Assistant Director

Only About Children Springboard; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above award pay

Professional learning

Campus Director pathway

Childcare discount

Paid parental leave

Salary sacrifice

Job summary

Only About Children Mernda is seeking an Assistant Director to work with the Campus Director across operations, child safety, team leadership, family experience and quality practice. You will help create a safe, calm and connected campus where educators feel supported and families feel heard.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, collaboration with room leaders and ongoing development to maintain high-quality early childhood education and care.

Qualifications

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is required.
• Experience as a senior educator, Room Leader or Assistant Director.
• Knowledge of the NQF, Child Safe Standards and relevant legislation.
• Working with Children Check and relevant clearances required.

Responsibilities

• Support daily operations, routines and priorities.
• Guide Room Leaders, teams, onboarding and development.
• Build respectful relationships with families.
• Strengthen child safety, compliance and quality practice.
• Support documentation, reflection and improvement.
• Step in with calm, practical leadership when needed.
• Support campus culture and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People-first

Education

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Job description

Assistant Director

Job ad reference: OAC/1950294E Location Mernda Attachments No File Attached Advertisement Open Date 01-Oct-2026 Advertisement Closing Date 22-Oct-2026

About this role

Assistant Director - OAC Mernda - 6 month contract - mat leave cover

I may not know what leadership means yet.

But I know when my educators feel calm.

I know when my family feels heard.

I know when the campus feels safe, steady and full of people who care.

At Only About Children Mernda, you can help create that feeling.

We're looking for a warm, capable and collaborative Assistant Director.

About our Mernda campus

At Mernda, my day feels natural, community-rich and full of belonging. I arrive on Wellington Street, close to schools, transport and parking. The campus feels strongly connected to local families and the world around me.

I learn in indoor spaces that support play, routines, creativity and school readiness, and I explore outdoor environments with natural resources, pet chickens, a turtle, bush kinder, art exhibitions, school readiness events and cultural learning. I can be greeted by name, follow my interests and build strong bonds. This is where I feel safe, curious and connected to my community.

You're The Difference

At OAC, they say You're The Difference.

I think that means you help the whole campus feel safe and steady. You help educators feel supported, families feel listened to and children feel ready to play and learn.

About the role

I need the grown-ups around me to be supported too.

As Assistant Director, you will work with the Campus Director to support operations, child safety, team leadership, family experience and quality practice.

What you’ll do

• My campus feels calmer when you help organise daily operations, routines and priorities.
• My educators feel supported when you guide Room Leaders, teams, onboarding and development.
• My family feels heard when you build respectful relationships and respond with care.
• My day feels safer when you strengthen child safety, compliance and quality practice.
• My learning feels consistent when you support documentation, reflection and improvement.
• My rooms feel steadier when you step in with calm, practical leadership when needed.
• My campus culture grows stronger when you support both people and performance.

What you’ll bring

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care as a minimum.
• Experience as a senior educator, Room Leader, Educational Leader or Assistant Director.
• Knowledge of the NQF, Child Safe Standards and relevant legislation.
• Confidence supporting educators, families, compliance and operations.
• Strong communication, including sensitive conversations.
• Warm, practical and people-first leadership.
• A Working with Children Check and relevant clearance.

What we offer

• OAC recognises the care and leadership you bring through above award pay, worker retention payment and recognition programs.
• Leadership development, professional learning and expert-led sessions help you support quality, people and practice with confidence.
• Your pathway can continue towards Campus Director, broader operations roles or Support Office opportunities.
• Your family matters too, with up to 50% childcare discount for eligible team members, paid parental leave and salary sacrifice options.
• OAC Rewards, Wellbeing Days, TELUS Health EAP and digital wellbeing resources help support you inside and outside work.
• When you feel supported, my campus feels steadier, safer and more connected.

Child safety and inclusion

I need to feel safe before I can learn, play and grow.

At OAC, child safety comes first. There is zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. Everyone who joins the team must help create a safe, nurturing and inclusive place where children have a voice, feel safe, and are valued and respected.

You will need to complete all required working with children, background and compliance checks. OAC welcomes people from all backgrounds who share this commitment.