Assistant Director & Preschool Pedagogy Leader

Manly Vale Bush Kindy is looking for a passionate, energetic and experienced Assistant Director & Preschool Room Leader to join our growing team. This is a unique leadership position for someone who is passionate about Reggio Emilia, project-based learning, nature pedagogy and Bush Kindy, while also having a strong interest in the business and community side of early childhood education. You will have the opportunity to lead our Preschool program, mentor educators, build meaningful relationships with families, support the Centre Director and play an important role in promoting Manly Vale Bush Kindy within our local community.

Key responsibilities

Lead and inspire the Preschool team to deliver a high-quality, engaging and meaningful program

Develop a strong project-based learning program that follows children's interests, questions and ideas

Embed Reggio Emilia principles throughout the learning environment, curriculum and relationships

Support educators to document children's learning and make learning visible to children and families

Develop opportunities for children to investigate, experiment, problem-solve and collaborate

Continue to develop Bush Kindy and nature-based learning program

Create meaningful connections between indoor and outdoor learning

Support educators to reflect on their practice and continually improve the learning program

Build strong relationships with children and families

Work closely with the Centre Director to assist with day-to-day leadership and growth of the service

Provide leadership and guidance to educators

Support staff performance, mentoring and professional development

Assist with staff organisation, programming and daily operations

Help maintain a positive, collaborative team culture

Support compliance, policies and procedures

Assist with enrolments and family communication

Conduct centre tours and orientations for prospective and new families

Build relationships with prospective families and help them understand what makes Manly Vale Bush Kindy different

Support the enrolment journey from initial enquiry through to commencement

Help organise centre events, celebrations, family experiences and community engagement opportunities





Develop relationships with local schools, community organisations and other services

Support social media presence and create and coordinate social media content

Take photographs and videos of learning experiences, where appropriate and with required permissions

Promote Bush Kindy, project-based learning, sustainability and community programs

Help develop engaging advertising and promotional material

Identify opportunities to increase community awareness of the service

Assist with open days, play sessions and promotional events

Help develop relationships with local schools and community organisations

Look for creative ways to showcase what makes the service unique

Welcome prospective families and conduct engaging centre tours

Run orientation sessions for current families

Organise family events and opportunities for families to connect

Represent the philosophy and values of Manly Vale Bush Kindy with confidence and enthusiasm

About you

Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care (essential)

Current First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis and Asthma qualifications (essential)

Current Working With Children Check (essential)

Strong understanding of the EYLF and National Quality Framework (essential)

Demonstrated experience working with Preschool-aged children (essential)

Demonstrated leadership experience (essential)

Passionate about Reggio Emilia-inspired practice and project-based learning

Experienced in developing and implementing child-led, inquiry-based learning

Experienced in, or highly passionate about, Bush Kindy, nature-based learning and outdoor education

A confident and inspiring Preschool Room Leader

A strong communicator with excellent people skills

Warm, approachable and confident when meeting new families

Business-minded and interested in the growth and development of a childcare service





Confident speaking with families and conducting tours and orientations

Creative and enthusiastic about organising family events, community events and centre experiences

Comfortable using social media to promote the service, our programs and our philosophy

Able to identify opportunities to showcase the amazing work happening within the service

A natural relationship builder who enjoys connecting with families, educators, schools and the wider community

Organised, proactive and able to take initiative

Someone who brings positive energy and enjoys being part of a growing team

Experience with Reggio Emilia-inspired practice (highly desirable)

Experience with project-based or inquiry-based learning (highly desirable)

Previous experience running or developing a Bush Kindy or nature-based program (highly desirable)

Leadership or Assistant Director experience (highly desirable)

Experience conducting tours and orientations (highly desirable)

Experience with social media and digital marketing (highly desirable)

Experience organising events and community engagement initiatives (highly desirable)

About us

At Manly Vale Bush Kindy, we believe children are capable, curious and powerful learners. We value children's ideas, interests and questions and create environments where they can investigate, experiment, take risks, collaborate and develop a deep connection with nature and their community. We are passionate about learning through real experiences, including Bush Kindy, project work, sustainability, cooking, gardening, community connections and child-led investigations.

A leadership role within a growing and innovative early learning service

The opportunity to have a genuine influence on our Preschool program and service philosophy

A strong focus on nature, Bush Kindy, sustainability and project-based learning

A supportive and collaborative team environment

Opportunities to develop your leadership and professional skills

The opportunity to build relationships with families and the wider community

A role where your ideas and creativity are encouraged

The opportunity to help shape the future direction and growth of Manly Vale Bush Kindy

#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Assistant Director & Preschool Pedagogy Leader (Sydney)
🏢 Manly Vale Bush Kindy
📍 Sydney