Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $138,631 - $185,518
Grade: VPS 6
Occupation: Early childhood
Location: Barwon South West
Reference: VG/DE/VECRA/1912222
About the Role
Two exciting opportunities exist for highly skilled senior leaders to join the team, who will be responsible for the management of a VECRA operations team, which comprises authorised officers and support staff who assess and rate services against the NQS, conduct visits 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 Operations Manager will undertake the following functions:
This advertisement is for two (2) full-time, ongoing VPS 6 positions reporting to the Regional Manager.
The Operations Manager is part of a larger regional leadership team and will be required to travel across the region and to metropolitan areas. This will occasionally include planned overnight stays.
We work flexibly at VECRA, and 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.
This role has a requirement to work from a VECRA office 3-days per week, usually the Footscray, Ballarat or Geelong (Belmont) offices.
In applying for these roles, you are signalling your understanding of and adherence to these travel and office-based work requirements.
Attributes
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Desirable Qualifications and Experience:
Desirable: Relevant qualifications in regulation, early childhood education, teaching, compliance or similar.
Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.
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 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.
About the Branch
Located across the four VECRA regions and the central office, the Operations Branch manages and supports the 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 the Regulatory Authority.
How to apply:
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description. Applications should include a Cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria (no more than 2 pages) along with a Curriculum Vitae.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
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.
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 Winnie Driscoll, Regional Manager, South West Victoria Region via phone on (03) 4334 0517 or email [email protected]
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 Wednesday 18 March 2026