Head of Educational Excellence | Big Fat Smile

Head of Educational Excellence

• Permanent, Full time
• 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday at 7.6 hours per day

We’re Big Fat Smile. A not-for-profit that plays a pivotal role in the lives of thousands of children and families across Australia. We’re early education enthusiasts, with 35+ community preschools, long day care centres, out of school hours care and vacation care, and a variety of community and inclusion programs. Each one dedicated to giving every child the best start in life. And each well-respected for the work it does.

About the Role – Head of Educational Excellence

The Head of Educational Excellence drives the strategic direction of pedagogy and quality across our services. As a key member of the Children’s Services Senior Leadership Team, this role champions high-quality service delivery, implements innovative and evidence-based practices, and achieves portfolio KPIs related to educational practice and pedagogy.

Working closely with the Executive Lead, Children’s Services, you will lead quality uplift and embed exceptional educational practices across the organisation. This includes designing and delivering professional learning, mentoring Educational Leaders and centre-based teams, leading research partnerships and projects, and contributing to the development of internal policies.

What you need to succeed  

• Bachelor of Education or similar ACECQA Recognised Early Childhood Teacher level Qualification
• Cleared Valid for paid work, working with Children’s Check (WWCC)
• A valid driver’s licence
• Extensive Early Education and Care Senior Leadership experience
• Extensive knowledge of Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Framework (NQF)
• Extensive knowledge of contemporary pedagogical practices, with a strong understanding of child development, theoretical foundations, and philosophical approaches within the early childhood education sector
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate existing knowledge, analyse data, and formulate strategies to improve performance
• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and nurture high-performing teams

There are lots of reasons why a role with us is rewarding

• You will feel supported by a Total Well-being Platform that gives you access to self-assessments, articles, toolkits, podcasts, perks and savings, and other resources.

• You will have the financial peace of mind with 60% discount on early learning and care and out of school hours care services.

• You can save money with our benefits platform with meaningful discounts from over 500 retailers on everyday purchases, including groceries, cinema tickets, clothing, homewares, tech, gym membership and more.

How to apply  

Please send us:

• A copy of your resume  


• A cover letter that outlines why you are a good fit for the role and your preference for either full time or part time hours

Join us and you’ll be smiling too, when you make more of a difference.  

Safeguarding children is embedded in all we do. Through our Child Safe Framework and Values, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children entrusted to our care.