At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead workforce planning and performance support for early childhood regulatory operations across Victoria.
- Company: Join VECRA, a key player in ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are valued; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates encouraged to apply.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of regulatory operations.
- Qualifications: Experience in workforce planning and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 114750 - 140250 $ per year.
Lead statewide workforce planning, performance and operational support for Victoria’s early childhood regulatory operations. Drive workforce capability, regional performance and continuous improvement to support safe, high-quality outcomes for children.
About the Branch
Located across the four VECRA regions and the central office, the Regional Operations Branch manages and supports regional teams to deliver VECRA's core regulatory work. The regional teams comprise authorised officers, compliance officers and support staff who assess and rate National Quality Framework (NQF) services against the National Quality Standard (NQS), conduct inspections to monitor compliance with the National Law, Children's Services Act and Child Safe Standards, as well as investigating alleged non-compliances.
About the Role
VECRA is seeking an experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Director, Workforce and Performance – one of two newly established Assistant Director roles helping shape the next phase of VECRA's regulatory operations. The role leads the workforce, performance and operational support functions for frontline regulatory delivery across Victoria.
The safety, rights and best interests of children are paramount in all regulatory decisions, actions and priorities. This role strengthens the functions that support VECRA's regulatory operations and help deliver safe, high-quality outcomes for children and families across Victoria.
Reporting to Director Regional Operations, based in East Melbourne, this statewide role involves regular travel to regional offices across Victoria. This role works alongside the Assistant Director, Change and Capability as a coordinated leadership team, and works closely with Regional Managers to undertake workforce planning, strengthen workforce capability, and promote organisational performance and support for frontline regulatory operations.
Key areas of responsibility
- Workforce planning
- Performance and operational data
- Data and intelligence
- Culture, wellbeing and safety
- Regional support and escalation
- Workforce and engagement communications
- Leadership of a small central team aligned to the portfolio
The Assistant Director also directly manages a small central team aligned to the portfolio, providing leadership, direction and development to support delivery of workforce and performance priorities. While Regional Managers retain responsibility for operational delivery within their regions, this role provides dedicated support, coordination and leadership across workforce, performance and operational priorities.
This role operates in a complex and dynamic regulatory environment, requiring strong judgement, collaboration and the ability to lead through change.
Attributes
We encourage applications from experienced operational leaders, frontline service delivery leaders and regulatory leaders with strong people leadership credentials. You will bring:
- Experience in workforce planning or development
- Demonstrated capacity to work cross-functionally and collaboratively as part of a strong and cohesive leadership group
- Extensive executive or senior leadership experience managing complex operational functions within a regulatory, education, child safety, human services, or public sector environment
- Demonstrated experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams
- Strong strategic and operational leadership capability including monitoring regional performance data and identifying opportunities for improvement
- Experience leading teams and delivering outcomes through change and complexity
- The ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders
- A commitment to supporting frontline outcomes through high-quality leadership and organisational support
Qualifications and Experience
Essential: Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline
Essential: A valid Working with Children Check
Essential: Experience in workforce planning, organisational capability and/or overseeing regulatory operations.
Desirable: Post Graduate Degree in relevant discipline
VECRA values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Karen Cullen, Director Regional Operations via karen.cullen@education.vic.gov.au.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to VECRA will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Applications close 11:59pm on 02 November 2026.
Assistant Director, Workforce and Performance in Melbourne employer: Victorian Government
The Victorian Government offers a supportive and inclusive work environment for Integration Aides and Literacy Intervention staff in the Melbourne Northern Suburbs, where employees are encouraged to grow professionally and contribute to meaningful educational outcomes. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, the department fosters a culture of collaboration and respect, ensuring that all staff feel valued and empowered to make a difference in students' lives. Additionally, the ongoing nature of this role provides stability and the opportunity to develop essential skills in a dynamic educational setting.
