Office for Early Childhood Development
Job reference: 832972
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE, 5540 - PORT PIRIE, 5600 - WHYALLA
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone
Why work with us:
The Office for Early Childhood Development has been formed with a clear mandate: to create a fairer and better future for all children in South Australia by implementing the accepted recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
As the steward of the early childhood development system, the Office will act on government's behalf, and work in collaboration with the sector, to organise and connect the system to reduce developmental vulnerability.
This includes providing universal access to quality, teacher-led preschool from the age of 3, growing and sustaining a quality early childhood workforce, and greater supports and connected services for families in the 1000 days of a child's life.
About this role:
The Senior Implementation Partner, Early Childhood is responsible for advising and supporting early childhood services in the implementation of early childhood reforms across the state, including the roll-out of universal 3-year-old preschool.
Reporting the Regional Manager, Early Childhood Partnerships, this role requires highly developed problem solving, partnership, project and stakeholder management skills to actively seek to provide high quality opportunities for early childhood professionals to work and learn together, using data to identify and reflect on local challenges, opportunities and problems of practice, developing solutions that will lead to improved outcomes for children.
The Senior Implementation Partner, Early Childhood will consult, liaise with and influence key stakeholders, find innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues and capture opportunities, and apply extensive knowledge of the early childhood sector and the local community to inform decisions and advice to stakeholders.
Your Key Responsibilities:
Oversee the partnership arrangements and establish strong working relationships with early childhood services across the region, implementing and overseeing appropriate reporting measures to ensure reform initiatives are of high quality and delivered in line with partnership requirements.Review and identify service needs and gaps across the region, leading strategies for program and service growth and innovation, and driving continuous improvement in program delivery through engagement, communication, and collaboration.Foster and facilitate system-level coordination of early childhood and related services across the region, building strong networks and fostering the development of networks, communities of practice and collaborative relationships widely in the community.Provide support, tools and advice including oversight of project plans and reporting used to monitor to early childhood service providers to assist them to develop plans in response to identified challenges and opportunities in implementing initiatives related to early childhood reforms.Lead broad stakeholder engagement with community, cross-government and other relevant stakeholders, including developing and leading communication and collaboration activities to support the implementation and embedment of the early childhood reforms across the region.
Please refer to the attached Position Description for the full details.
About you:
You will bring strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build effective partnerships across the early childhood sector. The role requires proven project and improvement planning expertise, strong analytical and problemâ€'solving ability, and the capacity to use data and evidence to inform strategies and improve outcomes. A sound understanding of the early childhood education sector, combined with flexibility and responsiveness in managing complex issues and competing priorities, is essential.
To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who brings:
High level interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence, advise and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including early childhood providers.Demonstrated high level Project management skills and change management expertise.Significant experience in identifying, collecting and analysing intelligence from multiple data sources of data to develop and implement data-driven strategies that lead to improved outcomes.Successful experience in planning and managing business improvement operations.Strong background in and comprehensive understanding of the early childhood education sector.
Role Benefits:
Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sectorWork with senior officials across government and early childhood sectors.Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia's children and families.Access to valuable salary sacrifice benefits like car leases, portable electronic devices, mobile phones, airline lounge memberships, self-education expenses, and more. Ask us about how you can make your salary go further working at the OECD.Access to flexible working arrangements to get that work life balance.
Application Instructions and Information:
Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.
Applicants must submit a CV, Pre-employment Declaration, and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the attached position description.
Remuneration:
ASO7 - $108,109 - $116,864 (1.0 FTE) per annum, plus superannuation.
Additional Note:
We have
multiple long-term contracts available, covering the greater Adelaide metropolitan areaone rural opportunity, for a 10-month maternity leave backfill, covering the York Peninsula, the Eyre Peninsula, Outback and the APY Lands.
Enquiries:
Enquiries can be directed to OECD.PandC@sa.gov.au
Special Conditions:
For all other special conditions please refer to the attached position description.
Applications close: 17/02/2026 11:45 PM
Attachments:
Position Description - ASO7 Senior Implementation Partner.pdf Pre-employment Declaration.pdf
Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.