Centre Director – Lead a Brand‑New Flagship Service in Mooroolbark

2027 Start date:

Lead a Start-Up Service for a High-Performing, Highly Respected Early Learning Organisation

SH Recruitment is working exclusively with a childcare service that is opening a brand-recent, purpose-built early learning centre in beautiful Mooroolbark. We are searching for an exceptional Centre Director with proven start-up experience to bring this service to life.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the culture, build occupancy from day one, and lead a high-quality program with the full backing of one of the sector’s most reputable organisations.

Key Details:

- Opening Date: The centre is scheduled to open in 2027, and we are looking for someone to start in late 2026 to help prepare for the launch.

Why This Role Stands Out:

- Work-Life Flexibility: Enjoy a leadership role that genuinely supports balance, autonomy, and wellbeing.
- High-Performing Company: Join an organisation known for excellence, strong values, and an outstanding reputation in the sector.
- Build Something From Scratch: Have the opportunity to influence design, culture, community engagement, and enrolment strategies from the ground up.
- Exceptional Support: Benefit from daily access to an experienced operations team, marketing support for occupancy growth, and a well-resourced environment.
- Growth opportunities: Enjoy ongoing professional development, leadership coaching, and opportunities to advance into broader organisational roles.

About the Role:

As Centre Director, you will lead the successful launch, licensing, and ongoing performance of this current service. Your responsibilities will include driving occupancy growth, building a high-performing team, and creating a warm, inclusive,



community-connected centre that families trust.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead all start-up operations, including licensing, team recruitment, and community engagement.
- Drive occupancy growth through exceptional service quality, local partnerships, and strategic enrolment planning.
- Build and mentor a high-performing, values-driven team.
- Embed a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure compliance with all NQF, regulatory, and organisational standards.
- Create a welcoming and inspiring environment for children, families, and educators.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

- Proven experience in successfully opening and stabilising new centres
- Strong leadership capability with the ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams
- In-depth knowledge of compliance, NQF/NQS, and confidence in achieving high Assessment & Rating outcomes
- Strong occupancy growth mindset with proven results in building enrolments and community engagement
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with families, staff, and the local community
- A proactive, hands-on approach with strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
- A clear and structured approach to pre-opening planning, including the ability to develop and execute a detailed 3-month preparation plan prior to opening (staffing, enrolments, compliance readiness, and operational setup)

If you are a high-performing Centre Director who thrives in start-up environments and seeks the freedom, support, and resources to build a truly exceptional service, we would love to hear from you.

Please note, applications close on the 29th of August 2026, where we will then be shortlisting candidates for interviews.

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📌 Centre Director – Lead a Brand‑New Flagship Service in Mooroolbark (Melbourne)
🏢 SH Recruitment
📍 Melbourne