Join the ECMS Team: Area Manager

Are you passionate about shaping young minds and making a difference in your community?

At ECMS, we’re proud to be a not-for-profit community organisation that’s all about making a difference in the lives of children and families. With 76 kindergartens and early learning services across Melbourne, our team of 1100+ dedicated people work together to create joyful and enriching learning experiences with the safeguarding of children at the centre of everything we do. For us, it’s more than just early learning, it’s about building connections, nurturing growth, and being part of something truly meaningful in our communities.
We are seeking a senior ECE professional with experience managing multiple or large teams to drive operational excellence across services. Join our team as an Area Manager!

About the role
As an Area Manager, you will oversee a portfolio of services, including long day care and sessional kindergartens across Melbourne’s suburbs. Please note the role includes weekly travel to services. You'll be one of 8 Area Managers with a strong understanding and knowledge in coaching and people management, meeting child safety and compliance standards and managing financial performance.

Your day to day responsibilities

- Drive Team Culture and Performance: Utilise values-based leadership to ensure your team exceed operational and regulatory standards
- Build Stakeholder Relationships: Develop effective relationships with families, councils, and community partners
- Enable Practice Improvement: Set clear goals, provide coaching, and align services with our pedagogical principles to maintain high standards
- Data Driven: Use evidence and data to ensure operational, cultural, and financial sustainability across your portfolio
- Promote Professional Growth: Foster a culture of reflection and best practice including individual and team performance.

About you

- Experienced Leader: You have a proven track record in early childhood education and care,



with previous experience working as an Area Manager role or Centre Director of a large service.
- Critical Thinker: You identify effective and innovate ways to continuously improve the operational running of your teams and services.
- Knowledgeable and Practical: Your extensive knowledge of ECE research and the National Quality Framework (NQF) translates into effective, practical application. You hold a qualification in early childhood education and care.
- Champion for Diversity: You embrace diversity and leverage community strengths with place-based approaches.
- Independent and Collaborative: You navigate your own path while playing a central team role, managing competing priorities empathetically and proactively.

What's in it for you?

- Competitive Remuneration: Enjoy a competitive salary package, travel reimbursement, laptop and phone.
- Childcare Discount: Benefit from a 50% discount on childcare services.
- Professional Development: 2% professional development allowance tailored to your growth.
- Career Acceleration: High responsibility and exposure to high-calibre colleagues offer rapid growth opportunities opportunities.
- Employee Benefits Program: Access a range of retail and recreational discounts through our fully sponsored program.

Join us in shaping the future of early education!

ECMS is committed to the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children. Successful applicants are required to adhere to our child safe practices and policies located on our website. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from diverse communities and backgrounds are encouraged.

If you're passionate about early childhood education and care, and you're looking for a rewarding career with a supportive and inclusive organisation, we encourage you to apply today!

Important: Candidates using Bigpond email addresses may experience delays or issues receiving automated recruitment emails. To ensure you receive updates about your application, please consider using an alternative email address.

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📌 Area Manager (Northcote)
🏢 ECMS
📍 Northcote