Head of Property in Melbourne

Join the ECMS Team: Head of Property

Great learning starts with great spaces. ECMS’ philosophy is simple; we foster lifelong learning. As a for-purpose organisation, with 84 Kindergartens and Early Learning and Care Centres, we impact the lives of more than 6,500 Victorian children each week. We’re looking for a strong leader to join us as Head of Property. This multi-faceted role will be responsible for leading ECMS’ property strategy, ensuring effective management and optimisation of all property arrangements and partnerships.

This role leads the coordination of new service openings/closures, capital works projects, facility and maintenance operations, and management of leases, suppliers and contractors. It will require excellent communication skills and stakeholder management.

About the role

• You will lead ECMS’ facility and asset strategy, ensuring safe and high-quality service delivery, effective use of resources and long-term sustainability.
• You will lead the coordination of key building works and site improvement projects, partnering with relevant stakeholders to ensure all works meet rigorous safety and quality requirements.
• You will lead facilities maintenance with a proactive and planned approach, minimising disruptions to regular service provision.
• You will develop and manage ECMS’ asset management framework, ensuring successful long-term asset planning and prioritisation, balancing service requirements, asset condition, risk and available investment.
• You will provide strategic oversight of EMCS’ lease portfolio with effective governance and controls, managing all financial, operational and workplace risks and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented.
• You will manage procurement activities and supplier relationships for all facilities-related procurement, including contract negotiations and analysis of performance to identify and implement efficiencies.

About you

• You hold a relevant tertiary qualification/s in property, asset management, facilities management, engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• You hold a minimum of five years experience in a relative position.
• You demonstrate strong leadership experience in managing facilities, maintenance or asset management within a multi-site geographically dispersed organisation.
• You have a keen understanding of managing budgets, service agreements and contractor performance.
• Your communication skills are excellent, and you demonstrate high level negotiation and change leadership skills.
• You show strong financial acumen including working with operating and capital budgets, demonstrating an ability to develop long term strategy.
• Hold or willing to obtain a current WWCC, Mandatory Reporting Certificate, Foundations of Child Safety training certificate and Police Check.

Why ECMS?

• Ability to make a positive impact in our communities – we’re a proud place based, for purpose, not for profit, who put people at the centre of our work.
• A dedicated professional development budget—tailored learning opportunities to suit your goals.
• Generous salary, hybrid work from home options.
• Generous benefits – 50% childcare discount, discounts to hundreds of major retailers, paid parental leave.
• We have a supportive and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated – 84% of our team recommend ECMS as a great place to work!

Join us in shaping the future of early education! ECMS is committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing, and inclusion of all children. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds.