Early Years Operations Lead

Permanent Full Time
Band 7: $108545.62 super RDO
Retention Payment until 30 November 2026

Lead at scale. Shape practice. Innovate for children families and educators.

This is a rare opportunity to join asectorleading innovative Early Years Management Teamwithin Yarra City Councilone of Victorias most progressive local government early years providers.

Yarra Childrens Services delivershighquality kindergarten and long day care servicesacross four establishedEarly Years Precincts: Collingwood Fitzroy Richmond and North Yarra. Each precinct oversees23 education and care servicesand is supported by a dedicated wellresourced leadership team:

• Fulltime offthefloorPrecinct Team Leader
• Fulltime offthefloorPrecinct Educational Leader
• FulltimeEarly Learning Precinct Administrative Support

The Role

AsEarly Years Operations Lead you will play a pivotal senior leadership role partnering with theTeam Leader Pedagogy and Practicetosupport mentor and lead precinct leadership teamsand ensure excellence in daytoday operations compliance workforce capability and service sustainability.

You will work across multiple services providingstrategic operational leadershipwhile contributing to broader planning reform and continuous improvement initiatives within theYarra Family Youth and Childrens Services Branch.

This role is ideal for an experienced leader who thrives inlarge complex environments enjoys coaching leaders and wants to help shape the future of early years practice at scale.

Our Practice Philosophy & What We Offer

Yarra Childrens Services is deeply committed toprogressive pedagogy and strong educator wellbeing. Our practice is informed bypositive psychology traumainformed practice and humanist theorists with a focus on reflective leadership and continuous learning.

We offerbestinsector conditions including:

• Aboveaward remuneration
• Excellent working conditions and workload structures
• Strong leadership development and succession planning
• Comprehensive induction and onboarding
• Enshrinednoncontact time for all educators
• Ongoing professional development (internal and external)
• 2 childfree daysfor wholeunit professional learning
• 3 childfree daysfor service commencement and closedown
• Generous budgets for nutritious menus room and centre resources
• Aboveindustrystandard management supportat every level

What You Bring

You are a confident valuesdriven operational leader with the ability to balancecompliance quality people leadership and strategic planningacross multiple services.

You will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience overseeingoperations quality and complianceacross long day care and kindergarten services
• Strong financial administrative and business acumen
• Highlevel capability inplanning prioritising and delivering outcomes
• Proven experience managing alarge number of direct and indirect reports using coaching and mentoring approaches
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your style for diverse audiences

Qualifications & Requirements

• 510 years experiencemanaging education and care services
• Tertiary qualification in early childhood (minimumDiploma level)
• CurrentFirst Aidqualification relevant to education and care services
• Drivers Licence

Why Yarra

Yarra City Council is adynamic inclusive organisationcommitted to making a genuine difference in peoples lives. We value innovation strong relationships and leadership that is courageous reflective and grounded in practice.

If you are ready to influence early years education at scale and lead alongside a highly capable valuesdriven teamwed love to hear from you.

For further information see the position description or contactDeanne Halpin Acting Manager Family Youth and Childrens Services at .

702468 - Early Years Operations Lead - Position Description (January 2026).pdf

Applications close onThursday 5^th February 2026. at 11:55pm.

To apply for this role please upload your CV Cover Letter and Key Selection Criteria.

*This position is subject to satisfactoryPolice Check and Working with Children Checkprior to commencement. Pre-employment checks are not used by Yarra City Council to prevent any applicant from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.

Yarra City Council is committed to being achild safe organisationand supports flexible and accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with a disability Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders culturally religiously and linguistically diverse people young people older people women and people who identify as gay lesbian bisexual transgender intersex or queer. We draw pride and strength from our diversity remain open to new approaches and actively foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates the contribution made by all our people.