Centre Director / 2IC – Early Childhood Education & Care

Smarties Early Learning Centre; Georges River; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uniform provided

Career progression opportunities

Ongoing professional development and培训

Job summary

Smarties Early Learning Centre in Peakhurst, NSW, seeks a Centre Director / 2IC to lead our early childhood team, ensuring high quality education and safe, compliant operations.

You will mentor educators, support day-to-day management, and partner with the Approved Provider to implement the service’s Quality Improvement Plan and family engagement strategies.

Qualifications

• Diploma or ACECQA‑approved qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care.
• Experience leading in early childhood settings and senior leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of EYLF, NQS and National Quality Framework; regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and support educators to deliver high-quality education and care.
• Oversee day-to-day service operations and staffing rosters.
• Drive a culture of accountability, professional development and continuous improvement.
• Maintain compliance with regulatory and safety standards and family engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Team culture

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Education practice

Education

Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

Tools

EYLF

NQS

Job description

Centre Director / 2IC – Early Childhood Education & Care

Smarties Early Learning Centre – Peakhurst NSW

Centre Director / 2IC – Early Childhood Education & Care

Smarties Early Learning Centre | Peakhurst

Are you an experienced early childhood leader ready to lead a team, inspire excellence and make a genuine impact on children, families and educators?

Smarties Early Learning Centre is seeking a passionate, experienced and highly motivated Centre Director / 2IC to join the leadership team at our well-established Peakhurst service.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strong early childhood professional who leads by example, builds positive team culture and is committed to delivering exceptional standards across education, care, compliance, operations and family engagement.

At Smarties, children's safety, wellbeing and best interests come first. We are looking for a leader who shares our high expectations and can create an environment where children thrive, families feel supported and educators feel valued, confident and inspired.

About the Role

As a Centre Director / 2IC, you will work closely with the Approved Provider and wider leadership team to support the successful day-to-day operation of the service.

Depending on your experience and the position appointed, your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, mentoring and supporting educators to deliver high-quality education and care
• Supporting the day-to-day management and smooth operation of the service
• Creating a positive, professional, accountable and supportive team culture
• Ensuring children's safety, wellbeing and best interests remain at the centre of decision-making
• Maintaining compliance with the National Quality Framework, National Quality Standard, Education and Care Services National Regulations and service policies
• Supporting staffing, rosters, ratios, qualifications and day-to-day operational requirements
• Leading and supporting educator induction, performance, professional development and ongoing mentoring
• Working closely with the Educational Leader to strengthen curriculum, programming, critical reflection and educational practice
• Supporting the service's Quality Improvement Plan and Self-Assessment processes
• Maintaining high standards across supervision, health and safety, hygiene, environments, documentation and service presentation
• Building strong, respectful and professional relationships with children, families and educators
• Supporting enrolments, family enquiries, centre tours and orientation
• Responding professionally and effectively to family feedback, concerns and enquiries
• Supporting educators to provide inclusive practices that recognise each child's individual needs, culture, background and abilities
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring required documentation is completed and maintained
• Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and implementing practical strategies to strengthen service quality
• Working collaboratively with the Approved Provider and leadership team across Smarties Early Learning Centre
• Stepping confidently into leadership responsibilities and supporting the service wherever required

Child Safety & Safeguarding

Child safety is everyone's responsibility at Smarties Early Learning Centre.

As a member of our leadership team, you will be expected to actively promote and strengthen our child-safe culture.

You will:

• Champion children's safety, wellbeing, rights and best interests
• Ensure effective supervision and child-safe practices are consistently maintained
• Support educators to understand their child-protection, mandatory-reporting and safeguarding responsibilities
• Promote professional boundaries and appropriate conduct at all times
• Recognise, respond to and appropriately report concerns relating to a child's safety or wellbeing
• Create a culture where educators feel safe and confident to speak up and raise concerns
• Ensure children's voices are heard and children are supported to participate in decisions that affect them
• Lead by example and hold yourself and others accountable to high standards of professional and child-safe practice

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or higher ACECQA-approved qualification
• Has strong experience within the early childhood education and care sector
• Has previous experience as a Centre Director, Assistant Director, 2IC, Educational Leader, Room Leader or in another senior leadership position
• Has a comprehensive understanding of the EYLF, NQS and National Quality Framework
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements
• Is confident leading, mentoring and providing constructive feedback to educators
• Can build a positive team culture while maintaining clear expectations and accountability
• Is highly organised and able to confidently manage competing priorities
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Builds genuine and professional relationships with children and families
• Is proactive, solutions-focused and willing to take ownership
• Has high professional standards and strong attention to detail
• Is passionate about quality improvement and achieving excellent outcomes for children
• Has a genuine commitment to child safety and safeguarding
• Is committed to ongoing professional development and keeping their sector knowledge current

Essential Requirements

• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or higher ACECQA-approved qualification
• Current Working With Children Check
• Current First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training
• Current approved Child Protection training
• Strong knowledge of the EYLF, NQS and National Quality Framework
• Demonstrated leadership experience within an early childhood setting
• Strong understanding of compliance and child-safe practices
• Professional presentation and high standards of personal hygiene
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and child-safety training

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Smarties Early Learning Centre is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of every child in our care.

We maintain a strong child-safe culture where children's rights are respected, their voices are heard and all reasonable steps are taken to protect children from harm.

Our Centre Director and 2IC play a critical role in championing these expectations and ensuring child-safe practices are consistently understood, implemented and maintained throughout the service.

All applicants will be required to meet relevant qualification, screening and child-safety requirements and demonstrate their suitability to work with children.

Why Join Smarties Early Learning Centre?

• Join a well-established and growing early learning service
• Take on a genuine leadership position where your contribution can make an impact
• Supportive, welcoming and family-oriented team culture
• Work closely with an experienced and hands-on Approved Provider and leadership team
• Opportunity to lead, mentor and develop educators
• Ongoing professional development and training
• Clear opportunities for career progression and leadership growth
• Strong focus on quality, compliance and continuous improvement
• Strong child-safety policies, procedures and leadership support
• Uniform provided
• Be part of a growing organisation with opportunities across our services
• Join a team where your ideas, experience and contribution are genuinely valued

If you are an experienced early childhood professional who is passionate about leadership, team culture, quality improvement and delivering exceptional outcomes for children and families, we would love to hear from you.