Area Manager - Early Childhood Education

Yarra Ranges Kinders Inc.; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Job summary

Yarra Ranges Kindergartens (YRK) seeks an Area Manager - Early Childhood Education to lead the operational performance of multiple kindergartens across the Yarra Ranges. You will coach Nominated Supervisors and teams, lift service quality, ensure compliance, and guide staffing and budgets to support high-quality learning and safe environments.

This is a full-time role with flexibility for 4 days per week (0.8) for the right candidate, and requires on-site leadership with planning time at home or

Qualifications

• Proven multi-site leadership in early childhood or a related setting.
• Strong grasp of EYLF, NQS, National Law and Regulations.
• Track record improving quality, culture, compliance and service reliability.
• Confident with budgets, staffing models, enrolment drivers and reporting.
• Clear communicator who can coach, hold standards and resolve conflict.
• Calm under pressure, decisive, and child-safety focused.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop site leaders to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed programs
• Drive consistency in policy, practice, documentation and communication
• Monitor quality, risk and compliance against the National Law, Regulations, EYLF and NQS
• Maintain service readiness for audits, incidents, and Assessment and Rating
• Oversee site budgets, staffing levels, enrolment targets and cost controls
• Approve timesheets and purchases within delegations and flag issues early
• Support inclusion, SRF planning and funding applications to timelines
• Build strong relationships with families, councils, DET and local schools
• Participate in an on-call roster and provide relief coverage when required
• Report monthly on outcomes, risks and improvements

Skills

Multi-site leadership

EYLF & NQS knowledge

Budgeting & staffing

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching & mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Diploma of Early Childhood Education

Job description

Area Manager - Early Childhood Education

Lead multiple kindergartens across the Yarra Ranges | Pedagogical Focus | Site-based with flexible admin time

Join a high-performing, values-driven team shaping great outcomes for children. Balance on-site leadership across services with focused time for planning and reporting at home or our Chirnside Park office. Immediate start available.

About Us

Yarra Ranges Kindergartens (YRK) oversees 22 sessional kindergartens across the Yarra Ranges. We are a Child Safe, not-for-profit Early Years Manager committed to inclusive, trauma-informed practice and high-quality early learning for every child.

About the Role

You will lead the operational performance of multiple kindergartens as one of YRKs Area Managers. You will coach Nominated Supervisors and teams, lift service quality, keep sites compliant and ready for Assessment and Rating, and make sound staffing and budget decisions. You will be visible in services, able to step in to prevent avoidable closures, and confident working with families, councils, DET and community partners. This role will be full-time 5 days per week, but we will consider 4 days per week (0.8) for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop site leaders to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed programs

Drive consistency in policy, practice, documentation and communication

Monitor quality, risk and compliance against the National Law, Regulations, EYLF and NQS

Maintain service readiness for audits, incidents, and Assessment and Rating

Oversee site budgets, staffing levels, enrolment targets and cost controls

Approve timesheets and purchases within delegations and flag issues early

Support inclusion, SRF planning and funding applications to timelines

Build strong relationships with families, councils, DET and local schools

Participate in an on-call roster and provide relief coverage when required

Report monthly on outcomes, risks and improvements

About You

Proven multi-site leadership in early childhood or a related setting

Strong grasp of EYLF, NQS, National Law and Regulations

Track record improving quality, culture, compliance and service reliability

Confident with budgets, staffing models, enrolment drivers and reporting

Clear communicator who can coach, hold standards and resolve conflict

Calm under pressure, decisive, and child-safety focused

Required

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (highly regarded) or Diploma of Early Childhood Education

VIT registration or Working with Children Check

Ability to work across multiple sites

Why Join YRK?

Purpose-driven role with visible impact across a cluster of kindergartens

Supportive executive and central teams who back decisive leaders

Professional development and opportunities to lead organisation-wide initiatives

Competitive salary package

Pre-Employment Checks
All appointments require VIT or WWCC, a satisfactory National Police Check, verification of qualifications and a valid driver licence.