Assistant Centre Director

Are you passionate about supporting children to thrive in high-quality early learning environments? This brand-new, government-owned childcare and kindergarten centre at Numurkah Primary School, located in Numurkah, 225kms north of Melbourne CBD, offers an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting impact in your career.

Opening its doors in 2026, the purpose-built 102-place centre provides childcare and kindergarten for three and four-year-olds, with plans to expand to pre-prep. The centre operates Monday to Friday, 7 am to 6 pm, providing options for both full-time and part-time employment.

Start asap or in January 2026. There is a incentive of up to $10k available to assist with relocation. 

As the Assistant Centre Director you will work alongside the Centre Director to oversee the daily operations of the centre, ensuring compliance with regulations and organisational policies and procedures. This role will also support staff recruitment and development, and enrolment management, with assistance from the Early Learning Victoria central team.

Your key responsibilities will be to;

• Work closely and collaboratively with the Centre Director and the Early Learning Victoria central team to prepare the centre for opening in 2026 and establish excellence in early learning and care.
• Support the Centre Director to plan and overseeing the delivery of high-quality, sustainable, compliant and safe early learning and care services and programs.
• Support the Centre Director to oversee the day-to-day operation of the centre, including staffing and rostering, stakeholder management and centre related communications.
• Support the Centre Director in managing all aspects of staffing, including recruitment, rostering, performance, professional development and mentoring, safety and wellbeing and promoting a positive team culture that values diversity and innovation.
• Engage with staff on a variety of issues, fostering a collaborative centre dynamic that encourages communication and shared problem-solving.
• Assist in the development of the centre educational programs and pedagogical approach.
• Establish and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including community groups, neighbouring early learning services, other early childhood and family services and local councils.
• Create a positive and welcoming experience for families.
• Manage financial, administrative and other operations of the centre.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated management and leadership experience in early childhood education and care and a solid understanding of the regulations, NQS/EYLF and Child Safe Standards. As well as the ability to lead and guide teaching teams and competency in all aspects of staff management.

Previous financial management and administrative support experience and effective communication and relationship-building skills with staff, children, families and communities coupled with your experience working with vulnerable children and families will make you an ideal candidate for the role

A Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care is essential and a Bachelor of Education/Teaching (Early Childhood) would be highly regarded.

This Assistant Centre Director role will be located at one of the centres opening as part of the Victorian Governments Best Start, Best Life reforms, which will see 50 government-owned and operated early learning centres by 2032. The centres will offer childcare, three and four-year-old kindergarten and pre-prep.

The centres will provide high-quality, accessible and inclusive early childhood education and care that is child centred, focused on learning through play and in nature, with strong connections to local communities.  

Early Learning Victoria's central office is in the Victorian Department of Education. The central team is leading the roll-out of the 50 centres and will support and oversee centre operations once they open.

Staff in the Early Learning Victoria centres will be part of a new Victorian government-employed early childhood workforce. We are committed to creating a supportive and enriching work environment for our employees, offering a range of benefits and opportunities for professional growth and development.

No sponsorship available. You must have full working rights to be eligible for this role.

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.

Ready to join a rewarding team and make a difference in early childhood education? Apply now

Leah Kossmann

Recruitment Consultant