A family-owned service where children and educators sit at the centre of every decision is seeking an experienced Centre Director to take custodianship of a high-performing service

"Imagine working in a centre where staff health and wellbeing are prioritised, where there is no need to advertise, and demand remains consistently high."
- Semann & Slattery, Powerful Pedagogy (August 2024), reflecting on this service following a site visit

The rewards of excellence

The Off-Site Professional Retreat

• A private, multi-level building just doors away, reserved exclusively for the team. It includes a gym, a quiet lounge and a kitchen for genuine breaks, and dedicated planning offices to work away from the floor.

Curated Resource Hub

• An entire level devoted to high-quality, thoughtfully selected materials that support rich, pedagogically sound programs.

Above-Ratio Staffing

• Every room is resourced well beyond minimum requirements, allowing time for meaningful relationships and thoughtful practice — not constant prioritisation.

Market-Leading Salary

• A highly competitive package positioned at the upper end of the market, reflecting the seniority and responsibility of the role.

Consistent Exceeding Outcomes

• A service that has achieved a 7/7 'Exceeding' rating across four consecutive Assessment and Rating cycles.

The opportunity

This is an invitation to take custodianship of a 60-place service that is a pillar of the Cheltenham community. With a waitlist extending into 2027, the service operates without a website or marketing — its reputation speaks for itself.

You are not stepping into a role that requires a turnaround or any fixes.

You are stepping into a service that has been carefully designed and sustained. Your focus will be on maintaining that standard, mentoring a long-tenured team (including educators who have been with the service for over 20 years), and continuing the quiet evolution of its pedagogy.

The role is underpinned by professional trust — offering genuine autonomy in day-to-day leadership, with experienced degree-qualified owners providing measured support when required and a clear openness to ideas that continue to elevate the service.

About you

You are a calm, grounded leader who operates from a place of professional trust. You value consistency and are ready to move away from reactive environments into a setting where the structure supports the standard.

You bring clarity to your decision-making, take ownership of outcomes, and lead with a steady, considered approach that supports both team confidence and high-quality practice. You are comfortable maintaining established standards while contributing thoughtful ideas that further strengthen an already high-performing service.

Requirements

Proven leadership

• Minimum 2+ years' experience as a Centre Director within an early childhood education and care setting
• Alternatively, 4–5+ years' experience as an Assistant Director or second-in-charge within a high-performing service

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education is highly regarded
• Diploma-qualified candidates with relevant leadership experience will be considered

Expertise

• Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework and child safety regulations
• Proven ability to achieve and sustain Exceeding outcomes in Assessment and Rating
• Strong business acumen across occupancy, workforce planning, people leadership, and service performance

Leadership style

• Strong people leader with the ability to build trust, manage performance, and maintain team stability
• Grounded in clarity, respect, and a commitment to high-quality pedagogy
• Consistent, measured approach that supports both team wellbeing and high standards over time

How to Apply

This exclusive opportunity is being managed by Early Years Talent.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to candidates who demonstrate alignment with high-performing, Exceeding-rated environments.

Please submit your CV along with a brief cover letter outlining your leadership philosophy and approach to leading and sustaining a high-performing team.