Portfolio Manager NSW

Guardian Childcare & Education; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Childcare & Education is seeking a Portfolio Manager for the Southern Sydney Region to lead a portfolio of early learning centres. You will drive occupancy growth, financial results, regulatory compliance and people performance in partnership with Centre Managers.

You will coach leaders, shape centre capability and ensure alignment with Guardian's values and strategic priorities while delivering high quality outcomes for children and families across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• 3+ years multi-site management experience (10+ centres)
• Experience in business improvement / efficiency initiatives
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements (National Quality Framework) and safety
• Experience with acquisitions (desirable)

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach Centre Managers to achieve operational and commercial targets.
• Drive occupancy, revenue, labour management, and profitability across the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, and company requirements.
• Support leadership development, succession planning, and team engagement.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for children, families, and teams.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and improvement initiatives to enhance centre performance.

Skills

Business acumen

Analytical thinking

Time management

Delegation

Communication skills

Leadership

People management

Education

Early Learning degree

Business Administration qualification

Job description

• Lead a portfolio of centres across the Sydney Region
• Competitive salary package, bonus incentives & genuine career progression.
• Partner with experienced leaders to shape the future of early learning.

Portfolio Manager| Southern Sydney Region

About the role

The Portfolio Manager (PM) is responsible for leading the operational, commercial, compliance, and people performance of a portfolio of early learning centres. Working in partnership with Centre Managers, the Portfolio Manager drives occupancy growth, financial results, regulatory compliance, team capability, and quality outcomes while ensuring alignment with Guardian's values and strategic priorities.

About Us

At Guardian Childcare & Education we celebrate childhood.

Guardian is a place where our people are recognised and rewarded for bringing their whole self to work.

It's what's in you that makes a child's experience truly unique!

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coach Centre Managers to achieve operational and commercial targets.
• Drive occupancy, revenue, labour management, and profitability across the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, safety, and company requirements.
• Support leadership development, succession planning, and team engagement.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for children, families, and teams.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and improvement initiatives to enhance centre performance.

Success in this role is demonstrated through strong centre performance, engaged teams, regulatory excellence, sustainable commercial results, and the development of high-performing leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, MINDSETS AND BEHAVIOURS.

Required Qualifications and experience

• 3+ years management experience in a multi-site business supporting minimum 10 centres (as an Area Manager).
• Significant prior work experience in a business improvement / business efficiency role including solution design, implementation planning along with training and toolkit development
• Strong experience in performance improvement with a demonstrated track record of multi-site performance uplift in short periods of time
• Displays high Business acumen knowledge and skill
• Demonstrated understanding of how to coach for success and personal growth
• Tertiary or university degree in an Early Learning (desirable)
• Business Administration qualification or alike (desirable)
• Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework and state regulatory requirements (desirable)
• Experience with Acquisitions (desirable)

Desired Skills

• Strong experience in childcare industry
• Strong understand of Commercial and Business Acumen coupled withunderstanding of the business drivers
• Be analytical and methodical in your approach to problems
• Strong time management and delegation skills
• An ability to work within and understand financial parameters; Be results driven
• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills to develop strong internal and external relationships.
• Ability to analyse and resolve varied and complex problems which may require the involvement of multiple parties.

Our benefits

• Access to professional development; coaching and mentoring programsincluding;bachelor program, workshops, short courses, peer meetings and qualification updates.
• High-quality, well-resourced environments.
• Attractive remuneration packagewith scope for future growth.
• Recognition program;rewardingoutstanding performances individuals and teamsas well as compelling incentives for key achievements.
• Annual Award NightsandEvents to Celebrate You
• Generous Childcare discountsfor your own children.

Guardian Childcare & Education values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences strengthen our teams and help us grow. We are committed to providing a workplace where every person is valued, respected, and supported to progress.

We are also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People feel a strong sense of belonging and connection.

The safety and wellbeing of children will always be our top priority, Guardian Childcare & Education has a zero tolerance for any form of child abuse or harm.