Assistant Director (Educational Leader) Early Learning Centre

Job no: 0062476
Location: Abbotsford
Role type: Full-time; Continuing
Department: Student and Scholarly Services
Salary: UOM 6 – $92,749 – $100,397 p.a. plus 17% super 

• Manage centre operations and mentor the team! 
• Join the team of approximately 60 staff working across three centres 
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families! 

About the Role
The University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre offers an exceptional early education for three and four-year old children.  Our unique learning environment is situated in a historic setting near the Abbotsford Convent and the Birrarung and holds a long history of excellence in early learning. Children learn though an inquiry curriculum grounded in arts, Indigenous perspectives and learning in nature.

The Assistant Director will provide a high level of pedagogical leadership and engage teaching staff in continued curriculum innovation.  You will provide support, coaching and mentoring to individuals and teams, and lead learning in identified areas.  The incumbent will nurture collaborations with varied communities and stakeholders in support of the ELC and the education community.

As Assistant Director (Educational Leader), you will work with the Director in quality improvement planning, maintaining the QIP, and preparing for Assessment and Rating.  You will also facilitate compliance with relevant laws and regulations and support the Director in Centre management and operations.

Who we are looking for

An enthusiastic, committed teacher with an extensive knowledge of contemporary early childhood educational theory and practice, you will be able to demonstrate significant experience or interest in inquiry learning, arts education and Learning in Nature.

The successful candidate will have experience leading curriculum development and in coaching and supporting others. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to engage and inspire others to build a culture of continuous improvement.

You will have excellent written communication, and knowledge of Centre operations, safety, and regulatory compliance.

You will also have:

• Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), or equivalent or evidence/intention to complete a qualification at this level.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work sensitively and with a team of staff, providing mentorship and support that enables the development, implementation, and assessment of contemporary and innovative early childhood programs.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the relevant state and federal legislation.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires the successful candidate to undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – Student and Scholarly Services

Student and Scholarly Services provides student administration and services from recruitment and point of enquiry to graduation. This team also delivers wellbeing and scholarly services to students and staff.

Early Childhood Education Services is located within Student and Scholarly Services at The University of Melbourne, comprising the Early Learning Centre, Abbotsford (90 places daily), Queensberry Children’s Centre (96 places daily), and Swanston Street Children’s Centres (40 places daily). These centres provide early childhood education for approximately 266 children aged 6 months to five years from the University and the surrounding community. The centres operate for a minimum of 48 weeks per year and are open for 10 hours per day. The early childhood education staff team is comprised of approximately 60 staff working either full-time or part-time across the three centres.

What we offer you!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services, and discounts on graduate courses. For more information check out our benefits  page!

The University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website  and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn .   

Be yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities, and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality, and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion  page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier-free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture, and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter addressing the following key competencies:
  • Philosophy and experience in high-quality early childhood education
  • Experience leading teams and individuals in curriculum innovation
  • Centre management and operations

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Maddison Ryan via email at [email protected] , ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the contact details listed on the Position Description.

Please note that in the event of sourcing a suitable candidate, the closing date for applications may be brought forward, and the job vacancy may be closed. Therefore, we encourage interested individuals to submit their applications promptly.

Position Description