23rd February, 2026
Centre Director | Moonee Ponds
Lead with Purpose. Build Culture. Drive Excellence.
We are seeking an experienced and emotionally intelligent Centre Director to lead an established early learning service of up to 100 places in Moonee Ponds.
This is an exciting opportunity to step into a well-established, modern service with strong foundations and clear growth potential. With occupancy building and strong local demand, this role offers a capable leader the opportunity to strengthen operations, elevate team capability, and drive sustainable centre performance.
We are looking for a leader who brings both professional experience and genuine emotional intelligence, someone who leads with clarity and confidence, while fostering trust, connection and accountability within their team.
If you value mentorship, structured leadership, and building a positive centre culture, this role offers both professional challenge and meaningful impact.
About the Company
This purpose-built early learning service provides a high-quality educational environment supported by experienced educators and strong operational structures.
The centre is well-resourced and positioned for continued growth. Established leadership support systems are in place, allowing the Centre Director to focus on team development, quality improvement, culture, and performance outcomes.
The Role
As Centre Director, you will take full leadership responsibility for:
- Building a strong, positive and accountable team culture
- Driving centre performance, occupancy growth and operational efficiency
- Ensuring regulatory compliance and high professional standards
- Leading the Quality Improvement Plan and continuous improvement initiatives
- Strengthening educational practice in collaboration with curriculum support
- Mentoring emerging leaders and developing internal capability
- Building trusted relationships with families through visible, approachable leadership
This role requires a leader who can establish clarity and structure while fostering warmth, collaboration and psychological safety within the team.
You will be supported by experienced operational leadership and educational specialists, providing guidance while respecting your professional autonomy.
What’s on Offer - $115K - $125K (DOE) + Super
- Quarterly performance bonus structure with clearly defined and achievable KPIs
- Strong operational and leadership support
- Structured induction and ongoing professional development
- Genuine mentorship opportunities within a collaborative leadership network
- Long-term career progression within a growing organisation
This is an organisation that invests in its leaders and values accountability, teamwork and sustainable growth.
About You We are seeking a Centre Director who demonstrates:
- Experience in a Centre Director or senior leadership role (or a strong emerging leader ready to step up)
- Strong understanding of compliance, systems and regulatory frameworks
- Proven ability to build culture and develop high-performing teams
- Calm, structured and emotionally intelligent leadership style
- Strong communication and relationship-building capability
- Commitment to high-quality early childhood education
- A collaborative approach - leading alongside your team, not above them
If you are ready to lead with both strength and empathy, and build something meaningful for children, families and educators, we would love to hear from you.
For further information, please contact:
Gaetano – gaetano@ss-recruitment.com.au
Let SSR support you in discovering a leadership opportunity aligned with your values, capability and long-term aspirations.
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