Area Manager | Early Childhood Education & Care | Sydney

Our Centre Managers are good. Your job is to make them better.

We are seeking an experienced early childhood leader to join a privately owned, family-run early learning group as our Area Manager, reporting directly to the General Manager.

This is a hands-on, multi-site leadership role for an established Centre Director or Nominated Supervisor who knows how to improve centre performance, develop leaders, and maintain high standards across multiple services.

No previous Area Manager experience is required. Strong Centre Director or Centre Manager experience is essential.

This is not a support office role

You will spend most of your time in our centres, working alongside Centre Managers, identifying challenges early, coaching teams, and turning expectations into results.

You will be accountable for:

- Leading, coaching, and developing Centre Managers and Educational Leaders

- Improving occupancy, utilisation, tour conversion, enrolments, and family retention

- Driving Assessment and Rating readiness, with a strong focus on achieving Exceeding outcomes

- Maintaining compliance with the NQF, NQS, National Law, Regulations, child safety, and WHS requirements

- Improving staffing efficiency, rostering, wage control, and educator-to-child ratios

- Developing succession plans and preparing 2ICs and Room Leaders for leadership roles

- Monitoring centre performance and implementing practical improvement plans

What you bring

- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care minimum; a relevant degree is preferred

- Substantial experience as a Centre Director, Centre Manager,



or Nominated Supervisor

- Robust knowledge of the EYLF, NQF, NQS, CCS, and Family Assistance Law

- Proven ability to improve centre operations, compliance, occupancy, and team performance

- Confidence managing difficult conversations while maintaining positive working relationships

- Current NSW Working with Children Check clearance, driver's licence, and access to a vehicle

- Willingness to be appointed as a Nominated Supervisor where required

What we offer

- A senior leadership salary that reflects the scope and responsibility of the role, reviewed annually

- Direct access to the General Manager and a short decision-making chain
- The opportunity to influence operational standards across multiple centres
- A privately owned group where decisions can be made quickly

- Genuine long-term career progression into senior operational leadership

Our selection process

We value substance over presentation. Our three-stage process includes an application review, a structured interview with the Group Head of Human Resources and General Manager, and a final interview with the Managing Director, followed by comprehensive referee checks.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter of no more than one page answering this question:

Tell us about a Centre Manager you developed. What were they like when you started, and what were they like when you finished?

Generic applications that do not address this question will not be progressed.

We are looking for someone who can develop leaders, lift performance, and hold high standards across every centre. If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you.

📌 Area Manager | Early Learning | Multi-Site | Sydney (Dee Why)
🏢 Reggio Emilia Early Learning Centre
📍 Dee Why