ECE Operations & Compliance Lead

Gowrie Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Gowrie Victoria is seeking an inspiring leader to oversee the Yarraville service, focusing on compliance, rostering and operational excellence. You will lead staff, ensure smooth daily operations and drive continuous improvement in line with the QIP.

You will work with a passionate team to provide high-quality, play-based early learning in a community-focused setting, while upholding Gowrie Victoria's not-for-profit values and child-safe standards.

Qualifications

• Leadership/Management experience in an ECEC setting with ability to motivate and coach teams.
• Experience developing and managing staff rosters to meet regulatory ratios.
• Ability to build strong relationships with children, families, educators and stakeholders.
• Experience managing Compliance and Operations in an ECEC setting.
• Experience in service development (e.g. QIP) in an ECEC setting.
• In-depth knowledge of the NQF and NQS.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff rostering and compliance obligations.
• Identify opportunities for program improvement aligned with the QIP.
• Foster strong relationships with children, families and educators.
• Lead service operations to ensure high-quality, engaging learning.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Roster management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder relationships

NQF knowledge

Job description

Yarraville, Australia | Posted on 07/10/2026

• Industry Early Childhood Education & Care
• Job Type Full time
• Work Experience 1-3 years
• Province Victoria
• Postal Code 3013
• Country Australia

Job Description

Join our Clare Court team in the heart ofYarraville, enjoying play-based learning in our shared garden, next door toStony Creek and Cruickshank Park, and out and about in the community.

• Work for a values based not-for-profit organisation
  
• Provide operational and compliance leadership to ourYarraville service
  
• Be part of a vibrant local community, with a passionateteam of educators
  
• Full time, permanent role
  

Are you ready to nurture your career at GowrieVictoria?

For 85 years, Gowrie Victoria has been at theforefront of high-quality early learning. We’re a not-for-profitorganisation with a reputation for inspiring others and shining a light on bestpractice. Our strength is our culture, which is built on afoundation of genuine curiosity. We support our leaders to be effectivecoaches, to build confidence and to support their team to be reflective,creative and collaborative. This enables us to find new ways to learn,improve and achieve our shared purpose — championing excellence in earlylearning.

About the Role
We’re looking for an inspiring leader, with a deepunderstanding of compliance and operational requirements in the early learningsector, ready to join a team with a long history of demonstrating, advocatingand collaborating. The Assistant Manager oversees the service’soperational activities, ensuring they are carried out effectively andefficiently. This role is primarily responsible for overseeing staffrostering, meeting compliance obligations and identifying opportunities forimprovement across the program consistent with the Quality Improvement Plan(QIP). As a leader, the Assistant Manager is also expected to buildstrong relationships with children, families, and educators, fostering aninviting, engaging, high-quality, and responsive service.

About You
The ideal candidate will bring to the role:

• Previous experience inLeadership/Management in anECECsetting with the ability to motivate, influence, mentor, andcoach individuals and teams.
  
• Demonstrated experience indeveloping and managingstaff rostersto meet regulatory ratio requirements while ensuringhigh quality service delivery.
  
• Demonstrated ability toestablish and maintainstrong relationships with children, families, educators, community, andother relevant stakeholders.
  
• Previous experience inmanaging Compliance andOperations in an ECEC setting.
  
• Previousexperience in servicedevelopment(e.g. QIP) in an ECEC setting.
  
• In depth working knowledge of the NQF (comprising theEducation and Care Services National Law and National Regs) and the NQS.
  

Gowrie Victoria is an equal opportunityemployer and a child safe organisation and you can view our commitment to childsafety here www.gowrievictoria.org.au/about .
You must have a legal right to work in Australia and pass anemployee Working with Children Check.