Lead educator/Room Leader

What makes us different to other employers?

Where do we begin? All the ads on SEEK say the same thing, where we are different is "the feeling".

We asked our team members to describe "the feeling" they have at Big Bear Academy and these are the key points they came up with - hey, we must be doing something right, majority of our team members have been with us since we opened each of our centres:

• Above award wages - we appreciate your hard work and your pay reflects this
• Over ratio - we never operate to ratio and never use casuals
• Generous programming time - weekly off the floor programming, critical reflection & study time - no team member does work from home
• Generous room/resources budgets - so your vision can come to life
• Strong management team/peer group to collaborate with and bounce ideas off - why reinvent the wheel?
• Paid for professional development - we don't just say it, we do it on a consistent basis
• Rotating roster and flexibility to accommodate life commitments - work/life balance
• Passionate and respectful team members - we are a genuine family vibe and everyone pulls their weight
• Encouraging further study and professional development
• Fun and relaxed working environment
• Zero tolerance for unprofessional behaviour
• Ambitious team and owners - we strive to improve ourselves everyday in and outside of work with a strong focus on career development, mentoring and personal growth
• Mental health awareness including access to Employee Assistance Program
• Involved approved providers - always there to help out even on the floor or in a sticky situation

• We genuinely care with respect and appreciation - always

• Freedom to make it YOUR centre

About the centre:

Big Bear Academy St Andrews is a 37 place centre looking for a Lead Educator/Room Leader.

We have been operating for 3 years and have an established and dedicated team of Diploma educators. The successful team member will be setup for success while getting to know the Big Bear way and establishing meaningful relationships in a safe and homely environment.

About the Role - the serious stuff:

Your duties will include but not be limited to:

• Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, and industry best practices - this is critical
• Ensuring the educational programs and practices are in line with the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards - children's agency, children's voices, project learning and experiences over activities are so important
• Reviewing and contributing to the policies, procedures, action and quality improvement plans - this helps us create a continuous improvement environment
• Building and nurturing respectful and meaningful relationships with children, families, team members, management team and approved providers
• Build on the amazing team culture currently at Big Bear Academy
• Mentoring, coaching and guiding your team
• Previous experience supervising or mentoring early childhood education team members
• Rather than write a long list, let's be real - you know the requirements as a Early Childhood Professional and if you don't maybe best not to apply

About You - more serious stuff:

We value all of our team members no matter their role and we value each one of our families. Their respect is earned and we have a strong belief that to perform effectively in a leadership role you need to be able to lead by example.

Some other key things we are looking for:

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care preferred for room leader role (Certificate III considered with relevant experience)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with families, children, and the team
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to follow instructions with attention to detail
• Ability to safely lift children and equipment, and engage in active play
• Thorough knowledge of the National Quality Framework, Early Years Learning Framework, and relevant legislation
• A genuine passion for early childhood education and a commitment to providing high-quality care and learning experiences
• Current Working with Children Check (or ability to obtain before commencement)
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Current Asthma and Anaphylaxis management training
• Current Child Protection & Food Handling training

Who is Big Bear Academy?

Big Bear Academy started in 2019 by a young Aussie couple (Andrew & Maxine) who had a dream of providing high-quality care in an environment that is engaging, creative, interactive and most of all fun, giving children the best start to their educational journey.

6 years later, that dream has been fulfilled and going from strength to strength, Big Bear Academy has a fantastic reputation in the Macarthur area for delivering high quality care and education whilst maintaining an amazing working environment that allows team members to fulfil their passion for teaching, while having fun and actually enjoying life

How to Apply

If you love what you do and want a centre that actually appreciates you and provides you the room and time to grow and share your passion for Early Childhood - then this opportunity is the one for you, please apply via SEEK today

*Please note that only short listed applicants will be contacted.