Centre Director – The Ranges ELC (Stirling, SA)

Join a family-owned early learning community with 44 years of history in the Adelaide Hills.

Join a family-owned early learning community with a long-standing history in the Adelaide Hills. 

The Ranges Early Learning & Care Centre is a warm, community-focused service with a long-standing team of dedicated educators. We are seeking an experienced and passionate Centre Director / Nominated Supervisor & Educational Leader to lead our 75-place Early Learning Centre, working collaboratively alongside our Infant Toddler Centre and supported by four experienced on-site managers and a hands-on leadership group. 

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Located in the heart of Stirling, The Ranges is more than a childcare service — it’s a place where families feel at home. 

With a strong reputation for quality education, nurturing relationships and meaningful connections with our local community, our centre provides exceptional care and education for children in a beautiful, nature-inspired environment. 

Our team includes many long-term educators who share a genuine love for what they do. We take pride in our Reggio-inspired philosophy and our focus on collaboration, wellbeing and lifelong learning.

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As Centre Director / Nominated Supervisor & Educational Leader, you will: 

• Lead the daily operations of our 75-place Early Learning Centre, working collaboratively alongside our Infant Toddler Centre and with the support of four experienced on-site managers and the broader leadership team. 

• Provide strong leadership, mentoring and support to educators, fostering a positive, inclusive and professional team culture. 

• Conduct regular staff performance reviews and appraisals, providing clear feedback and supporting individual professional development plans to strengthen educator capability and practice. 

• Build and maintain authentic relationships with children, families and the local community. 

• Support and monitor occupancy across the 75-place service, working collaboratively with the Infant Toddler Centre to support enrolments, transitions and continuity of care for children and families. 

• Ensure compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF), National Regulations, service policies and procedures, with a strong commitment to child safety, safeguarding and the protection of children’s rights and wellbeing. 

• Lead continuous improvement across the service, including the development and implementation of the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). 

• Work closely with the ownership and leadership team to drive continuous improvement, quality outcomes and the ongoing success of the service. 

Educational Leadership 

As the Educational Leader, you will also have a strong focus on pedagogy, educator practice and the quality of the educational program. You will: 

• Lead the development, implementation, assessment and ongoing reflection of high-quality educational programs aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), service philosophy and National Quality Framework. 

• Inspire, mentor, guide and support educators to strengthen their pedagogy, reflective practice and professional capability. 

• Oversee the assessment and planning cycle, including observations, documentation, planning, implementation and reflection, to ensure children's learning and development is meaningfully supported. 

• Provide educators with regular feedback on educational practice and work alongside them to develop and review professional development plans. 

• Promote a culture of critical reflection, inquiry and continuous improvement across the service. 

• Remain current with contemporary early childhood research and best practice and support educators to embed this into everyday practice. 

• Work collaboratively with educators, children and families to achieve high-quality learning and developmental outcomes. 

• Strong leadership support – four experienced managers on-site and family owners actively involved.

• A stable, long-term team with low staff turnover.

• Above-award salary package (negotiable based on experience).

• Ongoing professional development and leadership mentoring.

• A community-driven workplace that genuinely values relationships, not just result.

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We are looking for someone who: 

• Holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care or an ACECQA-approved Early Childhood Teaching qualification. 

• Has a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Nominated Supervisor position in an Early Childhood Service, or a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a leadership position in an Early Childhood Service. 

• Brings strong leadership skills and confidence in mentoring, developing and managing educator performance. 

• Has a strong understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), National Quality Framework (NQF) and National Quality Standards (NQS). 

• Demonstrates strong knowledge and understanding of child protection legislation, child safe practices, mandatory reporting obligations and the responsibility to promote and maintain a child-safe culture. 

• Demonstrates excellent communication, organisation and relationship-building skills. 

• Is passionate about quality education, continuous improvement, community engagement and supporting educators to thrive.