Want to put your communication, leadership and educational skills to the test, challenge yourself to make a real difference, and support those shaping our next generation? Come be part of the future,
today!
We’re not your typical childcare centres; we’re a group of innovative thinkers and committed lifelong learners. We’re on a mission to do things a bit differently (and better) than the rest, and we’re looking for a 2IC & Educational Leader to help lead the charge.
We don’t just offer a job; we’re offering a rare opportunity for you to thrive, grow, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of children as part of our incredible team. At Choklits, we’re not just about childcare, we’re about building something truly special in early childhood education. We’re pushing the boundaries of what quality early learning looks and feels like, building careers and creating a brighter future along the way.
If you’re ready to take your coaching and leadership skills to new heights, then read on, we could be redefining what’s possible in early childhood education, together.
We are an all-inclusive child care and early learning organisation operating in multiple locations across Melbourne’s East. We believe childhood is much more than the first stage of life, we believe it’s the most important. When children come to Choklits they get to learn through play, make new friends, develop skills and habits that will become their advantage in life, and they get to have fun.
Our dedicated team of 120+ work tirelessly to ensure that every child and family has a meaningful early education experience. We’re sure you know that 90% of a child’s brain develops before they are 5 years old? We think that’s a pretty darn important time in your life and we’re looking for a superstar to help us carry this message. We provide early education and care for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, and implement a dynamic play-based learning approach to foster curiosity and a love of learning.
This is a hybrid 2IC and Educational Leader position a genuinely rare combination that gives you both the pedagogical depth of an Educational Leader and the operational breadth of an Assistant Manager. You’ll spend meaningful time on the floor with children and educators, as well as dedicated off-floor time to lead curriculum, mentor your team, and help shape the direction of the service.
As our 2IC & Educational Leader, you’ll lead our mission to foster a love of learning in young minds. We’re searching for a visionary who not only guides our educators with passion but also oversees the holistic growth of the service. You will be responsible for ensuring high-quality educational programs are delivered, establishing strong bonds with our community, and helping maintain an environment that reflects sound early childhood principles.
If you’d been with us for the past month, here’s a peek at some of the things you would have achieved:
Curriculum: Assessed, guided and overseen the educational value being delivered by our educators, and ensured that our programs and lessons consistently achieve high ratings and reflect the diverse nature of our community all underpinned by a strong working knowledge of the EYLF, VEYLF, and NQS.
Community: Engaged with our parents and families to share, review and further develop our curriculum. You would have used those meetings to assess the running of the service and implemented suggestions and tested solutions for our continued improvement as a result.
Team Development: Led, supported, and mentored our team, ensuring their professional growth is set to ‘always on’. You would have reviewed our educators’ interactions, curriculum decisions, and ensured that children’s developmental needs are being addressed. You would have provided feedback, conducted appraisals, and ensured all regulatory requirements are met.
Strategic Leadership & Management: In the possible absence of the Service Manager you would have taken the reins and steered the course of the service, ensuring a safe, stimulating, and happy environment for children and our team while maintaining and promoting professional standards and upholding a strong customer service focus.
Operational Excellence: Overseen our financial operations, reporting, and compliance aspects of the service, ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all our team and children are being met. You would have taken on any urgent matters and solved them in accordance with Choklits policies.
Ideally, the role would suit someone with solid educational leadership experience who wants to move into a broader leadership role and get an insight into the running of a child care service. You might be seeking some greater accountability or control to lead our curriculum and outcomes and see things through end to end, knowing that you made the difference. You might not have all the skills or experience yet and that is ok too, we just want strong fundamentals with an awareness of gaps and a willingness to learn.
Why Choose Us?
Here’s the truth: opportunities like this don’t come around often.
This is not a corporate machine. You won’t be a cog in a wheel, waiting for decisions to filter down through layers of management. At Choklits, you work directly with the owners. You’ll have real conversations, real influence, and real impact from day one. We’re a private, family-run business that genuinely cares about children, about families, and about the people who show up every day to make it all happen.
We’re not just building a childcare business. We’re building something truly special in early childhood education a place where the focus is on genuine learning outcomes. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of something that matters, this is it.
Being in the early learning sector, we understand the value of nurturing and the difference a great education makes. And that absolutely applies to our team too! This is an opportunity to work directly with our educators and a breadth of knowledgeable managers in our growing organisation.
While we may be family-owned, we pride ourselves on being progressive, innovative, and we invest in the right areas and expertise to ensure we can be nimble, agile and play to win. The person in this role will therefore have the support and the exposure to develop and grow exponentially across the many facets of the role, as we also continue to grow too.
Still reading?
We know we’ve included a lot here, but we wanted to lay it all out, be transparent and seek to find the ideal person for the long-haul. If this job overview resonates with you, we definitely want to hear your story. Yes, you’ll have to wear various hats and probably be prepared to upskill in some areas too, but we wholeheartedly believe in the power of diverse experiences and perspectives. After all, it takes a village to raise a child… and also run a child care centre.
Join us in shaping futures. Be part of our journey in nurturing the next generation while fostering a space of growth, learning, and excellence for all.
What’s next?
To apply, please use the button below to send us your resume and a personalised cover letter. Please mention ‘Chokliteers’ (take that as a creative challenge) in your submission.
At Choklits, we actively promote diversity and inclusivity in our workplace. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, communities, and industries. We are committed to building a team that embraces a wide range of skills, experiences, and abilities.
We extend a warm welcome to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We also wholeheartedly encourage applications from people with both visible and non-visible disabilities. Regardless of your age, sex, sexuality, or gender identity, we believe in fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Your unique perspective and contributions are valued and appreciated here.
