Role: Early Years Manager
Location: Victoria - Wurundjeri country
Employment Type : Permanent Fulltime
As the Early Years Manager, you will lead a dedicated team overseeing funding and grants administration, ensuring compliance with kindergarten funding guidelines, the Early Years Management framework, and the Service Improvement Plan (SIP).
You’ll work closely with the Operations team to streamline systems and processes, ensuring funding supports teachers effectively while improving centre practices. With a strong focus on compliance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, you’ll manage state-based funding programs, coordinate grant opportunities, and liaise with government departments to keep all stakeholders informed.
If you're passionate about early years education and funding, this is your opportunity to make a real difference!
Your Impact:
As the Early Years Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, you will play a critical role in ensuring funding programs and grants are effectively managed, compliant, and delivering real benefits to children, families, and educators. Leading a dedicated team, you will oversee the administration of kindergarten funding, ensuring adherence to guidelines, reporting requirements, and the Early Years Management framework.
Your work will strengthen partnerships with internal stakeholders, including the Operations team, to ensure systems and processes are in place to support funding compliance and improve centre practices. You’ll also be the key liaison with government departments, providing essential updates and managing communications around funding changes, teacher allocations, and grant opportunities.
What Goodstart can offer you:
* Flexible work arrangements giving you choice about when and how work will be done in order to better manage your work and non-work needs
* Not-For-Profit Salary Packaging benefits which reduce your taxable income to increase take home pay
* Access to discounted childcare (up to 15%)
* Discounted health care and access to employee wellbeing program with BUPA
* Exclusive discounts on travel, gym memberships, Apple and Dell products, and more.
* Free annual flu shot (optional)
* Option to purchase extra leave for even greater work life balance
* First Nations Support and Cultural Leave
* Work for a company that has an aspiration to be globally recognised for early years practice and learning outcomes
* Gain significant investment in your growth and development with support, tools, training and experiences that will truly enhance the progress and outcomes for children in their earliest years.
You’ll bring to the table:
* Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, or a related field or relevant experience
* Leadership experience in an Early Childhood Education and Care setting or in a comparable organisation with a focus on governance
* Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills. In-depth knowledge of early childhood education principles, practices, and regulations
* Valid Victorian Working With Children Check
* Valid Victorian drivers license
How to apply
Click ‘Apply Now’ and submit your application.
We review applications as they are submitted. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible for your best chance to progress to the next stage of the process.
We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all positions
Have a question? Contact our Talent Acquisition Team via email recruitment@goodstart.org.au
If you are a placement agency or external recruiter, p lease refrain from submitting resumes to Goodstart unless you have a signed staffing agency agreement with us. Goodstart will not be responsible for or pay any placement fees for candidates submitted by agencies that are not approved suppliers. Any resumes received from agencies or external recruiters without an agreement will be reviewed by Goodstart and may be shared with our internal recruiting team for their reference.
Supporting our people and protecting our children
We’re an equal opportunity employer that is proud of our inclusive and diverse work environment. We know that Goodstarters from diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences strengthen our teams and help us grow. We’re also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People feel a strong sense of belonging and connection.
Safety is our priority and we will take any action necessary to ensure that all children can feel safe and be safe, and are safeguarded from abuse, neglect and harm. As a Child Safe Organisation, all of our candidates must have or obtain a valid working with children check.
Posting Notes: PORT MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE || VIC || Australia (AU) || | || Bachelor (ECT) 4yr || Full-Time