• Ref code: 6909626
• Fixed Term (24 Months) - Full Time
• SCHADS Level 8 + Super + Salary Packaging + RDO + Flexible Working
• Location: Thomastown or Heidelberg; Wurindjeri Country - Multiple Kids First Locations

Kids First have a prominent 130-year history of safeguarding children achieved through an unwavering commitment to people and transformation. As we continue to evolve and expand our impact, we are focused on strengthening partnerships, identifying new opportunities, and responding to changing community needs across family, youth, and early years services. We're looking for a leader to help drive this next phase of growth and organisational impact.

Your new role

Lead the organisation wide rollout of our Exceptional Support & Education (ESE) framework, turning strategy into everyday practice across every Kids First service and corporate function. Reporting to the Director - Transformation and Impact, you'll drive implementation governance, partner with operational leaders, and help embed a consistent, disciplined approach to quality and continuous improvement — making ESE real in the way our people work.

Your core accountabilities

• Project manage the ESE roadmap, tracking milestones, dependencies and risks
• Connect working groups, operational teams and the ESE Steering Committee to keep momentum
• Support leaders to embed ESE into service delivery and daily workflows
• Drive staff engagement and communication on progress, wins and learnings
• Develop measures and reporting to track implementation impact
• Flag risks and barriers early, upholding quality and child safety standards

About you

You're a confident implementer who thrives on turning big-picture strategy into practical, on the ground change. You build trust quickly across both operational and corporate teams, influencing outcomes without needing formal authority. Comfortable holding multiple workstreams at once, you bring a systems mindset to problem-solving and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in project or implementation management, ideally within human services, early years, education, health or not for profit settings
• Strong organisational change capability translating frameworks into practical routines and ways of working
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation and communication skills, including high-level written reporting
• Systems thinking and operational problem-solving, with the ability to spot barriers and design workable solutions
• Experience supporting governance, executive reporting and risk/implementation tracking

How we reward you

• An organisation that truly lives its values
• Kids First understands the importance of flexible working and has a policy to support this
• Be nurtured in your career, including professional development opportunities
• Enjoy ‘not for profit' benefits such as salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• We know how important it is to spend time with family which is why you get 3 additional leave days at Christmas
• Purchased leave and portable long service leave options
• Access our Staff Wellbeing Program

How to apply

To download the PD, and to apply for this job click "Apply Now".

Kids First is an Equal Opportunity employer that respects and values diversity and inclusion. Kids First welcomes everyone to apply, regardless of age, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and physical ability.

Kids First is a Child Safe Organisation. Employment is conditional on satisfactory referee checks, a current Working With Children Check, National Criminal History Check, proof of the right to work in Australia and a pre employment medical (if applicable).