• Full Time | Senior Leadership Opportunity
• Competitive Salary + Super + Salary Packaging + Flexible Working
• Location: Victoria | Multi-site Leadership Role

Kids First have a prominent 130-year history of safeguarding children achieved through an unwavering commitment to people and transformation. As we continue to evolve and expand our impact, we are focused on strengthening partnerships, identifying new opportunities, and responding to changing community needs across family, youth, and early years services.

About the Role:

As the Manager, Early Childhood Education and Care you will lead the operational performance of Kids First Australia's 17 ECEC centres across Victoria, ensuring every child and family receives exceptional, safe, high-quality care and education.

Reporting to the CEO, this is a significant operational leadership role responsible for driving service quality, workforce capability, compliance, financial sustainability and continuous improvement across the ECEC portfolio.

Working closely with Area Leads and Pedagogical Leaders, you will help embed the Kids First Early Years Model while fostering a connected, child-safe and values led culture across all services.

In this role you will:

• Lead operational performance across 17 centres, ensuring high quality, safe and sustainable service delivery
• Oversee compliance, quality improvement, and regulatory engagement across all centres in line with the VEYLDF, NQF, NQS, EYLF, and Victorian Child Safe Standards
• Lead, coach and support a high-performing workforce with a strong focus on capability, culture, workforce planning and continuous development
• Manage financial performance, sustainability and operational effectiveness of the ECEC portfolio
• Build strong partnerships with government, community and sector
• Provide operational advice, reporting and strategic support to the CEO and leadership team
• Foster a connected and inclusive culture grounded in Kids First values and child-safe practice

About You

You're an experienced ECEC leader who understands the importance of safe, high-quality and family-centred services and the impact strong leadership can have on children, families and teams.

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in education or a related discipline
• Significant leadership experience across multi-site Early Childhood Education and Care services
• Deep knowledge of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, National Quality Framework, National Quality Standards, Early Years Learning Framework and Child Safe Standards
• Experience leading teams, workforce capability and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong operational, financial and stakeholder management capability
• Confidence leading through change, reform and operational complexity
• Financial acumen and experience managing budgets within complex service environments
• A strong commitment to trauma-informed, child-safe and family-centred practice supporting vulnerable children and families
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative leadership style

How we reward you

• An organisation that truly lives its values
• Kids First understands the importance of flexible working and has a policy to support this
• Be nurtured in your career, including professional development opportunities
• Enjoy ‘not for profit' benefits such as salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• We know how important it is to spend time with family which is why you get 3 additional leave days at Christmas
• Purchased leave and portable long service leave options
• Access our Staff Wellbeing Program

If you're a values-led leader ready to shape the future of early years services and make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

How to apply

To download the PD, and to apply for this job go to: https://kidsfirst.recruitmenthub.com.au/Vacancies & enter ref code: 6895664.

Applications close 05 June 2026

For inquiries about the position please reach out to: hr@kidsfirstaustralia.org.au

Kids First is an Equal Opportunity employer that respects and values diversity and inclusion. Kids First welcomes everyone to apply, regardless of age, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and physical ability.

Kids First is a Child Safe Organisation. Employment is conditional on satisfactory referee checks, a current Working With Children Check, National Criminal History Check, proof of the right to work in Australia and a pre employment medical (if applicable).