National Start-Up Manager

Green Leaves Early Learning Centres Pty; City of Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Professional development

Childcare discount

Job summary

Green Leaves Early Learning is seeking an experienced Start-Up Manager to lead the launch of new Centres from development through to opening. You will oversee regulatory approvals, site reviews, procurement, and the physical setup to ensure centres are ready for Service Approval.

Based at our Brisbane area Support Office with national travel, you will coordinate with architects, regulators, and operations to deliver high-quality learning environments on schedule.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in early childhood management, operations, or start-up settings.
• Strong knowledge of Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.
• Exceptional project management and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage Service Approval applications and regulatory requirements for new Centres.
• Coordinate food business registrations with local councils.
• Review architectural and Centre plans for regulatory compliance.
• Attend sites during construction to identify regulatory or operational issues.
• Collaborate with architects, builders, designers, developers, and regulators.
• Own start-up schedules, milestones, and reporting across stakeholders.
• Coordinate procurement, delivery and installation of furniture and resources within budgets.
• Design safe, inclusive learning environments aligned with EYLF and Green Leaves philosophy.
• Lead physical setup and commissioning of new Centres for regulatory inspection readiness.
• Work with Operations, Talent Acquisition, Construction and Support Office teams for a smooth opening.
• Complete start-up handover to Operations for daily running post-opening.
• Travel nationally to new Centre locations throughout development and start-up.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Autonomous work

Attention to detail

Early childhood management

Education

Bachelor's or Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Job Category: Program & Project Management

Job Description

At Green Leaves Early Learning, we’re growing – with 70 purpose-built Centres across Australia and more on the way. We’re dedicated to creating premium environments where children, families and our Team Members thrive, with our Commitment to Child Safety at the forefront of everything we do.

As we continue to grow our national network, we’re looking for an experiencedStart-Up Managerto lead the journey of bringing our newest Green Leaves Centres to life.

This is a rare opportunity to step into an established role with a strong legacy and play a key part in the next chapter of Green Leaves’ national growth.

Working from our national Support Office in Murarrie, Brisbane, the role spans regulatory approvals, new Centre development, project coordination, procurement, and physical Centre setup. From reviewing plans during construction through to creating beautiful learning environments and preparing for Service Approval, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring every new Green Leaves Centre is ready to open its doors.

Your Impact

No two days will look the same, but in this role you’ll:

• Manage Service Approval applications and regulatory requirements for new Centres, including correspondence, requests for further information and pre-service approval assessment visits
• Coordinate relevant food business registrations and applications with local councils
• Review architectural, building, landscape, and Centre floor plans to ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with Green Leaves specifications
• Attend sites throughout construction to identify potential regulatory or operational issues and ensure our specifications are being delivered
• Partner with architects, builders, playground designers, developers, project managers, and regulatory authorities throughout each new Centre development
• Own and maintain new Centre start-up schedules, milestones, and reporting, ensuring stakeholders across the business remain informed and aligned
• Coordinate the procurement, delivery and installation of furniture, educational resources, equipment, and operational requirements within allocated budgets
• Design and bring to life beautiful, safe, inclusive, and engaging indoor and outdoor learning environments aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework and Green Leaves philosophy
• Lead the physical setup and commissioning of each new Centre, ensuring rooms and operational spaces are fully staged, safe, and ready for regulatory inspection
• Partner closely with our Operations, Talent Acquisition, Construction and Support Office teams to support a seamless journey towards opening
• Complete the start-up handover to Operations, ensuring each new Centre is ready to transition successfully into day-to-day operations
• Travel nationally to our new Centre locations throughout the development and start-up process.

What You’ll Bring

You’ll be someone who loves seeing a project come together and can move confidently between the detail of regulatory requirements and the practical reality of getting a new Centre ready to open.

You’ll bring:

• 5+ years' experience in early childhood management, operations, or the set up and opening of new early childhood services
• Strong, practical knowledge of the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations and National Quality Framework
• Exceptional project management and organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, stakeholders, deadlines, and competing priorities
• Strong attention to detail and an ability to identify risks, solve problems and keep projects moving
• Confidence working collaboratively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to work autonomously, take ownership and execute complex projects with minimal supervision
• A genuine eye for creating high-quality, engaging and functional early learning environments
• Flexibility and capacity to undertake frequent national travel
• A Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field will be highly regarded.

The Green Difference

We believe great people deserve to feel valued, supported and inspired every day. When you join Green Leaves, you’ll enjoy:

• Being part of a high-performing ECEC provider built on years of sector knowledge, innovation, and success
• A progressive and forward-thinking organisation that is growing rapidly and committed to excellence
• A respectful and supportive culture where you’re recognised as a valued contributor
• The opportunity to have a tangible impact on our growth and help shape the next generation of Green Leaves Centres
• Professional development opportunities, with ongoing learning and support to help you grow
• A competitive salary package based on your skills and experience, with weekly pays
• Childcare discount and access to exclusive lifestyle, retail and wellness discounts and programs
• Access to our comprehensive health and wellbeing initiatives, including our Annual Wellness Week
• The opportunity to work alongside an experienced and collaborative Support Office, Operations and Senior Leadership team.

Please note:

This role is based at our Support Office in Murarrie, Brisbane and requires frequent interstate travel to support new Centre developments across Australia.

Green Leaves Early Learning is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and respectful environments for children, families, and Team Members. Child safety and wellbeing are at the heart of our organisation, and all team members share responsibility for upholding our commitment to safeguarding children.