state manager

This Opportunity

To lead excellence across Goodstart Early Learning's 53 Western Australian Centres. This is a senior position within Australia's largest and most influential early childhood education and care provider.

Our Client

Goodstart Early Learning is a $1.6 billion social enterprise operating over 660 Centres nationwide, caring for 70,000+ children and employing 15,800+ team members.

Born from a unique collaboration between The Benevolent Society, Mission Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Social Ventures Australia in 2009, Goodstart operates with commercial discipline, but exists purely for social impact. Every dollar generated is reinvested into Goodstart's Centres, people and communities.

With a values-driven approach, this organisation offers sector-leading educator rewards, high staff retention and a steadfast commitment to prioritising children and families.

This Role

This role reports to the Chief Operating Officer of Goodstart Early Learning, an organisation which believes every child deserves the best start in life. As State Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring Goodstart has the best Centre Directors leading its Centres every day. You will oversee Centre performance across the state, providing strategic leadership and operational guidance to drive high-quality early learning outcomes.

This role has both strategic planning and operational execution components, embedding Goodstart's national vision, whilst building high-performing teams and fostering partnerships that position the organisation as the sector leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Enable and empower Centre Directors and teams to uplift centre performance and develop team capability and leadership.
• Develop and deliver annual state business plans and budgets, balancing financial sustainability with social impact.
• Mentoring and empowering Centre Directors across Goodstart's 53 WA centres.
• Championing a culture aligned with Goodstart's Values of trust, initiative, collaboration and impact.
• Building respected relationships with Goodstart's many stakeholders across WA.

Your Impact

• Creating and sustaining a culture aligned with Goodstart Early Learning's Guiding Principles and Foundations.
• Ensuring all Centres meet and exceed Goodstart's standards.
• Developing succession planning and talent mapping for Centre Directors and key leadership positions.
• Leading the development and embedment of a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Improving learning outcomes for thousands of children across WA.
• Be part a social enterprise where child outcomes, not shareholder returns define success.
• Help to shape policy and practice at state and national levels through Australia's largest early learning provider.
• Be an advocate for inclusion, quality, equity and innovation in early childhood education.

About You

You will be a values-driven decision-maker with at least 10 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in multi-site operations within not-for-profit, social enterprise or purpose-led organisations.

You will also have the commercial acumen necessary to run this large business with operations across the State. A proven record of managing high-level government and stakeholder relationships and leading teams through change will be important. Early Childhood or Business Management qualifications are envisaged.

This role involves regular travel across WA and therefore requires flexible working hours.

How to Apply

Goodstart Early Learning has exclusively engaged Lester Blades to find an outstanding leader for its Western Australian operations.

A detailed Candidate Prospectus for this position is available by emailing

Any further confidential enquiries can be made to Tony Lester at or Tina Jackson at or by calling Lester Blades

Applications may be made in Word format to quoting Reference LB Please include a cover letter with your application, outlining why you believe you possess the skills, experience and achievements necessary for this key position.

Applications are requested to be submitted by 5.00pm Tuesday 25 November 2025.

Candidates' rights under the Privacy Act will be observed at all times. Only candidates with valid work rights in Australia can be considered.

ABOUT LESTER BLADES

Lester Blades is a Western Australian owned executive search and board advisory firm with local specialisation and international reach. We focus on uncompromising excellence in service to clients in the identification of Non-Executive Directors, CEOs and a range of other senior executive and functional leadership roles.