Service Manager

Busy Bees Australia Employer Pty Ltd; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly benefits

Learning & development

Supportive leaders

Career pathways

Global & national opportunities

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Busy Bees is seeking an experienced Centre Director to lead our 97‑place service at Noarlunga Downs SA. You will oversee daily operations, drive occupancy and financial performance, and build a high‑performing leadership team.

The role requires a Diploma or Bachelor in Early Childhood Education and Care (ACECQA approved), with strong knowledge of NQF, EYLF, and compliance, plus WWCC for SA. You will partner with families and the Area Director to achieve strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care (ACECQA approved).
• Current Working with Children Check for SA.
• Proven experience leading a service, within a medium to large centre.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of a high-quality early learning service.
• Drive occupancy growth and financial performance in line with budget targets.
• Build, mentor and retain a high-performing leadership team.
• Maintain compliance with the National Quality Framework and SA regulations.
• Foster a culture of safety, inclusion, and educational excellence.
• Develop strong partnerships with families and the local community.
• Collaborate with Area Director and support functions to achieve strategic goals.
• Lead performance management, workforce planning, and succession planning.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial management

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care (ACECQA approved)

Job description

Centre Director

2/8 Lovelock Drive, Noarlunga Downs SA 5168

Busy Bees is a leading global early learning provider, offering high-quality education in nurturing, purpose-built centres where educators are supported to grow, lead and make a real difference in children’s lives, with over 130 centres across Australia and around 3,000 employees.

Our Bee Safe Commitment: Child safety is at the heart of everything we do and is embedded in our people, places and processes. Help us give every child the Best Start in Life.

We’re looking for an experienced Centre Director to lead our 97-place service at Noarlunga Downs. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident, hands-on leader who is passionate about developing teams, driving accountability and creating positive change.

Our beautiful, purpose-built centre is conveniently located close to shopping, cafes and the beach. With a large kitchen, an engaged team and strong foundations already in place, there’s a great opportunity to build on what we do well and take the service to the next level.

What you’ll do

Lead the day-to-day operations of a high-quality early learning service.

Drive occupancy growth and financial performance in line with budget targets.

Build, mentor and retain a high-performing leadership team.

Maintain compliance with the National Quality Framework and SA regulations.

Foster a culture of safety, inclusion, and educational excellence.

Develop strong partnerships with families and the local community.

Collaborate with your Area Director and support functions to achieve strategic goals.

Lead performance management, workforce planning, and succession planning.

What you’ll bring

A genuine commitment to child safety, speaking up, always doing the right thing, and alignment with Busy Bees values.

Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care (ACECQA approved).

Current Working with Children Check for SA.

Proven experience leading a service, ideally within a medium to large centre environment.

Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework (NQF), EYLF, and compliance requirements.

Demonstrated ability to manage occupancy, rosters, and financial performance.

Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Why Busy Bees?

• Family-friendly benefits; 50% childcare gap-fee discounts for permanent staff, because your family should benefit too.
• Paid learning & development; First Aid, CPR & mandatory training covered, ongoing professional development, and access to our Busy Bees learning platform and ACCCO RTO pathways.
• Supportive leaders & inclusive teams; hands-on leadership, strong tenure and a culture built on trust, respect and collaboration.
• Career pathways that grow with you; opportunities & training to progress from Educator to leadership, management and area roles.
• Global & national opportunities; connect with leaders across Australia and apply for our Global Talent Exchange Program (UK, Canada and Asia).
• Wellbeing support that goes beyond work; free, confidential EAP access for you and your immediate family, when you need it most.

Employment is conditional on satisfactory, rigorous pre-employment checks (including WWCC, ID, Qualifications, Gecko Training, Work Rights, NQAITS register/Prohibited Persons & References) and child safety training, reflecting our strong commitment to safeguarding, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Why Work for Busy Bees?

If you’re passionate about early learning, Busy Bees is the place to be. Although we are part of a global organisation, our company was founded by three families looking for better, more enriching childcare. Three decades later, we still keep the same values at heart. We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the important people in our teams. We invest in our people and work with them to build career pathways that inspire. Whether you're embarking on the exciting journey of your early educational career or striving to advance to the next level, Busy Bees presents an ideal opportunity for you!

We're actively searching for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals who possess an authentic passion for Early Childhood Education and the well-being of children, to fill a variety of roles across our Services and Support Office. Early Childhood Education attracts a special type of person. You might possess creativity, nurturance, a focus on tasks, or a knack for problem-solving. However, at its core, your affinity for Early Childhood Education arises from a profound devotion to nurturing the educational growth of the youngest members within our communities. This resonates deeply with us, as our mission is to give every child the best start in life. We are driven to gather people who care deeply about quality and we empower people to bring their unique gifts and talents together for the benefit of our children. We value each member of our team and know that by supporting you in your journey you’ll be the positive and supportive influence in theirs.