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S121-5 Education Lead -Early Childhood
Department for Education
Job reference: 842722
Location: 5606 - PORT LINCOLN
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us

Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.



About the role

The Education Lead, Early Childhood is a key leadership position within the local education team, with significant accountability for driving positive change and fostering continuous improvement across preschools and services for children from birth to age 5 in South Australia. The Education Lead, Early Childhood leads the implementation of strategic priorities for improvement, change and reform in the early years that enable site leaders to achieve impact within their communities.

Working collaboratively with the Education Director and Education Lead, Schools and drawing on significant knowledge and experience in early childhood education, pedagogy and curriculum, strategic use of data to drive improvement strategies and people management, the Education Lead, Early Childhood takes ownership of strategic initiatives, to implement the department's vision for all young children to learn and thrive.

The Education Lead, Early Childhood takes a proactive approach and works with leaders to establish and optimise a networked approach across the education ecosystem and is responsible for establishing and leveraging early childhood communities of practice, alliances and corporate divisions, to facilitate collaboration, shared learning, and collective responsibility across sites to enhance outcomes for young children.

The Education Lead, Early Childhood provides strategic leadership for the implementation of a range of key state and national reform policies and strategies to modernise preschool delivery including implementation of Royal Commission recommendations regarding 3-year-old preschool, kindy care and integrated hubs. This role is instrumental in being a conduit between sites and the centre by actively engaging in multidirectional feedback loops, supporting the approach to preschool improvement and the implementation of the National Quality Standard and Early Years Learning Framework.

The Education Lead, Early Childhood is responsible for facilitating coaching and mentoring relationships across the system that impact the acceleration of leadership development. Working with leaders and People and Culture, the Education Lead, Early Childhood champions workforce development initiatives aimed at strengthening qualification uplift pathways and leadership pipelines across the system. This includes identifying and supporting emerging and existing preschool staff to upgrade qualifications meet critical workforce demands; and to identify teacher and leaders who show the leadership capability and aspiration to move into higher leadership roles and providing support to accelerate their development.

 

Qualifications

Essential: A tertiary qualification in education and/or related fields.

Desirable: Tertiary qualifications in Early Childhood education



Special conditions

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry.

The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN –EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years. 

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.



Remuneration

S121-5 $160,294 per annum (1.0 FTE) + superannuation (12%)

 

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to Shana Foster, Executive Assistant, via tel: (08) 8688 3488 or email: shana.foster@sa.gov.au

 

Application instructions

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, and a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the key competencies in the attached position description.

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.



Additional note

This is a part-time contract role (0.4 FTE), initial 6-month term contract.

This position operates under conditions similar to those of the Public Sector Act 2009 (PS Act).


Applications close: 21/05/2026 11:30 PM

Attachments:
- Application Cover Sheet - S121.pdf
- How to Apply S121.pdf
- Position Description - Education Lead Early Childhood S121.pdf
- VL233 Pre-employment declaration.pdf


Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.