VPSG6 - $134,593 - $180,115

Barwon South West Area/South Wesern Victoria Region 

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society. The department supports a culture of leadership, learning and renewal in all workplaces with opportunities for career development and advancement. 

Further information about the department is available at: www.vic.gov.au/education  

About the Division

The Department of Education is the Victorian Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services under delegation from the Secretary. The Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) in the department regulates and quality assesses Victorian ECEC services. It drives the delivery of high-quality services and ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of Victorian children attending those services. 

QARD regulates approximately 4,900 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (National Law). QARD also regulates around 180 services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.    

QARD is responsible for:   

• approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act  

• monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints   

• assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard (NQS) for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care  

• supporting legislative policy development.  

QARD is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Safe Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria. 

Further information about QARD is available at: www.vic.gov.au/role-quality-assessment-and-regulation-division  

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for a highly skilled senior leader who will be responsible for the management of the Barwon South West Area  Team, which comprises authorised officers and support staff who assess and rate services against the NQS, conduct inspections to monitor compliance with regulatory requirements of the National Law, Children's Services Act and the Child Safe Standards, and investigate alleged non-compliances.

The Area Manager will undertake the following functions:

• contribute to and support regional regulatory work based on priorities identified in conjunction with the Regional Manager
• provide high quality leadership, support, coaching and mentoring to authorised officers within the Barwon South West area team, in relation to the regulatory functions including monitoring and compliance visits, investigations and assessment and rating
• manage and supervise the Barwon South West area team to ensure assessment and rating, compliance and enforcement procedures are applied in accordance with the National Law, Victorian Law and relevant regulations and government policy
• provide employees with the leadership, information and guidance required to achieve outcomes and to ensure that these meet compliance requirements
• monitor team and individual performance and advise Regional Manager of any emerging issues that may need to be addressed
• work across the Barwon South West area and work collaboratively across other regional areas and programs
• engage closely with ECEC services and key stakeholders to achieve regulatory outcomes, including educative and capacity building activities

• engage with DE regional colleagues to support the early childhood reform platforms and emergency management.

This is a full time, ongoing VPS 6 position reporting to the Regional Manager, South Western Victoria Region and is based in the Geelong Office. The Barwon South West Area forms part of a larger region and as part of the regional leadership team, the Area Manager will be required to travel across the South Western Victoria Region. This will occasionally include planned overnight stays. Typical work arrangements involve a balance of working offsite independently while visiting ECEC services, with time in an office environment working as part of a bigger inclusive team.

Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have: 

• demonstrated people management and leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring and capacity building, to support and create the conditions for a high functioning, productive and engaged team
• high level organisational skills and a proven ability to work independently to make decisions and manage systems, processes and resources to deliver outcomes
• highly developed critical thinking and problem solving skills with the ability to identify innovative, timely and practical solutions to complex problems
• highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels and with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• strong written and verbal communication skills and an ability to engage a range of audiences on regulation, policy and implementation topics
• demonstrated ability to manage organisational risk in a complex regulatory environment
• demonstrated ability to identify, develop and implement strategic priorities and support the work of the Regional Manager

• demonstrated specialist knowledge in the area of early childhood education and care and/or social regulation. 

Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Relevant qualifications in early childhood education, teaching, or other human welfare studies, behavioural studies or similar. 

Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence. 

Further Information

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 3 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role. 

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Winnie Driscoll, Regional Manager via (03) 4334 0517 or Winnie.driscoll@education.vic.gov.au 

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 4th December 2024