Regional Operations Leader

Lead with HEART. Grow with Purpose. Impact with Vision.

At Only About Children (OAC), we believe early education has the power to transform lives for children, families and our people. With over 80 campuses nationally, we are committed to delivering high-quality early childhood education and care that places children at the centre of everything we do.

We are looking for an inspiring, commercially astute and values-led Regional Operations Leader to support a defined portfolio of OAC campuses across NSW.

This opportunity is available as either a 12-month maximum term or permanent full-time appointment. The final region is still to be confirmed, however the portfolio is likely to be based across one of our Sydney regions being Lower North Shore or Eastern Suburbs.

This is more than an operational leadership role. It is an opportunity to lead with purpose, support and empower Campus Directors, and make a meaningful impact on the experience of children, families, educators and teams across NSW.

As part of our Operations leadership community, you will work closely with a Director of Operations and cross-functional partners to lift performance, strengthen campus leadership, embed The OAC Way, and lead through our HEART Principles: Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork.

Your Key Responsibilities

As a Regional Operations Leader, you will support a portfolio of campuses to deliver strong outcomes across people, quality, compliance, family experience and operational performance. You will:

• Coach, mentor and empower Campus Directors to lead with confidence, consistency and care
• Maintain a visible and supportive presence across campuses, tailoring support based on performance and leadership needs
• Drive commercial and operational outcomes, including occupancy growth, cost management, labour optimisation and campus-level performance
• Champion child safety, protection, quality and continuous improvement across every campus
• Partner with Education & Quality, Quality Assurance, People & Culture, Finance, Marketing, Family Support, Facilities and Health
• Support high-performing, engaged and healthy campus teams, with a focus on retention, communication and culture
• Monitor compliance, Quality Improvement Plans, Assessment and Rating readiness, WHS and regulatory requirements
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, family experience, enrolment conversion and campus presentation
• Lead by example in embedding The OAC Way and our HEART Principles

What You'll Bring

We are looking for a relationship-focused, commercially capable and values-led leader who brings:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in Early Childhood Education and Care
• An approved Early Childhood Teaching qualification or Diploma of Children's Services
• Experience leading, coaching and developing large teams, ideally across multiple services, centres or campuses
• Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework, National Law, compliance, child safety and Assessment and Rating processes
• Commercial capability across budgets, P&L outcomes, occupancy, workforce planning and KPIs
• Experience supporting service performance uplift and continuous improvement
• Strong relationship-building, influencing and communication skills
• Confidence working with cross-functional partners to deliver shared outcomes
• A current driver's licence and ability to travel across your NSW campus portfolio
• A genuine passion for early education and strong alignment to OAC's HEART Principles

Why Join Only About Children?

This is a meaningful full-time leadership opportunity for someone ready to grow their influence and support outcomes across a regional portfolio, whether appointed on a 12-month maximum term or permanent basis.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Make a tangible impact across a group of OAC campuses in NSW
• Support and empower Campus Directors to lead with confidence and consistency
• Be part of a supportive national Operations leadership community
• Work closely with experienced cross-functional teams
• Access competitive remuneration and vehicle allowance
• Receive a 50% childcare discount for your little ones
• Access paid parental leave, wellbeing support and 2 extra wellbeing days each year
• Access free counselling through our Employee Assistance Program

Ready to lead with HEART?

If you are passionate about early education, enjoy building strong relationships, and are ready to make a meaningful impact across a regional portfolio, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now to lead with HEART and take the next step in your leadership journey with Only About Children.

Together, we grow.

At Only About Children, we have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we want you to bring your whole self to work. We welcome and encourage applications from all members of the community, particularly those who identify as Australian Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander.

At OAC, every child's safety, wellbeing and protection is our highest priority. All employees are required to hold a current Employee Working with Children Check before beginning employment. Throughout the recruitment process, we conduct thorough assessments to ensure the suitability of all candidates for working with children.