Early Years Reform Project & Improvement Officer

Wyndham City Council; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 94,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Wyndham City Council seeks an organised Early Years Reform Project & Improvement Officer to support planning, implementation and continuous improvement of service-wide initiatives across kindergarten services in Victoria.

Based in Werribee with potential for hybrid work, you will lead data-informed improvement activities, translate reforms such as Best Start/Best Life into practical tools, and collaborate with service leaders to deliver positive outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education, Education, Community Development, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Project Management or a related discipline, with relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and substantial experience in a related field.
• Demonstrated project planning and implementation skills, with the ability to organise work effectively, manage competing priorities and support multiple initiatives within required timeframes.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience interpreting data, evaluating outcomes and contributing to evidence-informed recommendations and reporting.
• Knowledge and understanding of Victorian early years reforms, kindergarten funding programs and service delivery environments, including Best Start, Best Life, School Readiness Funding (SRF) and Pre-Prep initiatives.
• A current driver's licence is required.
• A current Working with Children Check is required.

Responsibilities

• Research and support the implementation of early years reforms, service-wide initiatives and project aligned with Council priorities and Department of Education requirements.
• Work with service leaders and teams to develop, monitor and review improvement plans aligned with Council priorities and evidence-informed practice.
• Develop and maintain practical tools, resources, systems and processes that support consistent planning, implementation, reporting and evaluation across kindergarten services.
• Coordinate project activities and support reform readiness and continuous improvement initiatives across services.
• Analyse data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, evaluate outcomes and develop evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, briefing papers, presentations and other documentation to support organisational decision-making and Department of Education reporting requirements.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the successful delivery of early years initiatives and positive outcomes for children and families.

Skills

Project planning

Implementation skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education / Education / Community Development / Social Sciences / Public Policy / Project Management

Job description

Employment type: Full time, Permanent

Hours per week: 38

Remuneration: Band 6 salary from $104,133.36 per annum plus superannuation and a fortnightly RDO

Location: Werribee based with potential for a hybrid work arrangement

About the role

Wyndham City Council delivers kindergarten programs across 23 Council-operated services, supporting children and families within one of Victoria’s diverse and growing communities. As the early years sector continues to evolve, new reforms and initiatives are creating opportunities to strengthen service delivery, improve outcomes and ensure children have the best possible start to their learning journey.

We are seeking an organised and improvement focused Early Years Reform Project & Improvement Officer to support the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of service-wide initiatives, projects and early years reforms across our kindergarten services.

Working within the Early Education and Care Services team, you will contribute to the implementation of key Victorian early years reforms, including Best Start, Best Life, Pre-Prep and School Readiness Funding (SRF). You will help translate strategic priorities, funding requirements and emerging sector expectations into practical tools, processes and improvement activities that support services to plan effectively and strengthen their practice.

Through research, data analysis, project coordination and collaboration with service leaders and stakeholders, you will help identify opportunities for improvement, monitor progress and inform evidence-based decision-making. This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful sector reform and service improvement, supporting our kindergarten services to respond to change and deliver positive outcomes for children and families across Wyndham.

What your day will look like

• Research and support the implementation of early years reforms, service-wide initiatives and project aligned with Council priorities and Department of Education requirements.


• Work with service leaders and teams to develop, monitor and review improvement plans aligned with Council priorities and evidence-informed practice.


• Develop and maintain practical tools, resources, systems and processes that support consistent planning, implementation, reporting and evaluation across kindergarten services.


• Coordinate project activities and support reform readiness and continuous improvement initiatives across services.


• Analyse data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, evaluate outcomes and develop evidence-based recommendations for improvement.


• Prepare reports, dashboards, briefing papers, presentations and other documentation to support organisational decision-making and Department of Education reporting requirements.


• Build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the successful delivery of early years initiatives and positive outcomes for children and families.

What you will bring

• Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education, Education, Community Development, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Project Management or a related discipline, with relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and substantial experience in a related field.


• Demonstrated project planning and implementation skills, with the ability to organise work effectively, manage competing priorities and support multiple initiatives within required timeframes.


• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience interpreting data, evaluating outcomes and contributing to evidence-informed recommendations and reporting.


• Knowledge and understanding of Victorian early years reforms, kindergarten funding programs and service delivery environments, including Best Start, Best Life, School Readiness Funding (SRF) and Pre-Prep initiatives.


• A current driver's licence is required.


• A current Working with Children Check is required.

If you progress past the interview stage, you may be required to complete pre-employment screening, which may include police checks, a medical, qualification verification, and an Australian work rights check.

Why join Wyndham

We are one of Australia’s fastest growing and most diverse cities.

By 2040, we will have more than 500,000 residents and our people are hard at work designing the precincts, building the infrastructure, developing the policies and delivering the programs that will ensure the City is prepared.

Look at our job opportunities and you may be surprised at what you discover: a future-focused culture, a sense of purpose and possibility, and real opportunities to strengthen our diverse community. It all adds up to make Wyndham City a great place to belong.

Our people are our most valued asset. We are focused on building a culture that empowers every person to do their best work. Flexibility is built right into our DNA and we are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace that celebrates a diverse workforce.

Child Safe Organisation

Wyndham City Council has zero tolerance to any form of child abuse and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children. We create and maintain a child safe organisation which is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of all employees, volunteers and contractors. Additionally, we are committed to fostering a culture of safety within the Council, which includes the inclusion and empowerment of Aboriginal children, their families, and communities. Our recruitment practices reflect this.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Wyndham City Council we value workforce diversity and inclusion and embrace individual uniqueness. We value diverse life experiences and the perspectives of our people, while providing high-quality services to all members of our community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, cultural background, disability, or sexuality.

Wyndham has one of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Western Region, with a rich and diverse history. We are committed to providing positive employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and welcome applications from candidates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. To read more about Wyndham City’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, please visit our website.

Applications close at 11:59PM on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.

If you have further role-specific questions, please contact Jade Moerenhout, Early Years Reform Project Lead on 03 8734 2741.

Wyndham City Council is committed to providing a recruitment experience that is fair, inclusive, and accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs or general recruitment enquiries, please contact our Careers team via [e-mail] or 03 9394 6860.

Current Wyndham employees who accept a permanent or temporary role of 12 months or more must relinquish any existing casual position with Council, regardless of whether the new role is full-time or part-time. Additionally, employees cannot be absent from their substantive position for more than 24 months. If this occurs, they may be required to relinquish or return to their substantive role.