Centre Manager - Early Learning

About Inspired Education and the Role

Inspired Education is a premier global network of 125 private schools across six continents, educating over 95,000 students from Kindergarten through Year 13. Each school integrates the local culture and provides progressive, innovative education supported by world-leading practices. The group employs more than 14,000 staff, offering professional development and global career mobility.

We are seeking a Centre Manager for our Early Learning School in Auckland, licensed for up to 115 children aged 3 months to 5 years. Based on the school campus, the centre follows New Zealand's early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki and draws inspiration from the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. It provides enriched learning programs including literacy, numeracy, science, music, movement, and reading initiatives fostering curiosity, confidence, and lifelong learning.

Role Summary and Responsibilities

The Centre Manager will lead strategic, operational, and educational aspects of the centre to deliver outstanding early childhood education and care within a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment. The role requires driving enrolment growth, meeting occupancy goals, and nurturing a culture of excellence. Key duties include leading people management, curriculum implementation, compliance, continuous improvement, and fostering strong relationships with children, families, staff, and the wider community.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership ensuring effective management and success of the centre.
• Drive enrolment increase utilizing marketing initiatives, family engagement, and retention strategies.
• Lead curriculum excellence aligned with Te Whāriki and Reggio Emilia frameworks.
• Create and maintain safe, inclusive, nurturing environments supporting child development and wellbeing.
• Recruit, coach, and manage a high-performing team with focus on professional growth and succession planning.
• Foster strong partnerships with families, whānau, and the broader community.
• Ensure full compliance with all licensing, regulatory, and organisational policies.
• Manage financial performance including budgeting and resource allocation.
• Champion a culture prioritizing health, safety, and risk management.
• Uphold professional standards, ethical leadership, and safeguarding principles.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• At least five years of leadership experience in early childhood education or a related field.
• Inspirational and people-centric leadership style that motivates and develops staff to achieve high performance.
• Passionate about early childhood education and dedicated to fostering positive development and learning outcomes for every child.
• Proven ability to build trusting relationships with families, colleagues, and community stakeholders, promoting collaboration and inclusivity.
• Commercially astute with capability to balance educational quality with enrolment and operational targets.
• Highly organized and accountable, adept at managing competing priorities and sustaining quality outcomes.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a solutions-focused mindset for dynamic environments and change leadership.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills to engage diverse stakeholders effectively.
• Ethical, values-driven, with integrity, sound judgement, and commitment to safeguarding and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Additional Requirements

• A recognised teaching qualification, such as Bachelor of Education (Secondary) or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Te Whāriki curriculum, ECE licensing standards, and effective teaching methodologies.
• Accreditation from the New Zealand Education Department.
• Willingness to undergo a New Zealand police check prior to employment.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and maintaining New Zealand teaching accreditation.
• Availability to provide lunch and playground supervision as well as assist with pick-up/drop-off routines.
• Preparedness to attend school events outside standard hours, such as open days.

Safeguarding Commitment

Inspired Education prioritizes safeguarding children and young people. All staff, volunteers and third parties must share this commitment. Safer recruitment and pre-employment background checks are mandatory before appointment.