The ELO Group is seeking an experienced, commercially minded and values-led Head of Operations, Compliance & Safety to help lead the next stage of growth across our early learning group. Our group includes 15 centres and a friendly support office operating across NSW and QLD.
This is a key national role for someone who knows how to balance operational performance, regulatory compliance, safety, people leadership and quality outcomes for children. You will work closely with senior leaders, centre leaders and support office teams to strengthen the way our services operate, ensuring consistency, accountability and excellence across the group.
We are looking for a leader who is confident in early childhood operations, calm under pressure, strong with systems and compliance, and genuinely passionate about creating safe, high-quality environments for children, families and teams.
About the role Reporting to senior leadership, you will provide national oversight across operations, compliance and safety. You will support service performance, drive consistent operating standards, strengthen compliance frameworks, and ensure our teams are equipped to meet their obligations under the National Law, National Regulations, National Quality Standard and approved learning frameworks.
This role will suit someone who enjoys being close to the services, understands the realities of centre operations, and can also operate strategically at group level. You will lead three passionate and dedicated Area Managers.
You will predominantly work from home with visits to our centres as required. This position is based in Sydney.
Key responsibilities In this role, you will:
- Lead and support operational performance across a portfolio of early learning services
- Drive consistent implementation of company policies, procedures and operating standards
- Oversee compliance with the Education and Care Services National Law, National Regulations, NQS and related obligations
- Partner with centre leaders to improve service quality, team capability and operational outcomes
- Lead safety, risk and incident management processes across the group
- Support assessment and rating readiness, compliance audits and continuous improvement planning
- Identify operational risks early and implement practical, sustainable solutions
- Work with senior leaders on occupancy, staffing, labour performance, service standards and growth readiness
- Build strong relationships with centre teams, families, regulators and internal stakeholders
- Develop and embed systems that make compliance, safety and operations easier, clearer and more consistent
About you You are an experienced early childhood operations leader who brings a strong mix of commercial discipline, regulatory knowledge and people leadership. You will ideally have:
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A Diploma in Children’s Services
- Significant experience in multi-site early childhood education and care operations
- Strong knowledge of the National Quality Framework, National Law, National Regulations and NQS
- Experience leading compliance, safety, quality or operational improvement across multiple services
- A practical understanding of centre operations, including staffing, occupancy, family experience and service performance
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, influence and hold teams accountable
- A calm, solutions-focused approach to risk, incidents and complex operational matters
- Excellent communication, judgement and stakeholder management skills
- The ability to travel to services as required
- Approved Provider, operations, compliance, quality, area manager or regional manager experience will be highly regarded
Why join us This is an opportunity to step into a genuine national leadership role where your work will have visible impact.
You will be joining a growing early education group with a strong focus on quality, safety, compliance, service performance and positive outcomes for children. You will have the opportunity to shape systems, lift standards, support leaders and contribute directly to the future direction of the organisation.
We offer:
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A senior leadership role with real influence across the group
- Competitive remuneration based on experience
- The opportunity to work across operations, compliance and safety in one broad national role
- Supportive senior leadership and a collaborative support office team
- The chance to improve outcomes for children, families and educators at scale
- A growing organisation where strong leaders can make a meaningful difference
Remuneration An attractive senior package will be negotiated with the successful candidate, based on experience and capability.
To apply If you are a strong early childhood operations leader who is passionate about quality, compliance, safety and service excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Please apply with your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience in multi-site early childhood operations, compliance and safety leadership.
Please visit our company website for more information
