This is a Educational Leader and Second in Charge role with Moonee Valley City Council based in Melbourne, VIC, AU Moonee Valley City Council Role Seniority - mid level More about the Educational Leader and Second in Charge role at Moonee Valley City Council Job Description Educational Leader and Second in Charge - Moonee Valley City Council Reference number: 10906 Closing date: 11pm, 1 February 2026 Permanent full-time leadership opportunity Salary commencing at Council Band 5, $85,114.74 per annum plus 12% superannuation (commensurate with experience) Monthly RDO available The Opportunity Are you committed to supporting children and families experiencing vulnerability? Do you believe in the power of high-quality teaching practices to overcome educational disadvantage and create positive outcomes for every child? Hopetoun Early Years Centre is seeking a passionate and experienced Second in Charge /Educational Leader to join our team. This is a unique opportunity to lead practice and pedagogy while also supporting the operational excellence of a service that currently welcomes up to 100 children daily across three long day care classrooms and two sessional kindergarten rooms. Located at the base of community towers, Hopetoun proudly serves families from refugee, asylum-seeker, displaced, and culturally diverse backgrounds. We are deeply committed to trauma-informed practice, cultural sensitivity, and inclusion—ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive. In this role, you will spend at least 30% of your time working in ratio with children, with the remainder dedicated to being on the floor alongside educators to mentor and guide practice, supporting staff as they undertake planning responsibilities, and working in the office to assist the Centre Coordinator with leadership and operational duties. Your Impact As the Educational Leader and Second in Charge, you will: Collaborate with educators to provide curriculum direction and guidance. Lead the development and implementation of an effective educational program aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. Support educators to effectively implement the cycle of planning, reflection, and continuous improvement. Mentor, coach, and extend practice to ensure pedagogy is responsive, inclusive, and trauma-informed. Champion Standard 7.2 of the National Quality Standard – Governance and Leadership, embedding a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement. Uphold and embed Victoria’s Child Safe Standards in every aspect of service delivery. As the Second in Charge (2IC), you will: Act as a trusted partner to the Centre Coordinator, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. Supervise, motivate, and support Early Childhood Educators, volunteers, and students—serving as a role model for best practice. Monitor staff performance and provide constructive feedback, fostering collaboration and professional growth. Assist in maintaining accurate records of attendance, medical, emergency, and incident documentation, ensuring compliance with regulations and council policy. Contribute to the maintenance of facilities and equipment, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for children and families. Provide leadership in both program delivery and centre management, ensuring consistent quality across all classrooms. You will also share responsibility for the Nominated Supervisor role alongside the Centre Coordinator, ensuring compliance with all legislative requirements and embedding child safe practices across the service. About Hopetoun Early Years Centre A long day care centre alongside two co-located sessional kindergarten rooms. Programs for children aged 0–5 years. A stunning nature-based playground offering rich opportunities for outdoor learning and play. A service deeply embedded in the local community, supporting families experiencing trauma, vulnerability, and socio-economic disadvantage. Hopetoun is uniquely co‑located with Maternal and Child Health nurses and Co‑health services, and further supported by a CALD outreach worker (one day per week), social work (two days per week), and a School Readiness Funding (SRF) practice coach (one day per week) who strengthens our sessional kindergarten programs—alongside additional educator resourcing in each kinder program to ensure every child receives the highest quality support. Skills & Experience To excel in this role, you will bring: A Diploma of Children’s Services or Bachelor of Teaching/ Education (or equivalent) recognised by the Department of Education and Training. Extensive experience in early childhood services, this must include leadership as a 2IC and/or Educational Leader. It would also suit a centre coordinator looking to take a step back. Proven ability to mentor and inspire educators, fostering reflective practice and continuous improvement. Strong knowledge of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, National Law Act 2010, National Quality Standards, and the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. Demonstrated commitment and understanding of trauma-informed practice, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity. A deep understanding of Victoria’s Child Safe Standards and the ability to embed them meaningfully into everyday practice. Proficient Experience in using QIK KIDS and an understanding of CCS, ACCS and kindergarten funding guidelines. Current and valid certifications: Working with Children Check First Aid Level 2 CPR Certificate Anaphylaxis Management Certificate Emergency Asthma Management Certificate How To Apply Applications must be submitted through our online system My Portal and should align with the Moonee Valley City Council Application Guide. For further information, please view the position description or contact the Early Years Communication inbox: EYCommunication@mvcc.vic.gov.au. Show more Show less Before we jump into the responsibilities of the role. No matter what you come in knowing, you’ll be learning new things all the time and the Moonee Valley City Council team will be there to support your growth. Please consider applying even if you don't meet 100% of what’s outlined Key Responsibilities Collaborating with educators Mentoring and coaching staff Assisting with operational duties Key Strengths Diploma of Children’s Services or Bachelor of Teaching/Education Leadership experience Knowledge of regulations and standards Proficient in QIK KIDS First Aid certifications Mentoring and coaching A Final Note: This is a role with Moonee Valley City Council not with Hatch.