Assistant Manager – Maternity Leave Cover

The Avenue Children's Centre and Kindergarten; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above-award wages

Professional Community Standards 2025

Personal leave days

Monthly RDO for full-time

Two-week Christmas closure

Paid public holidays

Staff PD days

Ongoing professional development

Supportive workplace culture

Stable staff retention

Community-focused service

Job summary

The Avenue Children's Centre and Kindergarten in Balaclava VIC is seeking an experienced Diploma-qualified Assistant Manager for a 12-month maternity leave position starting November 2026. You will lead a team of around 15 educators, collaborate with families daily and ensure smooth centre operation in the Manager's absence.

The role offers leadership opportunities, a supportive culture and the chance to contribute to high-quality practices within a community-focused service.

Qualifications

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent) required.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in Early Childhood Education and Care.
• At least 2 years' experience as Assistant Manager or similar leadership role.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Ability to build positive and respectful relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively in a team.
• Experience using Xplor CCMS.
• Knowledge of EYLF, NQS, NQF, National Law and Regulations and Child Safe Standards.

Responsibilities

• Support the Centre Manager with day-to-day management and operation of the centre.
• Confidently acting in the Centre Manager's absence to run the centre.
• Provide leadership and guidance to a team of approximately 15 educators.
• Build and maintain strong, respectful relationships with children and families.
• Assist with enquires, tours, enrolments and family communication.
• Support staff rostering and appropriate staffing arrangements.
• Provide on-floor support and collaborate with educators to maintain high-quality practice.
• Assist with reviewing, implementing and maintaining policies and procedures.
• Support compliance with National Quality Framework and Child Safe Standards.
• Work with Xplor CCMS to support effective use of the system.
• Contribute to a positive, professional, collaborative workplace culture.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Relationship building

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Policy implementation

Experience with Xplor CCMS

Education

Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Working with Children Check

Mandatory Reporting & Gecko Training

EYLF/NQS/NQF knowledge

Tools

Xplor CCMS

Job description

Assistant Manager – Maternity Leave Cover

The Avenue Children's Centre and Kindergarten – Balaclava VIC

The Avenue Children’s Centre andKindergarten is acommunity-managed, 40-place long daycare centrewith a proudhistory of providinghigh-quality educationand care tochildren and familiesin our localcommunity.

Located in theheart ofBalaclava/St KildaEast, we are knownfor our warmand welcoming environment, strong community connectionsand dedicated teamofeducators.

Many of oureducators have beenpartof TheAvenue for manyyears, reflecting oursupportive workplace culture, strong relationships andgenuine commitment tostaff wellbeing.

You will bejoining an experienced, collaborative team thatvaluesrelationships, professionallearning, teamwork andcommunity.

About the Role

We are seekinganexperienced, Diploma-qualifiedAssistant Managerto join ourteamfor a12-month maternityleave position starting in November 2026.

This is anexciting opportunityanfan experienced earlychildhood professionalwho enjoys leadership, building relationshipsand beingactively involved inthe day-to-day operation ofa centre.

We are open to either:

• Full-time employment, including a monthlyRDO; or
• Working alongside theActing Centre Manager, theAssistant manager will playan important rolein supporting thesmooth, effective andcompliant operation ofthe centre.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the CentreManager with theday-to-daymanagement and operationof the centre.
• Confidently taking responsibilityfor therunning of thecentre in theCentre Manager's absence.
• Providing leadership, guidanceand support toa team ofapproximately15 educators.
• Building and maintaining strong, respectful andpositive relationshipswithchildren, families andcolleagues.
• Working closely withfamilies on adaily basis andresponding professionallyto enquiries.
• Assisting withcentre tours, enrolmentenquiries and familycommunication.
• Supporting staff rosteringand ensuring appropriatestaffing arrangements aremaintained.
• Providingon-floor supportand workingcollaboratively with educatorsto maintain high-quality practice.
• Assisting with thereview, implementationand ongoing managementofpolicies and procedures.
• Supportingcompliance with theNational Quality Framework, National Quality Standard, National Law andRegulations and ChildSafe Standards.
• Working closelywithXplor CCMSand supporting theeffective use ofthe system.
• Contributing to apositive, professionaland collaborative workplaceculture.
• Supporting continuous improvement and high-quality outcomes forchildren, families andeducators.

About You

We are lookingfor apassionate, reliable andexperienced early childhoodprofessionalwho is readyto take thenext step — orcontinue developing — intheir leadership journey.

You will ideally have:

• ADiploma of EarlyChildhood Education andCareor equivalent.
• A minimum of5 years' experiencein Early ChildhoodEducation and Care.
• At least2 years' experienceworking as an Assistant Manager or similarleadership position.
• Strong leadership andorganisational skills.
• The ability to build positive andrespectful relationshipswith children, familiesand colleagues.
• A collaborative approachand the abilityto work effectivelywithin a team.
• The flexibility and adaptability to respondconfidently to thechanging needs ofa busy earlychildhood environment.
• Experience reviewing, implementingand maintainingpolicies and procedures.
• Experience usingXplor CCMS.
• Strong knowledge oftheEYLF, NQS, NQF, National Law andRegulations and ChildSafe Standards.
• The confidenceand capability tomanage the day-to-day runningof the centrein the absenceof the CentreManager.
• Most importantly, weare looking forsomeone who isapproachable, calm, organisedand genuinely enjoysworking with people.

Required Qualifications & Certifications

The successful applicant will hold:

• Diploma of EarlyChildhood Education andCare (or equivalent).
• CurrentWorking with ChildrenCheck.
• CurrentMandatory Reporting andGecko Child Protectiontraining.
• Sound knowledge oftheEYLF, NQS, NQFand Child SafeStandards.

What We Offer

At The Avenue, we value oureducatorsand recognise theimportant role theyplay in ourcommunity.

We offer:

• Above-award wages.
• Employment under ourProfessional Community Standards2025 Agreement.
• 50% additional personalleave daysto support staffwellbeing.
• Monthly RDOfor full-timeemployees.
• Atwo-week Christmas closure.
• Paid public holidays.
• Two paidstaff-only professionaldevelopment days.
• Ongoing professional developmentand learning opportunities.
• A supportive, respectful and nurturingteam culture.
• A stable workplacewithhigh staff retention.
• The opportunity towork in agenuinelycommunity-focused earlychildhood service.

Ready to Join Our Team?

We are committedto finding theright person forour teamand are happyto take thetime to findsomeone who sharesour values andapproach to earlychildhood education andcare.

If you arean experienced earlychildhood professionalwho is passionateaboutquality practice, leadership, relationships and community, and you believeyou would bea great fitfor The Avenue, we would loveto hear fromyou.