AREA OPERATIONS MANAGER

Little Saints Early Learning Centre; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Company mobile phone

Company laptop

Ongoing professional development

Paid first aid training

75 percent discount on childcare fees

Uniforms provided

Free on-site parking

Supportive leadership team

Growth opportunities

Opportunity to shape expansion

Job summary

Little Saints Early Learning Centre is seeking an experienced Area Operations Manager to provide leadership and operational support across five services from Pakenham through to Sale. You will work with Centre Directors and leadership teams to guide performance, compliance and continuous improvement.

You will lead workforce planning, recruitment and professional development while building strong relationships with educators, children and families.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Children7s Services or Bachelor of Education (or working towards)
• Current First Aid and Asthma & Anaphylaxis certificates
• Current Working with Children check
• Experience leading educational teams across multiple sites
• Ability to balance strategic and hands-on leadership

Responsibilities

• Lead across five services and support Centre Directors
• Provide guidance, mentoring and operational support
• Drive compliance, quality and continuous improvement
• Build strong relationships with educators, children, families and stakeholders
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment and team development
• Ensure consistent standards and practices across services
• Collaborate with Little Saints leadership team
• Be a visible, approachable leader across our centres

Skills

Leadership

Operational leadership

Communication

People management

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Education

Diploma in Children’s Services

Bachelor of Education (or working towards)

Job description

Little Saints Early Learning Centre – Pakenham VIC

Little Saints Early Learning Centres | Pakenham to Sale

Lead. Inspire. Grow. Be part of something bigger.

Little Saints Early Learning Centres is a growing early childhood organisation with 11 established services operating from Pakenham through to Sale.

We are now looking for an experienced and passionate Area Operations Manager to join our team and provide leadership, guidance and operational support across five of our established services in:

• Pakenham
• Lang Lang
• Warragul
• Moe
• Newborough

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing, locally owned and operated company and play a key role in supporting our Centre Directors, developing high-performing teams and ensuring our services continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for children and families.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As our Area Operations Manager, you will work closely with our Centre Directors and leadership teams, providing guidance, mentoring and operational support across your five allocated services.

You will play a key role in:

• Supporting Centre Directors to achieve operational and business goals
• Providing strong leadership, mentoring and guidance to centre leadership teams
• Supporting compliance, quality and continuous improvement
• Building positive relationships with educators, children, families and stakeholders
• Identifying opportunities for growth and improvement
• Supporting workforce planning, recruitment and team development
• Ensuring consistent standards and practices across our services
• Working collaboratively with the broader Little Saints leadership team
• Being a visible, approachable and supportive leader across our centres

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for someone who is:

• An experienced early childhood leader with strong operational experience
• A confident communicator and people leader
• Passionate about quality outcomes for children and families
• Organised, proactive and solutions-focused
• Able to build strong relationships and trust with Centre Directors and teams
• Comfortable working across multiple locations
• Driven by continuous improvement
• Someone who leads with integrity, warmth, accountability and purpose
• A completed Diploma in Children’s Services and/or Bachelor of Education (or working towards)
• Current First Aid and Asthma and Anaphylaxis certificates, and current Working with Children check.

You will need the ability to balance strategic thinking with being hands‑on and present in our centres, supporting our teams where it matters most.

WHAT WE OFFER

As part of the Little Saints team, you will receive:

• Company vehicle for work‑related travel during work hours
• Company mobile phone
• Company laptop
• Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities
• Paid first aid training
• 75 percent discount on childcare fees
• Uniforms provided and free on‑site parking
• A fun, positive work culture that celebrates you throughout the year
• A supportive and collaborative leadership team
• The opportunity to help shape and grow a rapidly expanding early learning organisation
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference across five established services

With 11 established services across the Pakenham to Sale corridor, Little Saints is continuing to grow — and we're looking for the right leader to grow with us.

Our Commitment to Child Safety & Inclusion

Little Saints ELC operates with a zero‑tolerance approach to child abuse or neglect. We are a Child Safe company, and all employees must adhere to the Victorian Child Safe Standards and National Child Safe Principles. We warmly celebrate diversity and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.

If you're ready to take the next step in your early childhood leadership career and want to be part of an organisation that values people, relationships, quality and community, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Little Saints Early Learning Centres and help us shape the next stage of our growth.