is viewed as a Business Manager/Unit Manager, as each Childcare centre and Aged care program has their own complex budgets/finances. This position reports into the Group Manager - Customer and Community Services.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Provide leadership and strategic business analysis in relation to the Hills Community Care and Childcare programs to ensure financial profitability within a customer focussed service delivery framework. This includes managing a total budget of $15M+.
- Oversee the professional development and performance of staff across both teams, this includes coaching staff to ensure both a culture of customer service and continuous improvement is embedded in all day-to-day activities.
- Develop and implement a rolling 5-year strategic plan for each business unit to ensure the services are profitable.
- Implement management strategies for the evaluation, monitoring and reporting on performance and adjusting each business to suit changing operations.
- Maintain accounting records and production of Financial Statements and Balance Sheets - monthly, quarterly, and annually for Hills Community Care and Childcare programs, including cash flow management, and payment of creditors.
- Establish and maintain management systems and operational procedures that support Councils Children’s Services Long Day Care (LDC) and Hills Community Care (HCC) program, whilst ensuring their compliance to national standards, regulations and acts.
- Provide direction and strategic advice with the implementation of the proposed transition to the support at home program by 1st July 2027.
- Engage stakeholders in the establishment of fees for and charges for Hills Community Care and Childcare programs.
- Represent the organisation as relevant events, forums, stakeholders briefings, community engagement opportunities, Council meetings and workshops (as required), which are often held after hours.

**About You**
You are a respected leader of people who has a proven track record of leading teams through change and growth, creating cultures that you are proud of and achieving outcomes. You are an individual who embraces growth, innovation and customer service, who is passionate about delivering positive community outcomes in a fast paced and complex environment.

You have excellent communication skills and can build effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders. A high level of strategic thinking, business planning and financial performance reporting is highly sought after. Ideally, you will have demonstrated experience managing complex business units, teams and budgets.

**Recruitment Process & Timeline**
For additional information, please request the ‘Applicant Briefing Pack’ which includes an overview of Council, the section and the role.

Closing date: Sunday 2