State Manager WA

Goodstart•San Francisco, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Australia’s largest not-for-profit provider of early learning and care, Goodstart supports more than 70,000 children across nearly 700 centres. This role is for an experienced and strategic State Manager to lead centre performance, leadership capability, and operational excellence across Western Australia. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the State Manager will provide leadership and direction across the state, ensuring Centre Directors are empowered to lead high-performing teams that deliver exceptional outcomes for children, families, and communities. The role involves working across all centres in Western Australia, building strong relationships with Centre Directors, developing a deep understanding of centre performance and capability, and translating Goodstart's strategic priorities into meaningful local action. Through coaching, collaboration, and strategic leadership, the State Manager will drive continuous improvement, strengthen leadership pipelines, and support sustainable performance across the state.

Requirements

At least 5 years' experience in a senior leadership or business management role, ideally leading large, multi-site operations.
Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans, manage budgets and deliver sustainable business outcomes.
Demonstrated success building leadership capability through coaching, talent development and succession planning.
Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to analyse performance, identify opportunities and implement effective improvement strategies.
Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with experience building trusted relationships across government, community, regulatory and corporate environments.
Outstanding communication, influencing and change leadership capabilities, with the ability to inspire and align teams around a shared vision.
A collaborative leadership style and commitment to fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous improvement and high performance.
Flexibility to undertake regular travel across Western Australia and work outside standard business hours as required.
Current WA Working with Children Check or willingness to obtain
Willing to obtain a Certificate of Completion for the National Child Safety Foundation Training, completed via Geccko platform

Nice To Haves

An Early Childhood qualification or Business Management qualification

Responsibilities

Develop and deliver the state strategic plan, annual business plan and budget, ensuring alignment with Goodstart's organisational priorities.
Maintain a deep understanding of centre performance, operational priorities and leadership capability across Western Australia, using insights to drive informed decision-making and targeted support.
Enable and empower Centre Directors and their teams to improve quality, people and business performance outcomes across all centres.
Lead and develop the state leadership team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
Strengthen succession planning and talent pipelines to ensure sustainable leadership capability across Centre Director and key leadership roles.
Identify systemic improvement opportunities and partner with national support teams to design and implement sustainable solutions that improve centre and business performance.
Provide strategic leadership and targeted support to centres requiring improvement, considering each centre's unique context, challenges and opportunities.
Support the delivery of high-quality, inclusive early learning programs aligned with the National Quality Framework and Early Years Learning Framework.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with government representatives, regulatory bodies, universities, community organisations and early childhood sector partners.
Strengthen Goodstart's contribution to sector collaboration, advocacy and public policy across Western Australia.
Contribute as a member of the Operations Leadership Team by sharing insights, shaping organisational priorities and championing best practice across the organisation.
Champion Goodstart's commitment to child safety, reconciliation, inclusion and the wellbeing of children, families and Goodstarters.

Benefits

A competitive remuneration package, including a company car or car allowance
Flexible work arrangements
Salary packaging benefits available through AccessPay (eligibility applies)
Access to discounted childcare (up to 15%)
Fitness Passport - access to gyms and pools for you and your family at a heavily discounted price
Discounted health care and access to employee wellbeing program with BUPA
Exclusive discounts on travel, gym memberships, Apple and Dell products, and more.
Free annual flu shot (optional)
Option to purchase extra leave for even greater work life balance
First Nations Support and Cultural Leave
Gain significant investment in your growth and development with support, tools, training and experiences that will truly enhance the progress and outcomes for children in their earliest years.