Early Years Operations Lead
Permanent | Full Time
Band 7: $108,545.62 + 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 a sector‑leading, innovative Early Years Management Team within Yarra City Council—one of Victoria’s most progressive local government early years providers.
Yarra Children’s Services delivers high‑quality kindergarten and long day care services across four established Early Years Precincts: Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond and North Yarra. Each precinct oversees 2–3 education and care services and is supported by a dedicated, well‑resourced leadership team:
- Full‑time, off‑the‑floor Precinct Team Leader
- Full‑time, off‑the‑floor Precinct Educational Leader
- Full‑time Early Learning Precinct Administrative Support
The Role
As Early Years Operations Lead, you will play a pivotal senior leadership role, partnering with the Team Leader – Pedagogy and Practice to support, mentor and lead precinct leadership teams and ensure excellence in day‑to‑day operations, compliance, workforce capability and service sustainability.
You will work across multiple services, providing strategic operational leadership while contributing to broader planning, reform and continuous improvement initiatives within the Yarra Family, Youth and Children’s Services Branch.
This role is ideal for an experienced leader who thrives in large, 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 Children’s Services is deeply committed to progressive pedagogy and strong educator wellbeing. Our practice is informed by positive psychology, trauma‑informed practice and humanist theorists, with a focus on reflective leadership and continuous learning.
We offer best‑in‑sector conditions, including:
- Above‑award remuneration
- Excellent working conditions and workload structures
- Strong leadership development and succession planning
- Comprehensive induction and onboarding
- Enshrined non‑contact time for all educators
- Ongoing professional development (internal and external)
- 2 child‑free days for whole‑unit professional learning
- 3 child‑free days for service commencement and close‑down
- Generous budgets for nutritious menus, room and centre resources
- Above‑industry‑standard management support at every level
What You Bring
You are a confident, values‑driven operational leader with the ability to balance compliance, quality, people leadership and strategic planning across multiple services.
You will demonstrate:
- Extensive experience overseeing operations, quality and compliance across long day care and kindergarten services
- Strong financial, administrative and business acumen
- High‑level capability in planning, prioritising and delivering outcomes
- Proven experience managing a large 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
- 5–10 years’ experience managing education and care services
- Tertiary qualification in early childhood (minimum Diploma level)
- Current First Aid qualification relevant to education and care services
- Driver’s Licence
Why Yarra?
Yarra City Council is a dynamic, inclusive organisation committed to making a genuine difference in people’s 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, values‑driven team—we’d love to hear from you.
For further information see the position description or contact Deanne Halpin, Acting Manager Family Youth and Children’s Services at deanne.halpin@yarracity.vic.gov.au.
702468 - Early Years Operations Lead - Position Description (January 2026).pdf
Applications close on Thursday 5th 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 satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children Check prior 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 a child safe organisation and 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.
