"Manager, Early Childhood Education Services"

Department:

Student and Scholarly Services; Chancellery Education Portfolio

Salary:

UOM 9 - $146,049 - $151,951 p.a. plus 17% super

• Strategic leadership role across three university early childhood centres / shape creative, inspiring and sustainable pedagogy and practice / drive excellence in quality, compliance and financial performance
• Apply now to lead innovative, multi-site early childhood services that champion quality learning, child safety and community impact
• Investing in you - benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities

The University of Melbourne

We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website.

Your next career opportunity

In this role, you will lead three University-owned early childhood education centres, ensuring outstanding learning and care for children and families. You will shape pedagogical practice, drive continuous quality improvement, and ensure full compliance with national standards and regulations. You will influence strategy, operations and workforce development, while collaborating across the University and sector on research-informed, innovative early childhood services.

What you will deliver:

• Lead day-to-day operations of three Early Childhood Education Centres, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations, accreditation and University policy.
• Guide Centre Directors and Educational Leaders to design, deliver and evaluate high-quality early learning programs across all centres.
• Oversee accreditation and quality improvement processes, including alignment with the National Quality Framework and National Regulations.
• Drive program, process and practice enhancements that strengthen educational quality, child safety and family-centred service delivery.
• Manage budgeting, workforce planning and financial reporting, ensuring sustainable operations and effective collaboration with central University services.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold a Master of Education in Early Childhood or equivalent combination of relevant qualifications, education and training.
• Demonstrate success leading early childhood services, ideally multi-site, meeting or exceeding ACECQA National Quality Framework requirements.
• Apply deep knowledge of NQS, EYLF and VEYLDF to elevate practice across a large, diverse educator cohort.
• Deliver proven operational, people and financial leadership, including implementing sustainable, high-quality programs and child-safe practices.
• Use strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills to build effective partnerships and implement innovative service improvements.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.

What we offer you:

We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfillment, including:

• Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team – Student and Scholarly Services

Student and Scholarly Services (SASS) provides student administration and services scholarly support for the University community. The team delivers a broad range of student programs and services, including onboarding, transition, and extracurricular activities, as well as wellbeing and sport. The team also support the University’s teaching and learning and research endeavours through its libraries, digitization centre, archives and special collections and teaching and learning innovation support.

Early Childhood Education Services is located within Student and Scholarly Services at The University of Melbourne, comprising the Early Learning Centre, Abbotsford (90 places daily), Queensberry Children’s Centre (96 places daily), and Swanston Street Children’s Centres (40 places daily). These centres provide early childhood education for approximately 266 children aged 6 months to five years from the University and the surrounding community. The centres operate for a minimum of 48 weeks per year and are open for 10 hours per day. The early childhood education staff team is comprised of approximately 60 staff working either full-time or part-time across the three centres.

Application essentials:

• Visit "apply with us" to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
• You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
• Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.

Want to know more?

• For queries related to this specific position, contact Tim Brabazon at brabazon@unimelb.edu.au
• For questions related to our recruitment process email Alex Beasley at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au
• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').

Apply today, and join a community that’s shaping the future.

Applications close:

5 April 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.

Position Description:

JR-011110 Manager, Early Childhood Education Services PD – Word

JR-011110 Manager, Early Childhood Education Services PD – PDF