Centre Director – Early Learning Centre

Babyccino; Council of the City of Sydney; On-site; AUD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned early learning service in Sydney is seeking an experienced Centre Director to lead operational and educational excellence. This role involves managing compliance, staff development, and community relationships. Ideal candidates will have a passion for mentoring educators and a strong understanding of quality frameworks. Competitive salary offered based on experience, with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Supportive family-owned leadership

Opportunities for professional development

Genuine autonomy to lead service uplift

Qualifications

• Nominated Supervisor approval or ability to obtain.
• Experience improving services from Working Towards to Meeting/Exceeding.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver comprehensive reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead centre-wide improvement across all seven Quality Areas.
• Oversee curriculum and EYLF-aligned practice.
• Manage budgets and labour targets.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Knowledge of NQF and NQS

Mentoring

Education

5+ years as Director or Educational Leader

Job description

We are a boutique, family-owned 35+ place early learning service located in the St George area. Under new ownership, we are entering an exciting phase of quality uplift, stronger governance, and centre transformation. With a small, warm and community-focused environment, we are committed to achieving Meeting or Exceeding at our next Assessment & Rating.

Our vision is to provide a secure, nurturing environment where children thrive, families feel supported, and educators feel valued. We are focused on excellence, integrity and continuous improvement across all areas of practice.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Centre Director to lead our service through this next stage of improvement. This role oversees the full operational, educational, compliance and governance performance of the centre, with direct reporting to the Approved Provider.

If you are a confident leader who enjoys uplifting quality, strengthening governance, developing staff and driving both operational and educational excellence, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

Lead centre-wide improvement across all seven Quality Areas

Oversee curriculum, planning cycles and EYLF-aligned practice

Maintain an active, detailed and continuously updated QIP

Ensure inclusive practice and a strong play-based learning environment

Mentor the Educational Leader and support high-quality pedagogy

Prepare the service for spot checks and full A&R, aiming for Meeting/Exceeding

Governance, Compliance & Reporting

Design and implement a strong governance framework and reporting system

Deliver comprehensive reporting across all domains including quality, safety, staffing, occupancy, compliance, finance and risk

Ensure ongoing compliance with the NQF, NQS, Regulations and Child Protection requirements

Maintain robust WHS, privacy, CCS and audit processes

Implement, embed and monitor digital systems (OWNA) to strengthen documentation and accountability.

Lead, mentor and coach a positive, high-performing educator team

Oversee structured staff development, including induction, training plans, professional growth and performance reviews

Create a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice and professional accountability

Manage rosters, staffing, qualifications and ratios

Support succession planning and workforce sustainability.

Operations, Business Performance & Enrolments

Drive occupancy, enquiry conversion and family retention

Manage budgets, labour targets and centre performance metrics

Oversee enrolments, family communication and day-to-day service operations

Identify improvement opportunities and implement centre-wide action plans.

Community & Partnerships

Build strong relationships with families, the community and local services

Support marketing, local engagement and service promotion

Establish partnerships with local TAFEs, schools and universities to support workforce pipelines.

What We’re Looking For

Nominated Supervisor approval (or ability to obtain)

5+ years’ experience as a Director or Educational Leader

Strong knowledge of the NQF, NQS, Regulations, EYLF, CCS and WHS

Experience improving services from Working Towards → Meeting/Exceeding

Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills

Demonstrated ability to deliver comprehensive reporting and meet operational KPIs

Passion for developing, mentoring and empowering educators.

What We Offer

Supportive, hands‑on, family‑owned leadership

Genuine autonomy and trust to lead service uplift

Strong focus on professional development and educator growth

Opportunity to shape the centre’s next chapter of quality and transformation

Competitive salary based on experience.

Apply Now

If you’re a motivated leader ready to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a short cover letter.

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• How many years' experience do you have as a centre director?
• Have you worked in a role which requires a sound understanding of the early years learning framework?