Manager , Operational Priorities

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society. The department supports a culture of leadership, learning and renewal in all workplaces with opportunities for career development and advancement.

Further information about the department is available at:

About the Division

The Department of Education is the Victorian Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services under delegation from the Secretary. The Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) in the department regulates and quality assesses Victorian ECEC services. It drives the delivery of high-quality services and ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of Victorian children attending those services.

QARD regulates approximately 5,000 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (National Law). QARD also regulates services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.

QARD is responsible for:

• approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act
• monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints
• assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care
• supporting legislative policy development.

QARD is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Safe Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria.

Further information about QARD is available at:

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for a highly skilled senior leader who will be responsible for the management of the Operations Priorities Unit. This small, dynamic team works closely with all teams within QARD both regional and central to drive consistency in operational policy, the updating, design and application of business rule, processes, regulatory documentation and templates for use across the entire regional workforce. The team will play a key role in developing and implementing consistent, evidence-informed and quality practice, designing and delivering tailored professional learning to build the capabilities of the regional workforce and ensuring the quality and consistency of written regulatory outputs.

Key accountabilities will include:

• leading the development and updating of operational policies, business rules, regulatory documentation, guidance materials, resources and templates, NQAITS data entry, and implementing these across the regions
• working from within the regional teams on creating, implementing and using the policies, business rules and templates, to drive statewide consistency on what, how and where to record data and store records

• identifying the professional learning needs of the regional workforce and implementing tailored training that builds the required knowledge and capabilities, particularly in relation to the preparation of succinct and defensible written communications (e.g. recording visit documentation and summaries and the detail provided to other areas within QARD for regulatory documentation)

• working and liaising with relevant teams across QARD both regional and central to ensure current practices are considered and best practice business rules and templates designed that will be consistently used across the regions

• preparing and quality assuring a range of written materials for internal and external audiences, including briefings, presentations, templates, practice guidance, training materials and stakeholder communications

• leading and managing a small team based in several locations across Victoria, including monitoring team and individual performance, and building a positive and cohesive culture within the team and wit the regions from which the teams are working

• overseeing all aspects of work delivery, including ensuring that all timelines and milestones are met

• other duties as directed by the Director, Operations Branch.

This is a full-time, ongoing role based at 200 Victoria Parade East Melbourne, but will be expected to regularly work from QARD's regional office locations.

Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• demonstrated people management and leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring and capacity building, to support and create the conditions for a high functioning, productive and engaged team
• highly developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify innovative and timely and practical solutions to complex problems
• experience in policy development, including undertaking data and issues analysis to identify areas for improvement and developing policy recommendations and proposals
• experience in identifying professional learning opportunities and developing tailored solutions
• high level organisational skills and a proven ability to work independently to make decisions and manage systems, processes and resources to deliver outcomes
• highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• strong written and verbal communication skills, including strong attention to detail, and an ability to engage a range of audiences on regulation, policy and implementation topics
• demonstrated experience in driving large-scale quality improvement activities.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Relevant qualifications in early childhood education, regulation, public policy or similar.

Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.

Further Information

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 3 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role.

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

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.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Karen Morely, Senior Manager, Consistent Practice and Support, via or

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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 close11:59pm on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.