Educational Leader

Newport Lakes Childcare & Early Learning; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Newport Lakes Childcare & Early Learning in Newport VIC seeks an Educational Leader to mentor educators and strengthen practice across the service. You will work closely with Room Leaders, observe practice, provide reflection and feedback, and help align planning, documentation and child-led curriculum with EYLF and NQS.

Bachelor-qualified candidates are encouraged; strong Diploma candidates with leadership experience will be considered.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience working as a Room Leader and/or Educational Leader.
• Bachelor-qualified applicants are encouraged; Diploma with leadership experience also considered.
• Strong knowledge of early childhood theory and ability to apply it to practice.

Responsibilities

• Observe practice and mentor Room Leaders and educators through reflection, feedback, modelling and professional conversations.
• Support educators to strengthen planning, documentation and child-led curriculum.
• Lead service-wide professional discussions and connect theory to daily practice.
• Work with the Director on service leadership, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Step in as Responsible Person when required.

Skills

Educational Leadership

Mentoring

EYLF & NQS knowledge

Child-centered pedagogy

Education

Bachelor-level qualification in Early Childhood Education

Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Newport Lakes Childcare & Early Learning – Newport VIC

At Newport Lakes Childcare & Early Learning, we take childhood seriously.

We are a small, family-owned, Exceeding service built around slow, unhurried days. Slow pedagogy is something we genuinely live. Children have time to play deeply, revisit ideas, build relationships, take risks and follow their thinking without being rushed through their day.

Our philosophy is grounded in play-based learning and shaped by a thoughtful blend of early childhood theories and perspectives.

Our rooms are intentionally small, with strong staffing, dedicated programming time and well‑resourced environments. We want children to have time to be children, and educators to have the time and support to do their best work.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a predominantly off-the-floor Educational Leader position, with protected time to mentor educators and strengthen practice across our service.

This is an active mentoring role. You will get to know our educators, understand their strengths and identify where they want to grow. You will spend time alongside them in practice, then have the time to follow their learning and development over time.

YOUR WEEK WILL INCLUDE:

• Observing practice and working alongside educators in their rooms.
• Providing ongoing mentoring to Room Leaders and educators through reflection, feedback, modelling and professional conversations.
• Supporting educators to strengthen their planning cycle, documentation and child‑led curriculum.
• Helping teams connect early childhood theory and theorists with what they see, plan and do each day.
• Leading critical reflection and service‑wide professional discussions.
• Supporting teams to develop thoughtful environments, projects and emerging curriculum.
• Working closely with the Director across service leadership, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Stepping in as Responsible Person when required.

As Educational Leader, you will play an important role in turning this professional learning into meaningful changes in practice.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You might already be an experienced Educational Leader, or you might be an experienced Room Leader ready to take the next step into service leadership.

Because of the level of mentoring and leadership this position carries, we require a minimum of two years’ experience working as a Room Leader and/or Educational Leader.

This is not an entry-level leadership position. We are not seeking applicants who have recently completed their qualification without prior leadership experience.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

• Has strong knowledge of early childhood theory and knows how to bring different theorists and perspectives into everyday practice.
• Loves mentoring educators and developing the confidence and capability of others.
• Has a strong understanding of the planning cycle, EYLF, NQS and critical reflection.
• Values play‑based learning, slow pedagogy and child‑led curriculum.
• Feels confident respectfully questioning practice and asking why we do things the way we do.
• Wants to remain present in rooms and connected with children and educators.
• Is ready to contribute to the wider leadership and continuous improvement of the service.

Bachelor-qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. We will also consider a strong Diploma-qualified educator who meets the experience requirements and has the pedagogical knowledge and leadership skills to thrive in this position.

We are looking for someone who wants to know our educators, understand their strengths and work alongside them over time. Someone who will observe, question, model, encourage and challenge, and who gets genuine satisfaction from watching an educator’s confidence and practice grow.