Manager Early Learning & Child Safety

About this role

Drive excellence in early learning and create lasting outcomes for children and families. The Role As the Manager Early Learning & Child Safety, you will provide strategic leadership across Council's Early Learning Services and Child Safety functions, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, inclusive and innovative services that support the wellbeing, development and learning of children. Reporting to the Director, you will lead a large team portfolio responsible for overseeing Council's early learning centres, implementing the Children's Services Strategy and Child Safe Action Plan, and ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory and funding requirements. This is a unique opportunity to influence outcomes for children and families across the Georges River community. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will drive service excellence, champion child safe practices, and lead a high-performing team committed to delivering exceptional early childhood education and care. Key focus areas: • Provide strategic leadership across Early Learning Services and Child Safety functions, ensuring alignment with Council's strategic objectives and community priorities. • Lead the implementation of Council's Children's Services Strategy, Child Safe Action Plan and related initiatives, promoting best practice in early childhood education and child safety. • Oversee the operation and continuous improvement of Council's early learning services, ensuring compliance with the National Quality Framework, National Law and relevant regulatory requirements. • Champion child safe practices across Council, embedding the NSW Child Safe Standards and promoting the rights, safety and wellbeing of children. • Manage business unit performance, budgets, funding programs and resources to ensure sustainable, efficient and high-quality service delivery. • Provide expert advice and strategic reporting to Council's Executive Team on early learning, child safety, operational performance, risks and emerging issues. • Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. About You You are a values-driven leader with extensive experience in early childhood education and a strong commitment to child safety, quality outcomes and service excellence. You will bring: • Tertiary qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care. • At least five years' leadership experience in early childhood education and care. • Demonstrated experience leading child safe practices and regulatory compliance. • Strong knowledge of early childhood development, curriculum planning and the National Quality Framework. • Experience managing childcare funding programs, budgets and operational performance. • Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive continuous improvement. • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. • A current NSW Class C Driver Licence, Working with Children Check, and Certificate in Identifying and Responding to Children and Young People at Risk. What We Offer • Permanent full time – 70 hours per fortnight • Total Remuneration Package: $214,021.02 to $246.036.40 gross p.a. (inclusive of base, 12% superannuation, and $10,780.00 vehicle allowance) • Based at the conveniently located Civic Centre in Hurstville CBD (5-minute walk from train station), the Manager will be required to regularly work across all 5 service locations and the Civic centre as a part of the dynamic and mobile leadership role. • Enjoy flexible working options, including flexible start and finish times, hybrid work (after probation) • Access to Fitness Passport for you and your family • Additional five days of Manager's Leave each year • Confidential Employee Assistance Program • Employee Rewards Program If you have made a positive commitment to further your career and you possess the attributes detailed in the Position Description essential criteria, then please submit your application today. Applicants are asked to ensure that they provide responses to the targeted questions, failure to do so may result in your application not being considered. If you would like further information on this role, please contact Kristie Dodd, Director Community & Culture on 02 9330 6035. Applications must be completed and submitted via our website. Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 11.59 PM AEST. Offers of employment at Georges River Council are contingent upon satisfactory results of a thorough background check. Please note you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident or have unlimited working rights (with no Visa restrictions) to apply for this position. Georges River Council is a progressive, people-focused organisation with 600 dedicated staff delivering exceptional services to our diverse and vibrant community. Our vision is to be 'naturally connected to place, community, and Country'. We are committed to creating accessible green, and liveable spaces, nurturing creativity, protecting the natural environment, and building a thriving local economy. We foster our values of Accountability, Professionalism, Unity and Honesty and take pride in promoting the image of Council in the community. We are committed to building a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, workers of all ages, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. At Georges River Council we are committed to putting children first and championing child safety within our community. We actively advocate for the rights of children and young people and will uphold our commitment as a child safe organisation.