Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor

Department of Education; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 72,000 - 96,000; Part time

Job summary

Department of Education invites applications for a Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor in the Bayside Peninsula area. The fixed-term 0.8 FTE role runs to 31 January 2028, located in Frankston or East Bentleigh offices.

The role focuses on ensuring access to high-quality early childhood education and care, managing service agreements, and building partnerships with local government and providers. Strong negotiation, communication, and project management are essential.

Qualifications

• Desirable: A relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood or a related discipline.
• Current Working With Children Check is required.

Responsibilities

• Manage service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations.
• Build partnerships with key stakeholders and provide advice to local government and community organisations.
• Provide high-level project management and coordination support.
• supervise a team of Performance & Planning Advisors and mentor staff where required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

People management

Education

Bachelor-level qualification in Early Childhood or related discipline

Job description

Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor

An exciting ongoing opportunity exists in the Bayside Peninsula Early Childhood Improvement Branch as a Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor. It is a 0.8 FTE fixed term position commencing on 1 February 2027. The role is based in the Frankston or East Bentleigh Office.

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Group

Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

This role is located in the Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Bayside Peninsula Area, South-East Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

About the Role

This is a fixed term part time role 0.8 FTE until 31 January 2028.

The Senior Performance & Planning Advisors have a focus on ensuring that all children and families have access to, and participate in, high quality early childhood education and care. The role builds partnerships with key stakeholders, provides advice and support to local government, community service organisations and early childhood providers. A key responsibility of the role is managing service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations. The role will require high-level interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, along with experience in project management.

In some instances the role may supervise a team of Performance & Planning Advisors and be required to clearly define role expectations, monitor performance, provide timely and constructive feedback and facilitate employee development to further enhance their contribution to the area team.

Attributes

• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills
• People management experience.

Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable: A relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood or a related discipline.

The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Nicola McCaul, Manager, Early Childhood Improvement Branch via (03) 8766 5*** or *************@education.vic.gov.au

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 26 November 2026