Lead statewide workforce planning, performance and operational support for Victoria’s early childhood regulatory operations. Drive workforce capability, regional performance and continuous improvement to support safe, high-quality outcomes for children.

About the Branch

Located across the four VECRA regions and the central office, the Regional Operations Branch manages and supports regional teams to deliver VECRA's core regulatory work. The regional teams comprise authorised officers, compliance officers and support staff who assess and rate National Quality Framework (NQF) services against the National Quality Standard (NQS), conduct inspections to monitor compliance with the National Law, Children's Services Act and Child Safe Standards, as well as investigating alleged non-compliances.

About the Role

VECRA is seeking an experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Director, Workforce and Performance – one of two newly established Assistant Director roles helping shape the next phase of VECRA's regulatory operations. The role leads the workforce, performance and operational support functions for frontline regulatory delivery across Victoria.

The safety, rights and best interests of children are paramount in all regulatory decisions, actions and priorities. This role strengthens the functions that support VECRA's regulatory operations and help deliver safe, high-quality outcomes for children and families across Victoria.

Reporting to Director Regional Operations, based in East Melbourne, this statewide role involves regular travel to regional offices across Victoria.

This role works alongside the Assistant Director, Change and Capability as a coordinated leadership team, and works closely with Regional Managers to undertake workforce planning, strengthen workforce capability, and promote organisational performance and support for frontline regulatory operations.

Key areas of responsibility

- Workforce planning
- Performance and operational data
- Data and intelligence
- Culture,



wellbeing and safety
- Regional support and escalation
- Workforce and engagement communications
- Leadership of a small central team aligned to the portfolio

The Assistant Director also directly manages a small central team aligned to the portfolio, providing leadership, direction and development to support delivery of workforce and performance priorities. While Regional Managers retain responsibility for operational delivery within their regions, this role provides dedicated support, coordination and leadership across workforce, performance and operational priorities.

Reporting to Director Regional Operations, based in Melbourne CBD, this statewide role involves regular travel to regional offices across Victoria.

The role operates in a complex and dynamic regulatory workplace, requiring strong judgement, collaboration and the ability to lead through change.

Attributes

We encourage applications from experienced operational leaders, frontline service delivery leaders and regulatory leaders with strong people leadership credentials. You will bring:

- Experience in workforce planning or development,
- Demonstrated capacity to work cross-functionally and collaboratively as part of a strong and cohesive leadership group.
- Extensive executive or senior leadership experience managing complex operational functions within a regulatory, education, child safety, human services, or public sector environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams.
- Strong strategic and operational leadership capability including monitoring regional performance data and identify opportunities for improvement.




- Experience leading teams and delivering outcomes through change and complexity
- The ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders
- A commitment to supporting frontline outcomes through high-quality leadership and organisational support.

Qualifications and Experience

- Essential: Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline
- Essential: A valid Working with Children Check
- Essential: Experience in workforce planning, organisational capability and/or overseeing regulatory operations.
- Desirable: Post Graduate Degree in relevant discipline

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

VECRA values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for VECRA, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the VECRA website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about VECRA's operations and employment conditions can be located on the VECRA website.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Karen Cullen, Director Regional Operations via ************@education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to VECRA will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 02 November 2026.

📌 Assistant Director, Workforce and Performance (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
📍 Melbourne