Senior Pedagogy and Practice Advisor

at  Department of Education

This role is a 24-month fixed term role until 30 June 2026
About the Department
The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society
About Early Learning Victoria
The Victorian Government is establishing 50 government-owned and operated, Early Learning and Childcare Centres, offering childcare, Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep, where applicable. We are working with local government and the community to plan each centre, and we are looking for people who are passionate about early childhood education. These centres will be co-located with schools, hospitals, TAFEs and major employers, and may be co-located maternal and child health services and playgroups for convenient access. The first four will open in 2025, with all 50 open by 2032. Early Learning Victoria is being set up as a new business unit within the Department of Education to establish and operate the 50 centres. We are building a team of high performers, that are willing to be work adaptively to achieve this ambitious reform agenda
About the Role
You will support the Manager (Pedagogy and Practice) in developing policy, frameworks and program design to support the delivery of high-quality ECEC services across the centres. The role will also work closely with centre staff to build their pedagogy and practice knowledge and capabilities. This requires a deep understanding of best-practice research, along with recent Victorian ECEC practical experience. There will be a focus on embedding the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework into Early Learning Victoria’s operational and policy decisions. It also includes providing expert advice and guidance in relation to the National Quality Framework, Child Safe Standards and the Education and Care Services National Law. 

Your duties will include

• Supporting centres to implement and embed the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, National Quality Framework and Child Safe Standards
• Developing policies and procedures that support the delivery of high quality pedagogy and practice, informed by best practice research
• Designing programs that support centre teams to build best practice knowledge and capability
• Supporting the development of networks and communities of practice between centres, ensuring a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement is established and maintained
• Developing stakeholder relationships with relevant external and government departments to ensure accuracy, alignment and consistency of information
• Supporting centre teams through the Assessment and Rating process, working closely with the Senior Quality Improvement Officer to ensure consistency of advice across NQS Quality Areas
• Supporting infrastructure and procurement activities, applying a pedagogy and practice lens where relevant

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate experience and ability in

• Policy development and design, including strong analytical, conceptual, and written communication skills
• Planning and managing timeframes, understanding the political and organizational environment
• Collaborating and building relationships within the department, government, and with external stakeholders
• Experience mentoring, coaching and working with centre based teams to deliver high quality education and care
• Recent practical experience within the early childhood education system
• Relevant tertiary qualification in early childhood education
• Understanding of the early childhood sector at a provider level is highly regarded

How to apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role in line with the duties, required capabilities and the Key Selection Criteria
For more details on this position please see attached position description. For more information about Early Learning Victoria and the Early Learning and Childcare Centre initiative, please contact Josh Rayson via joshua.rayson@educatuon.vic.gov.au. For further information about the role, please contact Helen Wolfe, helen.wolfe@education.vic.gov.au
The department 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 more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page. Information about the Department of Education’s operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au. Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person via phone or email to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.Preferred applicants may be required to have a Working with Children Check, a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence
Applications close 11:59pm on 12 July 202

• Supporting centres to implement and embed the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, National Quality Framework and Child Safe Standards
• Developing policies and procedures that support the delivery of high quality pedagogy and practice, informed by best practice research
• Designing programs that support centre teams to build best practice knowledge and capability
• Supporting the development of networks and communities of practice between centres, ensuring a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement is established and maintained
• Developing stakeholder relationships with relevant external and government departments to ensure accuracy, alignment and consistency of information
• Supporting centre teams through the Assessment and Rating process, working closely with the Senior Quality Improvement Officer to ensure consistency of advice across NQS Quality Areas
• Supporting infrastructure and procurement activities, applying a pedagogy and practice lens where relevan