ECE Service Manager - Fixed Term

The Lifewise Trust; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lifewise Trust in New Zealand seeks an experienced ECE Service Manager to lead Lifewise’s early childhood education services. You will provide educational, operational, people and business leadership across Lifewise’s ECE services, supporting centre managers and teaching teams to deliver high-quality education and care while ensuring safety, compliance, and financial sustainability.

A significant focus of this fixed-term role is developing an evidence-informed ECE strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience leading ECE services.
• Ability to develop and implement long-term strategy in ECE.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory, licensing and funding requirements.
• Evidence-informed decision making and data use.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, high-quality ECE services across Lifewise
• Coach Centre Managers and teaching teams
• Develop Lifewise’s long-term ECE strategy and direction
• Champion trauma-informed and Te Whāriki-aligned practice
• Maintain regulatory, licensing, funding, safeguarding and quality assurance practices
• Oversee budgets, enrolments, and workforce planning
• Build trusting relationships with whānau, iwi and regulators
• Translate data into actionable quality improvements
• Incorporate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into leadership and practice

Skills

Educational leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

People leadership

Job description

Full time, Fixed term, Start Date: 14/09/2026, End Date: 31/03/2027 (New opportunity)

Early learning / kōhanga reo, Supervisor
English, Health and physical education, Learning languages, Mathematics and statistics, Science, Social sciences, Technology, Te reo Māori, The arts

Are you an experienced ECE leader ready to make a lasting impact?

AtLifewise, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We're looking for an exceptionalECE Service Managerwho combines strong educational leadership with strategic vision, business acumen, and a genuine commitment to tamariki, whānau and community.

About the role | Mō te tūranga

Reporting to the General Manager, Community Services, you will provide educational, operational, people and business leadership across Lifewise’s ECE services. You will support centre managers and teaching teams to deliver high-quality education and care while ensuring services remain safe, compliant, well-led and financially sustainable.

A significant focus of this fixed-term position will be developing an evidence-informed ECE strategy. You will assess the long-term purpose, operating model, sustainability and potential growth of our services, then translate your findings into clear recommendations for the future.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will also contribute an ECE perspective to organisation-wide strategy, leadership and service integration

• Lead safe, sustainable and high-quality ECE services.
• Coach and support Centre Managers and teaching teams to succeed.
• Develop Lifewise’s long-term ECE strategy and future direction.
• Champion inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice aligned with Te Whāriki.
• Maintain strong regulatory, licensing, funding, safeguarding and quality assurance practices.
• Oversee budgets, occupancy, enrolments, workforce planning and financial performance.
• Build trusted relationships with whānau, iwi, communities, regulators, funders and sector partners.
• Use evidence and operational data to improve quality and inform decision-making.
• Bring Te Tiriti o Waitangi to life through leadership, relationships and everyday practice.

This isn't just another ECE leadership role.

This is your chance to influence the future of early childhood education within an organisation committed to social change, inclusion, and creating brighter futures for the communities we serve!