Assistant Centre Director

bestchance Child Family Care; Geelong; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

bestchance Child Family Care’s Armstrong Creek East Children’s Centre in Geelong seeks an experienced Assistant Centre Director (2IC). You will partner with the Centre Director to shape culture, educational quality, daily operations and long-term success, while guiding staff to deliver exceptional learning experiences and strong family engagement.

The role requires a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, substantial leadership experience and current WWCC/Police Checks, plus essential

Qualifications

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent.
• Substantial leadership experience in a centre-based setting.
• Experience leading, mentoring or supporting educators.
• Current Workers Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• National Police Check as required by the organisation.
• Current First Aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and emergency asthma training.

Responsibilities

• Lead meaningful change: strengthen culture, practices and performance and support staff.
• Inspire and develop educators: coach and empower the team.
• Champion educational excellence: ensure inclusive, high-quality learning experiences.
• Drive quality and compliance: lead in safety, supervision, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Build outstanding family partnerships: foster genuine relationships with families and communities.
• Make an operational impact: support staffing, communication and service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Educator development

Regulatory compliance

NQF knowledge

Education

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Job description

Assistant Centre Director (2IC) - Early Childhood Education & Care

Armstrong Creek East Children’s Centre | bestchance Child Family Care

Ready to lead change, inspire educators and make a lasting difference in children's lives?

This is more than a leadership opportunity. It is your chance to help shape the future of early childhood education.

At bestchance Child Family Care, we believe exceptional early learning begins with exceptional leadership. We are looking for an experienced, passionate and forward-thinking Assistant Centre Director (2IC) who is ready to step up, challenge the status quo and help create a centre where children thrive, educators excel and families feel they truly belong.

If you are an accomplished early childhood professional who knows how to bring out the best in people, strengthen educational practice and turn high expectations into meaningful outcomes, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

We are looking for a leader who doesn't just maintain standards — they elevate them.

Why this opportunity is different

At our Armstrong Creek East Children’s Centre, you will partner closely with the Centre Director to influence the centre's culture, educational quality, daily operations and long-term success.

We want someone who brings experience, confidence, initiative and fresh thinking. Someone who can see potential in people, identify opportunities for improvement and inspire a team to work towards something exceptional.

You Will Have The Opportunity To

• Lead meaningful change: Help strengthen the centre's culture, practices and performance, creating an environment where people feel supported, motivated and accountable.
• Inspire and develop educators: Coach, mentor and empower team members to grow their confidence, capability and professional practice.
• Champion educational excellence: Support engaging, inclusive and high-quality learning experiences that reflect the needs, strengths and interests of every child.
• Drive quality and compliance: Lead by example in child safety, regulatory compliance, supervision, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Build outstanding family partnerships: Foster genuine relationships that help families feel welcomed, respected, heard and connected to their children's learning.
• Make a real operational impact: Work alongside the Centre Director to strengthen daily operations, staffing coordination, team communication and service effectiveness.

This is an opportunity for a leader who wants to contribute beyond the day-to-day — someone who wants to help build a stronger team, a better learning environment and a service the community can be proud of.

What will you bring to the role?

We are looking for an experienced professional who combines strong early childhood knowledge with the confidence and capability to lead others.

You Will Bring

• Substantial experience in early childhood education and care, with demonstrated leadership, mentoring or supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience as a 2IC, Assistant Centre Director, Centre Director, or in a comparable leadership position.
• A strong understanding of the National Quality Framework (NQF), National Quality Standard (NQS), Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).
• The ability to inspire teams, build trust, address challenges constructively and establish clear professional expectations.
• A genuine passion for educational quality, child development, inclusion and evidence-informed practice.
• Experience supporting Quality Improvement Plans, compliance activities, operational planning and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication, organisation, problem-solving and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence to make sound decisions, manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure.
• A proactive mindset, a strong sense of accountability and the courage to introduce ideas that make a positive difference.

We are particularly interested in leaders who have helped improve a service, developed a high-performing team, strengthened compliance or successfully led positive change.

You don't need to know everything. But you do need to bring the experience, judgement, initiative and leadership mindset to help others become their best.

Qualifications And Requirements

To be considered, you will need:

• A recognised Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent qualification that meets the requirements of the position.
• Substantial relevant experience in a centre-based early childhood education and care environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring or supporting educators.
• A current Employee Working with Children Check.
• A satisfactory National Police Check, in accordance with organisational requirements.
• Current approved First Aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and emergency asthma management training, as required for the position and applicable regulations.

A Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, experience in a senior leadership position, and a demonstrated record of leading service improvement will be highly regarded.

Why join bestchance?

bestchance Child Family Care is a community-focused, not-for-profit organisation committed to helping children, families and individuals thrive.

Our work is grounded in inclusion, care and education. We believe children deserve safe, supportive and inspiring environments, families deserve genuine partnerships, and educators deserve leaders who invest in their development.

When you join bestchance, you become part of a team that values:

• Safety Always — putting children's safety and wellbeing first.
• Collaboration & Courage — working together and having the confidence to make things better.
• Integrity & Accountability — taking ownership and following through.
• Respect & Inclusion — creating a sense of belonging for everyone.
• Innovation & Improvement — continuously learning, growing and finding better ways forward.

You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, grow your leadership capability and help create an environment where children, families and educators can thrive.

The leader we are looking for

We are not simply looking for someone to fill a position. We are looking for someone who sees what a centre can become and has the experience, passion and determination to help it get there.

Someone who leads with purpose, supports people through challenges, recognises potential and understands that the smallest improvements in everyday practice can make an enormous difference in a child's life.

If you are ready to bring your experience to a role where your leadership can have a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

Help us raise the standard. Inspire the team. Shape brighter futures.

bestchance Child Family Care is committed to child safety, inclusion and equal opportunity. All employees are expected to uphold our child safety obligations and contribute to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for every child.