Shape standards, support leaders, and influence performance across multiple centres Lead with impact across a small portfolio of high-quality early learning centres Earn between $130,000 – $150,000 (based on skills and experience) $15K Sign-On Bonus, Relocation Assistance and MORE! Ongoing professional growth and development opportunities The Organisation You’ll Be Joining Scout Talent is partnering with a boutique, family-owned early childhood education provider with a strong presence across Inner Melbourne . Known for its commitment to quality, consistency and child-centred practice, this organisation operates a small network of purpose-built centres that are deeply connected to their local communities. With a strong values base and a hands‑on leadership philosophy, the organisation focuses on creating environments where children thrive, educators feel supported, and leaders are empowered to make a genuine difference. This is a provider that values collaboration, clear standards, and continuous improvement and invests meaningfully in the people who lead their centres. Your Next Leadership Opportunity Our client is looking for a full‑time Area Manager based in Inner Melbourne . This role is responsible for overseeing a manageable portfolio of 4 - 6 early learning centres - providing hands‑on leadership, setting clear operational standards, and supporting Centre Managers to deliver consistent, high‑quality outcomes. More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to: Providing visible, hands‑on leadership across a portfolio of early learning centres Supporting Centre Managers to deliver strong operational, quality and people outcomes Driving consistency in practices, systems and expectations across centres Ensuring compliance with the National Quality Framework, NQS and relevant regulations Supporting centres through Assessment and Rating processes and continuous improvement initiatives Maintaining a regular presence across centres to support quality, safety and consistency Coaching and mentoring Centre Managers to build capability, confidence and accountability Partnering with People & Culture to support recruitment, retention and performance Managing escalated family matters with professionalism and care Building strong relationships with families, teams and key stakeholders Providing insights to senior leadership on opportunities, risks and emerging trends What You’ll Bring to the Role To qualify, you will bring hands‑on experience as an Area Manager (or equivalent portfolio leadership role) within early childhood education. Ideally, you will have 2 years of experience overseeing multiple centres , with the confidence and capability to step into a portfolio role and deliver impact from day one. You will also bring progressive leadership experience across the ECEC sector, with a strong understanding of centre operations, quality frameworks and people leadership at scale. Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued: Experience leading and supporting multiple early learning centres Strong working knowledge of the National Quality Framework, NQS and EYLF Confidence supporting Assessment and Rating processes A practical, hands‑on leadership style with strong coaching capability The ability to set clear standards while building trust and engagement Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills As our ideal candidate, you are a people‑focused leader who enjoys being close to centres, supporting leaders in real time, and creating clarity around expectations. You are comfortable balancing quality, compliance and performance, and you thrive in environments where collaboration, accountability and shared purpose matter. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced early childhood leader who enjoys portfolio work, values meaningful relationships with centres, and wants to make a tangible impact without managing an overwhelming number of services. What’s on Offer Compensation based on skills and experience is a competitive annual salary of $130,000 - $150,000 (negotiable) , plus a range of benefits including: $15,000 Sign‑on Bonus Relocation assistance available for the right candidate Full‑time, stable senior leadership role A manageable portfolio of centres Autonomy and variety in how you structure your days Travel limited to centre visits and head office (no regional travel) A supportive, values‑driven leadership team Ongoing professional growth and development opportunities A collaborative and family‑oriented organisational culture Ready to make your mark? If you are an experienced early childhood leader who values quality, consistency and people‑centred leadership — and you’re looking for a role where you can genuinely make a difference — we’d love to hear from you - APPLY NOW! J-18808-Ljbffr
