Assistant Director, Early Learning Centre

**Job no**: 0058870
**Location**:Abbotsford
**Role type**:Full time; Continuing
**Department**:Student and Scholarly Services
**Salary**:UOM 6 - $89,182 - $96,536 p.a. plus 17% super (pro rata for part time)

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands.

**About Student and Scholarly Services and Early Childhood Education Services**
Student and Scholarly Services provides student administration and services from recruitment and point of enquiry to graduation. This team also delivers wellbeing and scholarly services to students and staff.

Early Childhood Education Services is located within Student and Scholarly Services at The University of Melbourne, comprising the Early Learning Centre (ELC), Abbotsford (90 places daily), Queensberry Children’s Centre (96 places daily) and Swanston Street Children’s Centres (40 places daily). These centres provide early childhood education for approximately 266 children aged 6 months to five years from the University and the surrounding community. The centres operate for a minimum of 48 weeks per year and are open for 10 hours per day. The early childhood education staff team is comprised of approximately 60 staff working either full-time or part-time across the three centres.

**About the Role**
As the Assistant Director, you will primarily support the Director of the ELC in the day-to-day operations of the Centre. In the absence of the Director, you will have responsibility for the ELC, including childcare program development, staffing, compliance and all required administrative procedures.

You will take a leadership role in handling illness, accidents and emergencies, including compliance reporting, liaise with families using the service, handle complaints and concerns in a professional and diplomatic manner and provide advice and have a strong focus on maintaining all aspects of quality and compliance.

Responsibilities include:

- Ensure the Centre adheres to the requirements of the National Quality Standards, the Education & Care National Law and the Education & Care Services National Regulations
- Adhere to Victorian Government reporting requirements as they pertain to the role of the Early Childhood Teacher, in particular the delivery of the Victorian Government Funded 3- and 4-year-old Kindergarten programs
- Review and maintain appropriate policies, risk assessments, minimisation protocols and emergency and evacuation procedures
- Work alongside the Centre Director as required to complete administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of programs and centre service delivery, including resourcement management and procurement as needed

**About You**
Along with your demonstrated leadership experience within the early years setting, you will have the ability to effectively communicate and provide leadership to the team.

You sensitively provide mentoring and support to other Early Childhood Educators working across the Centre, and build positive and respectful relationships with people, including young children, educators, and families using the services.

You also have the organisational ability to maintain records and evidence of compliance and show an interest in the evaluation of the program and research projects in line with centre expectations.

You will also have:

- An approved early childhood teacher degree or higher qualification to meet the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations or a degree qualification together with demonstrated experience in Children’s Services Operations Management
- Current Victorian institute of Teaching (VIT) registration is preferred
- Thorough understanding of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care, including its curriculum, regulatory requirements, and quality system, as well as relevant food safety and privacy requirements. An ability to work within these and provide leadership and guidance in these areas to all Early Childhood Educators in the Centre
- Highly developed understanding of all aspects of the operations of a Children’s Centre, including staffing arrangements, children’s health and welfare, compliance, health and safety, and quality improvement
- High level, current knowledge of safety, OHS and State and Federal legislative requirements for Children’s Services. Demonstrated ability to audit current policies, practices and facilities for compliance and complete and action improvement plans
- Thorough knowledge of Child Safe Standards and Mandatory Reporting obligations and procedures
- Note: Further special re