Little Stars Early Learning & Kindergarten

Little Stars Early Learning & Kindergarten is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Operations Manager to join our senior leadership team and support a portfolio of our early learning services.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role for someone who enjoys being visible in services, developing Centre Managers, solving problems and driving results.

We are looking for a leader who can balance the two critical sides of successful early childhood operations: quality and compliance, alongside strong commercial and operational performance.

About the role

Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will take responsibility for the operational performance of a portfolio of Little Stars services in the South Eastern Suburbs. You will work closely with Centre Managers, providing explicit direction, coaching and accountability while ensuring each service is delivering high-quality outcomes for children and families. This is a hands-on operational leadership role for someone who enjoys being visible in services, developing Centre Managers, solving problems and driving results. You will balance the two critical sides of successful early childhood operations: quality and compliance, alongside strong commercial and operational performance.

Key responsibilities

Providing strong, visible leadership across your portfolio of centres

Coaching and developing Centre Managers to become confident and accountable leaders

Driving occupancy, enquiries, tours, enrolments and family retention





Monitoring wage performance and supporting effective rostering and workforce management

Maintaining a strong focus on compliance, quality and continuous improvement

Supporting services through Assessment & Rating and regulatory requirements

Reviewing centre KPIs and quickly responding when performance is below expectations

Supporting Centre Managers with staffing, performance management and difficult operational matters

Ensuring centres maintain excellent presentation and consistently high standards

Building strong relationships with children, families, employees and local communities

About you

Significant multi-site operational experience within the Early Childhood Education and Care sector, with a demonstrated ability to improve centre performance

Robust sense of urgency and accountability

Proactive and doesn't wait to be told what needs to happen

Comfortable having difficult conversations when required

Can identify an issue and move quickly from problem → action → result

Understands occupancy, labour management and the commercial drivers of an early learning service

Can drive occupancy growth and strong conversion focus

Strong knowledge of the NQF, National Law and Regulations and quality improvement processes

Builds genuine relationships with Centre Managers while maintaining clear expectations

Enjoys spending time in centres with teams, rather than managing solely from behind a desk

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📌 Senior Multi-Site Ops Leader – Early Learning (City of Greater Dandenong)
🏢 Little Stars Holding
📍 City of Greater Dandenong