Introduction:
Most leadership roles promise strategy, growth and the opportunity to make an impact. This role delivers on all three.
As Head of Early Years, you'll help shape the future of services for children and families across South Australia while leading talented people, driving innovation, and building a culture where great work can thrive.
You'll bring experience, curiosity, good judgement and a healthy dose of optimism. We'll bring an incredible mission, a brilliant team and a workplace that believes work should be meaningful and enjoyable.
Why Kudos?
We're Australia's first employee-led mutual, which means the people who work here genuinely have a say in how we grow, improve and make an impact.
We support children, young people and adults with disability to achieve their goals and live the lives they choose. It's important work, but we don't take ourselves too seriously while we're doing it.
We're ambitious, collaborative, values-driven and always looking for better ways to support our clients, families and each other.
Description:
The Head of Early Years is a dynamic position responsible for driving the growth, profitability, and strategic service improvement of Early Childhood Services. This role drives performance, mentors Service Area Managers, and fosters a collaborative, outcomes-focused culture to uphold best-practice service delivery. The position is accountable for leading and managing the Early Childhood Service, ensuring service quality, compliance, and performance while overseeing a network of Service Area Managers and their respective teams.
Skills and Experiences:
What you'll be stepping into
As Head of Early Years, you'll report directly to the COO and lead one of the most exciting and important parts of our organisation.
You'll be guiding strategy, leading outstanding managers, growing capability, supporting innovation and helping ensure children and families receive the very best support possible.
Some days you'll be discussing future opportunities and sector trends. Other days you'll be coaching leaders, solving complex challenges or celebrating wins with your team.
That's the fun part, you get to do both.
You'll love this role if you enjoy:
✅ Developing great leaders and helping people thrive
✅ Turning ambitious ideas into practical outcomes
✅ Building teams that are high-performing, supportive and genuinely enjoy working together
✅ Spotting opportunities to improve services and making them happen
✅ Balancing quality outcomes with commercial sustainability
✅ Having influence, autonomy and the ability to make a real impact
You'll bring:
- Significant leadership experience in allied health, NDIS, early childhood or community services
- A knack for bringing out the best in people
- Strong financial and operational leadership skills
- Confidence navigating governance, funding and compliance requirements
- A passion for person-centred practice and meaningful outcomes
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and professional registration (or eligibility)
What you'll get in return
- Flexible work arrangements that fit around real life
- Salary packaging and additional leave benefits
- Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
- A welcoming and supportive team
- The chance to shape the future of an organisation doing genuinely important work
And perhaps most importantly, you'll join a workplace where your ideas are heard, your contribution matters and your leadership can leave a lasting legacy.
Sound like your kind of leadership challenge?
We'd love to hear from you.
Location: Unley, South Australia
Apply: Submit your Resume and Cover Letter via Seek
Questions? Drop us a line at
[email protected] 