Compliance Manager

Connect, Learn & Grow with Aspire
Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten is a proudly Australian-owned organisation delivering exceptional care and education across Victoria and Western Australia — and soon, New South Wales. Since opening our first centre in 2017, we've grown to 34 open centres, with more than 80 additional centres planned over the next few years.

We're now seeking a
Compliance Manager
to lead Aspire's compliance, investigations, OH&S, and risk management functions. Based at our
Support Office in South Yarra
, this role also works
onsite across our centres
in Victoria and interstate as required, ensuring services maintain the highest standards of compliance, safety, and child protection.

Reporting to the Head of Operations, you'll oversee a team dedicated to ensuring every service operates in strict accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements, internal frameworks, and child safety standards.

What You'll Do

• Lead compliance operations – Oversee the Compliance & Investigations Team, providing leadership, coaching, and guidance to ensure all matters are managed efficiently and consistently.
• Manage incidents & investigations – Oversee incident and investigation processes by monitoring reporting timeliness, closure rates, and investigation outcomes. Identify and report on emerging trends, systemic risks, and areas for improvement to support continuous improvement and risk mitigation.
• Drive continuous improvement – Work collaboratively to ensure policies are regularly updated to reflect the most current practices and procedures in place at the centre, while streamlining compliance workflows and supporting a culture of accountability and safety across the organisation.
• Oversee risk & governance – Monitor compliance trends and risks across centres, implementing corrective actions and prevention strategies.
• Collaborate on OH&S initiatives – Work closely with the Return-to-Work Partner and HR Business Partners to strengthen workplace safety, manage injury prevention programs, and support compliance with occupational health and safety legislation.
• Maintain regulatory compliance – Ensure Aspire meets all ACECQA, National Quality Framework (NQF), Child Safe Standards, WHS, and food safety requirements.
• Conduct audits & reviews – Lead internal audits, compliance checks, and reporting across centres, with regular onsite visits across Victoria and occasional interstate travel.
• Engage with regulators – Act as Aspire's key contact for regulatory bodies, auditors, and compliance reviews.

About You

• Proven experience as a Compliance Manager or in a senior compliance/risk role within a regulated sector (education, health, or similar).
• Minimum 3 years' experience overseeing compliance teams, investigations, and audits.
• Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework (NQF), ACECQA standards, Child Safe Standards, WHS, OH&S, and food safety legislation.
• Demonstrated expertise in incident investigations, compliance auditing, OH&S, and regulatory reporting.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills — confident engaging with regulators, auditors, centre leaders, and senior management.
• Tertiary qualification in Compliance, Risk, Law, or related field (essential).
• Current Working with Children Check, Police Check, and First Aid (HLTAID012) certification.
• Food Safety Supervisor certification or compliance-related qualifications (desirable).
• Flexibility to travel regularly across Victoria and interstate as required.

Why Join Aspire?

• Up to 50% childcare discount at any Aspire centre.
• Paid birthday leave – celebrate your special day your way.
• Monthly team lunches & regular social events.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Genuine opportunities for career growth and progression.
• A supportive, inclusive, values-led culture.

At Aspire, we believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for both children and employees. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Aspire Early Education has
zero tolerance for child abuse
and a strong commitment to child safety and wellbeing in both physical and digital environments.