Senior Operations Manager

Build your brighter future with Buttercups Childcare!

Buttercups is one of Western Australia's leading childcare providers, operating a network of centres across Perth. We are committed to providing exceptional early learning experiences while building a high-performing, values-driven organisation.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to provide senior operational leadership across our growing network of centres.

This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic team and make a significant impact leading a multi-site operating model that puts children, families and educators at the centre of everything we do.

The Opportunity: Senior Operations Manager

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead our operational management structure, with Area Managers, the Operations Support Manager and Marketing Officer reporting directly to you. You will be accountable for translating strategy into clear operational plans, driving accountability and high performance across all regions and centres, and ensuring every service delivers the Buttercups philosophy and standards.

This role carries broad ownership of quality, compliance and governance, occupancy and marketing performance, along with child safeguarding across the network. It's a genuine leadership opportunity for someone who combines operational rigour with a deep commitment to child safety and educational quality.

We are seeking a senior operations leader who brings excellent experience, genuine care for children, families and educators, and the energy to help shape quality and culture across the organisation.

In this role, you will:

Strategic and Operational Leadership

• Lead the operational function in support of the company's strategic and business goals
• Translate strategy into clear operational plans, measures, accountabilities and reporting across all regions and centres
• Provide high-level leadership to Area and Centre Managers, ensuring every service has the capability and resources to deliver the Buttercups philosophy and standards
• Maintain an operating model that is efficient, scalable, quality-focused and responsive to organisational growth

Quality, Compliance and Governance

• Chair the Operations Quality Committee, considering policy, procedure and pedagogy, and recommend decisions to the Chief Operating Officer
• Develop, implement and report on compliance, internal audit and major incident systems
• Ensure centres comply with the National Quality Framework and all legal, funding and statutory obligations
• Act as the organisation's Privacy Officer, safeguarding private information across the business

Occupancy, Marketing and Community

• Drive occupancy through effective enrolment processes, tours, marketing activity and community engagement
• Develop and deliver the organisation's marketing and engagement strategy, budget and performance measures
• Lead and support the Marketing Officer, approving campaigns, content and communications
• Track enquiry, tour conversion and occupancy performance, and ensure consistent branding across all platforms

People, Culture and Capability

• Model Buttercups values and build a culture that prioritises children, accountability and respectful conduct
• Establish consistent induction and training systems so all employees understand policies, values and regulatory obligations
• Coach, develop and performance manage operational leaders, and build talent pipelines to support growth and succession

Financial, Rostering and Resource Management

• Ensure operational teams' roster in line with approved labour metrics, policies and regulatory ratios
• Ensure operational teams work within approved budgets, reviewing P&L, occupancy and labour economics
• Oversee the effective allocation and maintenance of centre equipment, resources and environments

Health, Safety and Child Safeguarding

• Ensure all centres comply with work health and safety requirements, protecting children, educators and visitors
• Embed child-safe policies and practice in daily operations, in line with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• Actively promote child wellbeing and ensure the supervision framework is upheld at all times

What you'll bring to the table

• Substantial senior childcare leadership experience in Childcare as an Area Manager, Regional Manager, General Manager or comparable multi-site early childhood operations role
• Demonstrated success leading large, diverse teams and building high-performance cultures aligned with organisational strategy and values
• Proven experience developing and managing company-wide systems, processes, budgets, operational frameworks and governance reporting
• Strong commercial understanding of a growing childcare business, including occupancy, labour management, budgeting, enrolment performance and centre profitability
• Demonstrated ability to embed regulatory compliance, quality assurance, internal audit and incident-management systems
• Proven capability in staff induction, professional development, mentoring, performance management and talent pipeline development
• Strong knowledge of the Child Care Subsidy system, service administration platforms and funding compliance
• A relevant degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education, Business or Training Management (or equivalent), a valid Working with Children Check, and current First Aid, anaphylaxis and asthma management qualifications
• Experience supporting new centre openings, acquisitions or integration activities is highly desirable
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and leadership skills

Why Buttercups?

• Senior leadership role with genuine influence across operations, quality, marketing and people strategy
• Opportunity to shape the future of a strong values-driven organisation
• Work closely with the Executive Leadership Team on strategy, growth and organisational performance
• Make a meaningful contribution to the lives of children and families across Western Australia

Ready to make an impact?

If you're an experienced childcare operations leader with a genuine passion for child safety, quality and culture, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now with your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.