VECRA is seeking an experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Director, Change and Capability - one of two newly established Assistant Director roles helping shape the next phase of VECRA’s regulatory operations. The role leads reform change, capability and continuous improvement initiatives that support consistent regulatory practice and high-quality decision-making across Victoria.

VECRA regulates approximately 5,000 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National Law). VECRA also regulates services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.

VECRA is responsible for:

- approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act
- monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints
- assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care
- undertaking compliance and enforcement activities
- supporting national quality reforms and legislative policy development.

VECRA is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Protected Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria.

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,



Change and Capability – one of two newly established Assistant Director roles helping shape the next phase of VECRA's regulatory operations. The role leads reform change, capability and continuous improvement initiatives that support consistent regulatory practice and high-quality decision-making 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.

This role works alongside the Assistant Director, Workforce and Performance as a coordinated leadership team, and alongside Regional Managers to drive reform, capability uplift and continuous improvement while supporting consistent practice and decision-making across the state.

Key areas of responsibility

- Strategic projects and reform
- Regulatory practice consistency
- Capability, training and induction
- Learning and development
- Reform and change 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 reform and capability priorities. While Regional Managers retain responsibility for operational delivery within their regions, this role provides dedicated support, coordination and leadership across reform change, capability and continuous improvement 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 environment, requiring strong judgement, collaboration and the ability to lead through change.

Attributes





We encourage applications from leaders with experience in major re gulatory reform, transformation, strategic projects, capability development or complex change initiatives. You will bring:

- Strong strategic and operational leadership capability
- Experience leading teams and delivering outcomes through change and complexity
- The ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders
- Sound judgement and a collaborative approach to leadership
- 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
- 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, Change and Capability (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
📍 Melbourne