About the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA)

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) is the statutory authority responsible for regulating early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Victoria. VECRA works to ensure the safety, wellbeing and development of children through effective regulation, compliance, quality assessment and continuous improvement across the early childhood sector. 

VECRA plays a critical system management role, providing guidance, oversight and assurance to the sector while supporting high-quality early childhood education outcomes for Victorian children and families. 

Further information about VECRA is available at: www.vic.gov.au/vecra.

About the Branch

Located across the four VECRA regions and the central office, the Operations Branch manages and supports nine area-based regional teams to deliver VECRA's core frontline regulatory work. The regional teams comprise authorised officers, compliance officers and support staff who assess and rate National Quality Framework (NQF) services against the National Quality Standard (NQS), conduct inspections to monitor compliance with the National Law, Children's Services Act and Child Safe Standards, as well as investigating alleged non-compliances. Regional teams engage with the sector to support, educate and guide providers of early childhood services.

Centrally, the Branch supports the regulatory workforce through capability and capacity building activities and the provision of policy advice, resources and training to address emerging regulatory practice issues and promote consistent practice. The Branch also supports the leadership of VECRA.

VECRA 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 VECRA, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the VECRA website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.  

About the Role

An exciting opportunity is available for highly motivated individuals with strong attention to detail and a passion for meaningful work to support the Operations Branch within VECRA with the compliance and quality assessment of ECEC services.

As a Senior Authorised Officer, you will play an active frontline role in promoting quality improvement in ECEC services by conducting assessment and rating visits across metropolitan and regional areas and planning and leading investigations as part of the core functions of VECRA. The role will also facilitate coaching and mentoring to colleagues, including Authorised Officers, in preparing and conducting assessment and rating visits, managing enquiries, complaint and incident notifications and conducting investigations. The role will at times have responsibility for key regulatory functions as determined by the Manager. The role will also be required to engage and provide specialist advice to internal and external stakeholders and provide leadership support across the team's regulatory functions.

Key accountabilities will include:

• managing and reporting on approved education and care services' compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF)
• undertaking the assessment and rating process for approved education and care services against the National Quality Standard
• leading and conducting investigations following notifications of incidents or complaints
• preparing and analysing evidence to determine the action to be taken in response to the seriousness of the non-compliance and developing reports and recommendations
• applying a full range of regulatory tools to promote continuous improvement
• managing systems and processes for the collection and reporting of information relating to service quality and regulatory issues
• preparing detailed letters, briefings and reports relating to policy and operational issues
• communicating legislative and regulatory requirements across licensed and approved education and care services, including through running information sessions and training programs
• implementing quality assurance frameworks, systems and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory requirements
• mentoring and coaching Authorised Officers.

There are multiple full time ongoing VP5 positions, based in metropolitan and regional Areas of Victoria, reporting to the Regional Manager and Area Manager. The offices are based in the following locations:

South Western Victoria Region - Western Metro Area (Footscray Office), Barwon South West Area (Geelong Office), Grampians Area (Ballarat Office)

North Western Victoria Region - Northern Metro Area (Coburg Office), Loddon Mallee Area (Bendigo Office)

North Eastern Victoria Region - Eastern Metro Area (Glen Waverley Office), Hume Area (Benalla Office)

South Eastern Victoria Region - Southern Metro Area (Dandenong Office), Gippsland Area (Moe Office)

Please indicate your preferred Victorian Regional Area and office when applying.

 The role involves travel (usually by car) across the Area, and to metropolitan and/or regional/remote areas. In this active frontline role, you will be visiting multiple ECEC services in a day and across the week. 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. The role will at times include planned overnight stays. There may also be some flexible start and finish times to accommodate service visits.

Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will:

• have demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to lead projects and portfolios of work and assist the Area Manager as needed
• be able to develop team capability, including by providing coaching, mentoring and feedback to others
• have strong organisational skills and be able to work independently under limited guidance to prioritise competing demands, take on new tasks at short notice and meet timelines
• be confident in making decisions and recommendations, escalating higher risk matters as needed
• have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use initiative and innovative thinking to shape outcomes, identify and respond to risk and solve complex problems
• have demonstrated knowledge of ECEC theory and practice as well as the NQF, National Law, Children's Services Act, and their respective regulations
• have demonstrated knowledge of regulation theory and practice, and be able to implement quality assurance frameworks, systems and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory frameworks
• be able to confidently manage difficult and complex stakeholder issues, including the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders
• be confident and effective in communicating detailed information clearly, accurately and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• have strong IT skills, be able to navigate a range of computer systems and follow business rules and guidelines.

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 2 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.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about VECRA's operations and employment conditions can be located on the VECRA website.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Jude Nicholson, Senior Manager, Strategic Projects via (03) 7022 0948 or jude.nicholson@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 VECRA 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 19-June-2026