Second in Charge (2IC) / Assistant Director

Please read this job ad carefully before applying.

We are looking for a Second in Charge (2IC) to join Kool Kidz Cranbourne North.

This is not a traditional office-based Assistant Manager role. We are looking for a strong all-rounder who can move comfortably between educational practice, people leadership, administration and daily centre operations.

We are a brand-new centre experiencing steady growth, and we are being selective about the people who join our team.

For us, culture is at the heart of the centre.

Our staff turnover has been almost zero since we opened, and we have built a team where people genuinely enjoy working together.

We don't play politics. We roll up our sleeves and get the work done.

Everyone is respected. Everyone is expected to be a team player, and everyone has opportunities to lead in their own way.

Our owners are hands-on and actively involved in the centre. When someone needs support, we support them. When there is a problem, we work together to solve it.

We are looking for someone who shares that mindset.

This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role.

You will work closely with our owners, educators and families and support different areas of the centre depending on what is needed.

You will wear different hats.

Your role may include:

• supporting educators directly on the floor

• educational leadership and mentoring

• improving programming and educational practice

• supporting toddler and kindergarten rooms

• communicating with families

• rostering and staffing coordination

• administration and centre systems

• supporting daily centre operations

• solving problems as they arise

• stepping up and helping lead the centre when required

We are looking for someone who enjoys being involved rather than sitting behind a desk all day.

You will ideally have:

• strong educational practice and pedagogy

• experience in a high-quality or Exceeding-rated service highly regarded

• hands-on experience with toddler and kindergarten-aged children

• experience mentoring and supporting educators

• experience with administration and daily centre operations

• rostering or staffing coordination experience

• strong understanding of the NQF and NQS

• confidence communicating with educators and families

Previous Centre Manager experience is not required.

A good leadership style, strong educational practice and the ability to work well with people are much more important to us than having held a particular management title.

Minimum qualification: Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or higher.

You are:

• an excellent communicator

• a genuine team player

• a problem solver and a doer

• warm, approachable and down to earth

• someone educators naturally feel comfortable coming to for support

• comfortable working closely with hands-on owners

• organised and capable with administration

• flexible and willing to help where needed

• confident working directly with children and educators

• able to lead through trust, respect and example

Most importantly, you do not see leadership as sitting in an office telling other people what to do.

You are happy to step onto the floor, support an educator, speak with a family, solve an operational problem, help with the roster and then move onto whatever the centre needs next.

Be a team player.

We want someone who communicates, helps others and takes ownership.

If something needs doing, we don't spend time deciding whose job it is. We help each other get it done.

We want our 2IC to become someone the team trusts and respects — not because of their title, but because of how they work with people.

If you are looking for a role where you can contribute across the whole centre, continue developing your leadership and work closely with hands-on owners, we would love to hear from you.

Please send us your resume and a short cover letter explaining:

1. Why this 2IC role interests you.

2. What you believe you could bring to our team.

3. Why you think you would fit our centre culture.