Centre Manager

Journey Early Learning Group; Bairnsdale; On-site; AUD 113,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation support

Sponsorship may be considered

Journey Academy professional dev

Centre Quality Manager partnership

Support Office expertise access

Journey Childcare Discount

Leadership & career progression

Job summary

Journey Early Learning Lucknow is a brand-new 88-place, five-room centre opening in November 2026. As inaugural Centre Manager, you will recruit and develop your founding team, shape centre culture from day one, and establish strong relationships with children, families and the local community.

You will lead the centre through opening, enrolment growth and establishment, setting clear expectations around quality, safeguarding and team performance.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care or ACECQA-approved equivalent.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child safety requirements.
• Experience leading a brand-new centre or startup environment is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead founding team and establish centre culture from day one.
• Partner with Educational Leader and ECTs to drive high-quality educational practice.
• Ensure high standards of quality, safeguarding and compliance.
• Create engaging and trusted experiences for families and the local community.

Skills

Centre leadership

Team development

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & safeguarding

Education

Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education & Care

Tools

NQF Regulations knowledge

Community engagement

Job description

Brand new 88 place centre opening November 2026

This is your opportunity to lead a brand-new Journey centre from the beginning. From building your team, shaping the culture and creating the kind of centre you want to lead.

And while Lucknow is new, you won’t be building it alone.

• Earn up to $125,000 p.a. plus 12% super and annual bonus
• $1,500 sign-on bonus
• Journey Childcare Discount, subject to eligibility and applicable terms
• Relocation support available for the right candidate
• Sponsorship may be considered for suitably qualified candidates
• Dedicated professional development through Journey Academy
• Genuine leadership and career progression opportunities
• A dedicated Centre Quality Manager partnering with you
• Direct support from specialists across every key Support Office function, forming part of Journey’s broader ecosystem
  

Build it. Lead it. Make it yours.

Journey Early Learning Lucknow is a brand-new 88-place, five-room centre opening in November 2026.

As our inaugural Centre Manager, you will have the opportunity to:

• Recruit and develop your founding team
• Shape the centre culture from day one
• Establish strong relationships with children, families and the local community
• Lead the centre through opening, enrolment growth and establishment
• Set clear expectations around quality, safeguarding and team performance
  

This is an opportunity to put your leadership imprint on a new centre, while having the systems, expertise and support of an established early learning provider behind you.

You lead the centre. We build the support around you.

At Journey, Centre Managers have genuine ownership of their services, but we don’t expect them to be the expert in everything.

Your Centre Quality Manager will be a key partner, alongside Journey’s Support Office ecosystem of subject matter experts across areas including:

• National Safeguarding
• Pedagogical Strategy
• Marketing and Experience
• Capability and Culture
• Finance
• IT Support
  

The focus is partnership—giving you access to the right expertise when you need it, so you can stay focused on your people, families and centre.

The role:

As Centre Manager, you will lead the overall performance, culture and operation of Journey Early Learning Lucknow.

Your role will include:

• Building, leading and retaining a high-performing team
• Partnering with your Educational Leader and ECTs to support strong educational practice
• Maintaining high standards of quality, compliance and safeguarding
• Creating an engaging and trusted experience for families
• Building relationships within the Lucknow and broader Bairnsdale community
• Leading staffing, occupancy, enrolment growth and centre performance
• Coaching and developing future leaders.
  

We are looking for someone who enjoys being visible, connected and hands‑on in their centre.

What you’ll bring:

You will ideally hold:

• a Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care, or an ACECQA-approved equivalent
• National Child Safety Certificates (Foundation and Advanced Certificates)
• Experience as a Centre Manager, Centre Director or Service Manager; or strong Assistant Centre Manager experience with demonstrated readiness to step up
• A genuine commitment to child safety and safeguarding
• Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework, National Law and Regulations and EYLF
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams
• Confidence in driving occupancy and centre performance
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• The ability to balance quality, people, compliance and operational priorities
  

Considering a move to East Gippsland?

You don’t need to already live in Lucknow or Bairnsdale to start a conversation with us.

We welcome experienced early childhood leaders from Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate who may be considering a move to East Gippsland.

Relocation support may be available for the right candidate, and sponsorship may be considered where applicable eligibility requirements are met.

Why Journey?

At Journey, you get the opportunity to lead with ownership while being surrounded by people who understand what it takes to run a great early learning service.

Through your Centre Quality Manager, Journey Academy and our specialist Support Office ecosystem, you will have access to the people, development and expertise you need as your centre grows.

For Lucknow, you also get something that doesn’t come along often:

the opportunity to build the team, shape the culture and establish a new centre from day one.

Ready to build something of your own?

If you are looking for your next Centre Manager opportunity and want genuine influence over the team and culture you lead, we would love to hear from you.

Child safety at Journey:

Journey Early Learning is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and to creating environments where every child is safe, supported, respected and heard.

As a Victorian Early Childhood Employer, we expect all employees and leaders to actively uphold the Victorian Child Safe Standards, applicable child protection obligations and Journey’s safeguarding requirements.

For our Centre Managers, child safety is a core leadership responsibility. You will be expected to:

• Role model a strong child safe culture across the service
• ensure safeguarding expectations are understood and embedded in everyday practice
• Act promptly on concerns, disclosures or indicators of harm
• Support employees to understand their reporting and escalation obligations
• Maintain professional boundaries and safe practices
• Ensure children’s rights, wellbeing and safety remain central to decision-making.
  

Journey’s See, Act, Tell safeguarding framework supports our teams to recognise concerns, respond appropriately and speak up when something does not feel right.

All appointments are subject to Journey’s pre-employment screening and child safety requirements, including the relevant Working with Children Check and any other checks, qualifications or clearances required for the role.

Journey Early Learning is a Child Safe Organisation and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all children in our care.