Assistant Centre Manager (2IC)
Lead with purpose. Grow your team. Make a difference.
Ready to take the next step in your early childhood leadership career?
As an Assistant Centre Manager (2IC) at Guardian, you’ll work alongside your Centre Manager to help create a safe, engaging early learning environment for children, families and your team.
You’ll bring your experience, leadership skills and passion for early childhood together to support your team, strengthen centre operations and create a warm, welcoming culture.
It’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while continuing to develop your own leadership career.
Be a leader your team can rely on
Being an Assistant Centre Manager is about more than keeping things running smoothly.
You’ll be a visible and supportive leader within your centre – someone your team can turn to for guidance and support.
Working in partnership with your Centre Manager, you’ll help create an environment where Educators feel confident to contribute and do their best work.
What does an Assistant Centre Manager (2IC) do?
The Assistant Centre Manager supports the Centre Manager in leading the day-to-day operation of an early learning centre.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Supporting the leadership and development of your team
- Building strong relationships with children and families
- Supporting the delivery of high-quality early learning and care
- Helping oversee the day-to-day operations of the centre
- Supporting compliance and quality standards
- Contributing to the centre’s improvement priorities
- Supporting recruitment, onboarding and team development
- Working in partnership with the Centre Manager and broader leadership team
- Stepping into the Centre Manager role when required
The role combines people leadership, operational responsibility and a strong focus on children’s learning and wellbeing.
Leadership that makes a difference
As an Assistant Centre Manager, you’ll help create the conditions for your team to feel valued and inspired.
You’ll work alongside Educators, Lead Educators and your Centre Leadership Team, sharing knowledge, encouraging collaboration and helping your team build their capability.
You’ll also have the support to keep developing your own leadership skills through professional learning and coaching.
Bring our approach to life
As part of the Centre Leadership Team, you’ll help bring To BE Me, Guardian’s research-informed early learning program, to life.
You’ll support your team to create learning environments and experiences that respond to children’s interests, strengths and ideas.
You’ll also help foster a culture of reflection and continuous improvement, encouraging Educators to think deeply about their practice and the impact they have on children’s learning and wellbeing.
Is Assistant Centre Manager the right role for you?
You might already be a Lead Educator or working in another leadership role and looking for an opportunity to develop your centre leadership skills.
You’ll bring:
- Experience in early childhood education and care
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- A genuine passion for supporting children, families and Educators
- Confidence working as part of a leadership team
- A commitment to high-quality early learning and care
- A growth mindset and willingness to keep learning
Specific qualification and experience requirements can vary between roles and locations, so check the individual job advertisement for details.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re ready to grow your leadership experience and make a difference at a centre level, explore our current Assistant Centre Manager opportunities.