Assistant Director/ 2IC

Not all Assistant Director / 2IC roles are the same.

At Smart Tots Alexandra Hills, we believe great leadership happens alongside your team — in the rooms, in conversations with families, in those little moments with children, and behind the scenes helping a service continue to grow.

We’re looking for a passionate Assistant Director / 2IC to join our Alexandra Hills family and work closely alongside our Centre Director, Lea, as we continue building on some exciting milestones and looking ahead to the next chapter for our service.

This role offers the best of both worlds: the opportunity to remain genuinely connected to children, educators and curriculum while developing your skills and influence as a centre leader.

You’ll spend part of your week working directly alongside children and educators, with dedicated non-contact leadership time to support centre operations, mentoring, compliance, continuous improvement and team development.

If you believe leadership is about bringing out the best in people rather than simply managing them, we’d love to meet you.

Smart Tots Alexandra Hills is more than an early learning service — it’s a community.

We believe children are capable, curious and full of potential, and that meaningful learning begins with strong, genuine relationships.

Our educators are encouraged to notice, wonder, reflect and create experiences that grow from the ideas and interests of the children in front of them.

Just as importantly, we want our educators to feel supported, valued and excited about coming to work.

Our leadership team is continuing to build on the centre's achievements while creating new opportunities for our children, families and educators — and we're looking for someone special to help us take that next step.

As our Assistant Director / 2IC, you’ll work closely with Lea and the wider team to:

• Support the day-to-day leadership and operations of Smart Tots Alexandra Hills.

• Work directly alongside children and educators, remaining connected to the heart of the service.

• Use dedicated non-contact leadership time for administration, compliance, team development and continuous improvement.

• Mentor educators and help build their confidence, capability and professional practice.

• Create a positive, collaborative team culture where people feel heard, valued and supported.

• Encourage educators to reflect, ask questions and create meaningful learning opportunities alongside children.

• Build genuine relationships with our families and Alexandra Hills community.

• Contribute to our Quality Improvement Plan and ongoing journey of growth.

• Celebrate what our team does well while confidently identifying opportunities to become even better.

• Step into the Centre Director role when required and provide calm, capable leadership for the service.

We’re looking for someone who genuinely loves people.

Someone who leads with kindness but isn't afraid to have important conversations.

Someone who can see potential in an educator and help them see it too.

Someone who understands that leadership isn't about having all the answers — it's about listening, reflecting, supporting and creating the conditions for others to succeed.

You’ll be someone who:

• Leads with kindness, integrity and authenticity.

• Builds strong, trusting relationships.

• Loves mentoring educators and celebrating their growth.

• Wants to remain present and involved with children and curriculum.

• Is organised, proactive and solutions-focused.

• Can balance the needs of children, families, educators and the wider service.

• Is comfortable reflecting on their own practice and receiving feedback.

• Brings positivity and energy to a team while remaining calm when things get busy.

• Believes every child and every educator deserves someone who believes in them.

We aren't looking for perfection.

We’re looking for someone who is curious, reflective and willing to grow — someone who understands that the strongest leaders never stop learning themselves.

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

• Previous leadership experience within an early childhood setting.

• Strong understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework, National Quality Standard and relevant legislation.

• A genuine passion for mentoring and developing educators.

• Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.

• Current Blue Card.

• Current First Aid, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis qualifications, or willingness to obtain them.

At Smart Tots Alexandra Hills, we want our leaders to have the opportunity to lead, learn and still experience the reason most of us entered early childhood in the first place — the children.

You'll enjoy:

• A leadership position that combines meaningful time with children with dedicated non-contact leadership time.

• Working closely alongside a supportive Centre Director and leadership team.

• Ongoing paid professional development.

• Opportunities to continue developing your leadership career within the wider Start Smart Early Education family.

• Access to our Rewards Gateway, with discounts across hundreds of retailers, travel, entertainment and lifestyle brands.

• Our annual Awards Night, celebrating the incredible contribution of our educators and leaders.

• A workplace that values ideas, reflection and continuous improvement.

• A team that believes leadership should be collaborative rather than hierarchical.

• The opportunity to help shape the next chapter of an already-growing service.

Most importantly, you won't be expected to lead alone.

You'll have people beside you to share ideas with, learn from, ask questions of and celebrate the wins with.

Maybe you're already a 2IC looking for a service where you can make a greater impact.

Maybe you're an experienced Lead Educator ready to take your next leadership step.

Or maybe you're looking for a workplace where leadership still means being connected to children, educators, families and practice — not spending your entire week behind a desk.

Whatever has brought you here, if you're passionate about people, early childhood and creating a workplace where others can thrive, we'd love to hear from you.

Come and grow with us at Smart Tots Alexandra Hills.
Bring your ideas. Bring your experience. Bring your passion.

We'll give you the space and support to make a difference.