GM – NDIS Early Childhood Approach Job Description AboutLifestart

Build your future while empowering children,familiesand communities.

AtLifestart, you will joinone of Australia’s leading disability service providersand contribute to work shaped bystrong values and lived experience. Founded in 1996 by eight families,Lifestartnowoperatesacross eight NSW locationsand supports more than13,000 children, young people,familiesand carers across Australia.

We deliver the NDIS Early Childhood Approach across fiveNSWregions,partneringwith families and communities toconnectchildren with disability, developmentaldelayor developmental concernstothesupportsthey need toreach theirpotential.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity foran experienced,values-driven General ManagertojoinLifestarton a 12-month fixed-term contract

and leadourEarly ChildhoodApproachprogram across five NSW service areas.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a key member ofLifestart’sExecutive Team, you willguidean experienced Early Childhoodleadership team, including five Service Area Managers and key program-wide leadership roles.

You will have the scopetoinfluencethe future ofLifestart’sEarly Childhood services during a period of continued evolution across the NDIS and disability sector.Bringingtogether strategy,peopleleadership and operationalexpertise, you willstrengthenservices andhelp delivermeaningful outcomes for children and families.

WhatYou’llLead

Provide strategic and operational leadership across the Early ChildhoodApproach,supportingconsistent,high-quality service delivery across all five NSW regions.

Lead,coachand develop five Service Area Managers and the broader Early Childhoodleadershipteam,



building leadership capability and a high-performing culture.

Drive performance against NDIA contractual requirements and the Performance Management Framework,helping achievekey service andorganisationaloutcomes.

Guidethe department through NDIS reform and change, translatingsectorchanges into effective operational practice while supporting leaders and teams through transition.

Oversee budgets, workforceplanningand resource allocation toenableoperational performance and financial sustainability.

Use data and performance insights toidentifyopportunities, respond tochallengesand drive continuous improvement across the program.

Maintainstrong governance across quality, safeguarding, child safety, risk,complianceand regulatory requirements.

Build andmaintainstrategic relationships with the NDIA, governmentagenciesand sector stakeholders,representingLifestartinkey forums and meetings.

Partnerwith the CEO and Executive Team to contribute to Lifestart’s broader strategy andorganisationalpriorities.

About You

You areasenior leader who combines strong operational capability with strategic thinking and a genuine commitment toimprovingoutcomes for children and families.

You areconfidentleading at scale, navigating complexity and change, and working collaboratively with executives, governmentagenciesand multidisciplinary teams.





WhatYou’llBring

Arecognisedtertiary qualification in Education, Allied Health, Social Sciences or another relevant discipline.

Extensive leadership and management experience within the NDIS, disability, earlychildhoodor broader community services sector.

Strong knowledge of the NDIS and Early Childhood Approach, with NDIA/PITC experience highly regarded.

Demonstrated experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams through senior leaders and managers.

Strong experience in strategic, operational,financialand resource management.

Demonstrated success leadingorganisationalchange and navigating reform,policyor legislative change.

Experience driving performance,accountabilityand continuous improvement using data and operational insights.

Solid understanding of quality, safeguarding,riskand compliance within a regulated service environment.

Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credible relationships at executive,governmentand sector level.

You will alsorequirefullAustralian working rights, a current Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, DriverLicenceand access to a reliable, insured vehicle.

Why JoinLifestart?

AtLifestart,your leadership will helpchildren and young people living with disabilityparticipateinclusively and meaningfully in theircommunities.Ourorganisationwas founded by families, and30 years later,working inpartnership with children, families and communitiesremainscentral to everything we do.

You will be part of anorganisationguided byEmpowerment, Equity,Collaborationand Impact—values that shapehow we work, how we lead and the outcomes

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