Assistant Director & Preschool Pedagogy Leader

About the role

Manly Vale Bush Kindy is looking for a passionate, energetic and experienced Assistant Director & Preschool Room Leader to join our growing team. This is a unique leadership position for someone who is passionate about Reggio Emilia, project-based learning, nature pedagogy and Bush Kindy, while also having a strong interest in the business and community side of early childhood education. You will have the opportunity to lead our Preschool program, mentor educators, build meaningful relationships with families, support the Centre Director and play an important role in promoting Manly Vale Bush Kindy within our local community.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the Preschool team to deliver a high-quality, engaging and meaningful program

• Develop a strong project-based learning program that follows children's interests, questions and ideas

• Embed Reggio Emilia principles throughout the learning environment, curriculum and relationships

• Support educators to document children's learning and make learning visible to children and families

• Develop opportunities for children to investigate, experiment, problem-solve and collaborate

• Continue to develop Bush Kindy and nature-based learning program

• Create meaningful connections between indoor and outdoor learning

• Support educators to reflect on their practice and continually improve the learning program

• Build strong relationships with children and families

• Work closely with the Centre Director to assist with day-to-day leadership and growth of the service

• Provide leadership and guidance to educators

• Support staff performance, mentoring and professional development

• Assist with staff organisation, programming and daily operations

• Help maintain a positive, collaborative team culture

• Support compliance, policies and procedures

• Assist with enrolments and family communication

• Conduct centre tours and orientations for prospective and new families

• Build relationships with prospective families and help them understand what makes Manly Vale Bush Kindy different

• Support the enrolment journey from initial enquiry through to commencement

• Help organise centre events, celebrations, family experiences and community engagement opportunities

• Develop relationships with local schools, community organisations and other services

• Support social media presence and create and coordinate social media content

• Take photographs and videos of learning experiences, where appropriate and with required permissions

• Promote Bush Kindy, project-based learning, sustainability and community programs

• Help develop engaging advertising and promotional material

• Identify opportunities to increase community awareness of the service

• Assist with open days, play sessions and promotional events

• Help develop relationships with local schools and community organisations

• Look for creative ways to showcase what makes the service unique

• Welcome prospective families and conduct engaging centre tours

• Run orientation sessions for new families

• Organise family events and opportunities for families to connect

• Represent the philosophy and values of Manly Vale Bush Kindy with confidence and enthusiasm

About you

• Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care (essential)

• Current First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis and Asthma qualifications (essential)

• Current Working With Children Check (essential)

• Strong understanding of the EYLF and National Quality Framework (essential)

• Demonstrated experience working with Preschool-aged children (essential)

• Demonstrated leadership experience (essential)

• Passionate about Reggio Emilia-inspired practice and project-based learning

• Experienced in developing and implementing child-led, inquiry-based learning

• Experienced in, or highly passionate about, Bush Kindy, nature-based learning and outdoor education

• A confident and inspiring Preschool Room Leader

• A strong communicator with excellent people skills

• Warm, approachable and confident when meeting new families

• Business-minded and interested in the growth and development of a childcare service

• Confident speaking with families and conducting tours and orientations

• Creative and enthusiastic about organising family events, community events and centre experiences

• Comfortable using social media to promote the service, our programs and our philosophy

• Able to identify opportunities to showcase the amazing work happening within the service

• A natural relationship builder who enjoys connecting with families, educators, schools and the wider community

• Organised, proactive and able to take initiative

• Someone who brings positive energy and enjoys being part of a growing team

• Experience with Reggio Emilia-inspired practice (highly desirable)

• Experience with project-based or inquiry-based learning (highly desirable)

• Previous experience running or developing a Bush Kindy or nature-based program (highly desirable)

• Leadership or Assistant Director experience (highly desirable)

• Experience conducting tours and orientations (highly desirable)

• Experience with social media and digital marketing (highly desirable)

• Experience organising events and community engagement initiatives (highly desirable)

About us

At Manly Vale Bush Kindy, we believe children are capable, curious and powerful learners. We value children's ideas, interests and questions and create environments where they can investigate, experiment, take risks, collaborate and develop a deep connection with nature and their community. We are passionate about learning through real experiences, including Bush Kindy, project work, sustainability, cooking, gardening, community connections and child-led investigations.

Benefits

• A leadership role within a growing and innovative early learning service

• The opportunity to have a genuine influence on our Preschool program and service philosophy

• A strong focus on nature, Bush Kindy, sustainability and project-based learning

• A supportive and collaborative team environment

• Opportunities to develop your leadership and professional skills

• The opportunity to build relationships with families and the wider community

• A role where your ideas and creativity are encouraged

• The opportunity to help shape the future direction and growth of Manly Vale Bush Kindy