Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor

Department of Education; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 42,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

The Victorian Government invites applications for an Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor in the Bayside Peninsula area. The role supports high-quality early childhood education and care for children and families, working with local government, service providers and funded organisations to deliver targeted programs.

Based in Frankston or East Bentleigh, the 0.5 FTE fixed-term position runs from 26 October 2026 to 16 July 2027 and requires strong planning, organisational and

Qualifications

• The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check.
• Desirable: a relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care or a related field.
• Ability to contribute to broad service system planning and funding allocation processes.
• Demonstrated conceptual and analytical ability through practical problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Build partnerships with stakeholders to enable delivery of funded programs.
• Establish and maintain relationships with local government and service providers.
• Manage service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations.
• Support implementation of government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms and strategies.
• Collaborate with senior advisors and the Early Childhood Improvement Branch team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care

Job description

The role of the Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor involves understanding community needs and the service providers in the area of portfolio responsibility. Critical to the role is building relationships with a range of service providers and developing their capacity to deliver quality programs within their local communities, particularly for more vulnerable children and families. The role will require high level interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal.

An exciting ongoing opportunity exists in the Bayside Peninsula Early Childhood Improvement Branch as an Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor. It is a 0.5 FTE Fixed term position commencing on 26 October 2026 - 16 July 2027. The role is based in the Frankston or East Bentleigh Office. We are looking for someone who enjoys working as part of a team and has exceptional planning and organisational skills.

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Group

Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

This role is located in the Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Bayside Peninsula Area, South Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

About the Role

The Performance & Planning Advisor position focuses on ensuring that all children and families have access to, and participate in, high quality early childhood education and care. The role builds partnerships with key stakeholders, provides advice and support to local government, community service organisations and early childhood providers. A key responsibility of the role is managing service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations. The Early Childhood Implementation Division where this role sits, implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

In some areas the role may have line management responsibilities.

Attributes

• Provide advice and guidance to service providers to enable effective delivery of funded programs
• Establish and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders, including Local Government and kindergarten service providers
• ensuring that all children and families have access to, and participate in, high quality early childhood education and care.

• Manages service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations to ensure delivery of funded programs and organisations meet key policy and service agreement policies and funding requirements
• Supports the implementation of key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

• Support and work collaboratively with Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisors and the Early Childhood Improvement Branch team.

Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable: A relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care or a related field.
• Knowledge of the early childhood sector, community development or a related field is desirable but not essential.
• You will be required to provide input into broad service system planning, service system development, service monitoring and funding allocation processes for the region.
• The role requires you to demonstrate your conceptual and analytical ability through practical, solution-focused problem solving.

The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au .

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Nicola McCaul – Early Childhood Improvement Branch manager via [phone] or [e-mail]

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Monday 9 November 2026.

Applications close Monday 9 November 2026 at 11.59pm