Area Manager – Children Services (Central Region)

Summary:

The Area Manager – Children Services is a place-based leadership role based in Alice Springs, providing professional leadership, direction, coaching and support to a team of Centre Directors and OSHC Coordinators across Y NT’s Central region to ensure services excel in quality care, development and education of children, while achieving operational business objectives, including financial management and National Quality Framework – ACECQA compliance.

Reporting to the Head of Children Services, this position supports Y NT’s Central region portfolio of 3 early learning centers and 2 Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services, spanning Katherine to Alice Springs. Being based on the ground in Alice Springs, the Area Manager provides direct, in-person leadership and day-to-day operational support to Alice Springs centers, complemented by regular travel to Katherine-based services to maintain the same standard of hands-on support across the region.

As Area Manager, you are responsible for promoting a culture that is aligned to the Y Northern Territory’s Mission and Values, promoting and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with the National Quality Framework.

Responsibilities:

Area Manager – Children Services

• Provide operational support to Centre Directors and OSHC Coordinators to ensure operational excellence and compliance.
• Support quality practice improvements through fostering a culture of continuous improvement that aligns with all aspects of the National Quality Standards.
• Monitor compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements, including mandatory reporting requirements.
• Monitor compliance with the Y Northern Territory’s policies, procedures and Safeguarding licensing standards.

Financial Management

• Contribute to preparation of annual budgets and business plans for the Central region portfolio.
• Oversee Centre Directors and OSHC Coordinators to operate and comply within their budget parameters.
• Promote identification and communication of cost saving strategies.
• Review and approve timesheets and associated payroll reports, ensuring accuracy within agreed timeframes.

People and Culture

• Drive a culture of supervision, support and motivation for all staffing levels.
• Provide a positive, on-the-ground role model to Centre Directors and staff across the Central region, drawing on the place-based nature of this role to lead by direct example.
• Lead the implementation of effective systems for information dissemination and staff management.
• Drive a culture of performance excellence, where performance reviews are conducted with coaching, encouragement and counselling as required.

Strategy and Business Planning

• Develop both long-term and short-term goals for the successful operation of Central region services in collaboration with Centre Directors and OSHC Coordinators.
• Contribute to developing portfolio and organization strategies by provide operational realities and convert them into strategic insights.

Business Development & Stakeholder Management

• Build close relationships with key stakeholders, understanding what matters to them.
• Identify opportunities that will strengthen the Y Northern Territory’s relationship with key stakeholder groups.
• Partner and effectively collaborate with Corporate Services personnel and systems.
• Liaise directly with families and local community stakeholders across the Central region, leveraging the Area Manager’s on-the-ground Alice Springs presence to build trust and strengthen local relationships.

Quality and Risk Management

• Ensure effective management practices are implemented to mitigate risk and ensure the health and safety of workers, clients and visitors.
• Ensure consultation practices are in place to enable workers to be involved in risk management planning, incident reporting and safe work practice activities to improve work, health and safety.
• Ensure compliance with respect to risk management requirements and Y Northern Territory policy and procedures including but not limited to: Critical Incident Policy, Incident reporting, Hazard management / hierarchy, Essential Qualification policy, Safeguarding Policies.

Public Relations and Professional Conduct

• Actively support Y Northern Territory’s Mission and Values.
• Operate in line with Y Northern Territory’s Code of Conduct and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Project a positive, constructive image of Y Northern Territory in the community.
• Develop and maintain networks and partnerships with relevant organizations and liaise with stakeholders and outside agencies.
• Exercise due care, skill and judgement and act at all times in accordance with applicable professional ethics, principles, legislation and standards

Qualifications:

Qualifications and Licenses

• Diploma or Degree in Early Childhood Education or related discipline.
• Valid Working with Children Clearance.
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check.
• Valid right to work in Australia.
• Current First Aid and CPR qualifications (HLTAID003 or higher).

Experience

• Demonstrated experience and sound knowledge of the National Quality Framework.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in a leadership position within Early Childhood Services.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of Workplace Health and Safety practices.
• Well-developed communication and time management skills, with the ability to maintain rapport with people at all levels of the organization.
• Sound experience complying with Licensing Regulations, the National Quality Standard, and organizational Policies and Procedures.
• Experience acting as Nominated Supervisor under the Education and Care Services National Law is highly regarded, reflecting the direct, on-the-ground nature of this place-based role.

Safeguarding Children and Young People:

At the Y, we are committed to empowering all Children and Young People to feel safe and be safe, at the Y, in their families and in their communities. As such, we ensure that all of our candidates are appropriately screened (including police checks) to make sure that the right people are in the right roles. To learn more about our screening processes, click here to view our Safeguarding Children and Young People.

https://ymca.org.au/about-us/safeguarding-children-young-people/safeguardingresources/