Manager Early Childhood Improvement Branch

Manager Early Childhood Improvement Branch - Ongoing/Full Time

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 Implementation Branch, Central Highlands Area, South Western Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

About the Role

The role Early Childhood Improvement Branch Manager is a full-time, ongoing position beginning Monday 27th October 2025 based at the Ballarat Regional Office.

The purpose of this role is to lead the area based implementation of Victorian Government early childhood initiatives in an effective and timely manner. The role is integral in maintaining and developing positive stakeholder relationships with existing early childhood service providers, including Early Childhood Management organisations and the wider Early Childhood service system at a local level, to ensure coordinated efforts to support access and participation for all eligible children in quality kindergarten programs.

The role manages a team, including Kindergarten Improvement Advisors and Performance & Planning Advisors, all who are members of a larger multi-disciplinary area team. In some areas, the role will also manage a Funding Advisor.

The role works closely with the regional Early Childhood Implementation Division, including the Executive Director, Early Childhood Implementation, Early Childhood Quality Participation and Access Manager, as well as with the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division.

The role will include financial management responsibilities and will contribute to the area's leadership team, working with the Area Executive Director to promote local structures to support early childhood service providers in the Area.

The primary responsibilities of this role are to:

• lead the Early Childhood Improvement Branch
• provide high-level advice, both centrally and regionally, on issues affecting the implementation of early childhood initiatives to early childhood service providers
• promote and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the early childhood sector and with central and regional executives at the Department of Education
• promote and lead early childhood initiatives implementation, and take a multi-disciplinary approach, with internal and external stakeholders
• use evidence based practices and knowledge of the early childhood sector to support and advise early childhood service providers
• provide advice to the Area Executive Director
• provide line management and support to team members
• work collaboratively and strengthen Area connections with the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division
• implement quality assurance measures to ensure that early childhood initiatives are delivered in line with departmental requirements
• contribute to the wider area based leadership team.

Attributes

Please refer to the Position Description for capabilities and attributes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable: A Bachelors Degree in Education - Early Childhood.
• Desirable: Recent relevant experience in an early childhood setting, or other clearly relevant and transferrable knowledge and skills.

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

How to Apply

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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 Jen Winter, Executive Director, Central Highlands Area 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 close 11:59pm on 9 October 2025