General Manager for Early Childhood

Private Advertiser; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Singapore is looking for an experienced General Manager to oversee operations across multiple centres. The role involves maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring child safety, and driving strategic initiatives for operational excellence. Strong leadership and people management skills are essential, along with a commitment to upholding high quality and safety standards in early childhood education. Candidates should possess a proven track record in operational oversight and the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing multiple childcare centres.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance in the early childhood sector.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders and team members.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of preschool centres.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and manage audits.
• Champion child safety and develop training protocols.
• Drive long-term strategic planning and operational improvements.
• Build relationships with internal teams and stakeholders.
• Ensure quality assurance in service delivery across centres.

Skills

Operational oversight

People management

Regulatory compliance

Safety protocols

Strategic planning

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and visionary General Manager to lead our Early Childhood operations across multiple centres in Singapore. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring excellence in centre operations, maintaining stringent regulatory and audit compliance, driving strategic initiatives, and safeguarding the well-being and developmental needs of children. This role requires a proactive leader with strong operational oversight, people management skills, and the ability to uphold high standards of quality and safety across all centres.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day operations across multiple preschool or childcare centres.
• Lead Centre Heads and operational teams to meet enrolment, staffing, and service quality targets.
• Develop and implement operational policies, SOPs, and best practices to ensure efficiency and consistency.
• Monitor key operational metrics and conduct regular reviews to drive continuous improvement.

Audit, Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with ECDA, Health & Safety, and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Oversee internal and external audits, licensing renewals, incident reporting, and regulatory documentation.
• Develop systems that strengthen governance, compliance monitoring, and risk‑mitigation processes.

Child Safety & Safeguarding

• Champion a strong culture of child protection and safety across all centres.
• Implement and monitor safety protocols, hygiene standards, and emergency preparedness plans.
• Ensure staff training in child safety, first aid, incident management, and safeguarding policies.

Strategic Planning & Organisational Development

• Drive long‑term strategic planning, including centre expansion, curriculum support, digitalisation initiatives, and operational enhancements.
• Lead strategic projects to improve service quality, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability.
• Analyse market trends, enrolment patterns, and competitive landscape to support informed decision‑making.

Stakeholder Communication & Relationship Management

• Communicate organisational initiatives, policy updates, and safety matters professionally and confidently.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, educators, and centre leadership to promote a collaborative and positive culture.

Quality Assurance & Service Excellence

• Lead quality assurance reviews to uphold curriculum standards, centre environment quality, and overall service excellence.
• Implement continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks and drive centre readiness for accreditation or quality ratings.
• Conduct regular centre visits to ensure alignment with organisational and regulatory requirements.