Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor

About the Role

Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor VPS4 - Ongoing - Full Time.

The position is based in the Glen Waverley office, Inner East Area of North East Victoria Region.

The role of the Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor involves understanding community needs and the service providers in the area of portfolio responsibility. Critical to the role is building relationships with a range of service providers and developing their capacity to deliver quality programs within their local communities, particularly for more vulnerable children and families. The role will require high level interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal.

The Performance & Planning Advisor position focuses on:

• ensuring that all children and families have access to, and participate in, high quality early childhood education and care.
• builds partnerships with key stakeholders,
• provides advice and support to local government, community service organisations and early childhood providers.
• manages service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations to ensure delivery of funded programs and organisations meet key policy and service agreement policies and funding requirements
• supports the implementation of key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

Attributes

Personal qualities and attributes required for the role include conceptual and analytical abilities and stakeholder management. We are looking for someone who enjoys working as part of a team and has exceptional planning and organisational skills. More personal qualities and their capability description are as follows:

• Collaborates and shares information
• Encourages resolution of conflict within group
• Prepares briefs, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language
• Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably
• Uses analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems
• Constructively deals with stakeholder issues

Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: A relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care or a related field.

The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check

How to Apply

Applications should include:

• a resume (no more than 2-pages) and
• a cover letter that outlines why you are suitable for the role with reference to the requirements of the role attributes and Key Selection Criteria (no more than three pages).

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.

About the Group

Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

This role is located in the Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Inner East Area, North Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

About the Division

The Early Childhood Improvement Branch ensures a dedicated team supports Early Childhood providers and services in Areas. The Branch has multiple responsibilities, including funded early childhood services, kindergarten programs and the implementation of the suite of Best Start Best Life reforms including, Pre-Prep, three-year-old kindergarten, School Readiness Funding and various key early childhood policies. The branch drives improvement in service delivery and outcomes for children across the Early Childhood sector.

Further Information

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 Nicole Hanssen, Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor, Early Childhood Improvement Branch at 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 close 11:59pm on 04 November 2025