Professional Experience Placement Manager (Early Childhood Education)

Education Centre of Australia (ECA) is a dynamic and diverse education group that stands at the forefront of Australia's higher education sector, boasting campuses in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, as well as overseas locations in the UK and India. With a rich history spanning over almost two decades, ECA delivers high-quality education encompassing English language courses, bachelor's and postgraduate degrees, and targeted internships. The global footprint of ECA extends across regions including Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Philippines, and Nepal. ECA is a successful Australian-based education organisation offering a comprehensive range of face-to-face and online courses for both international and domestic students in Australia, India, South East Asia, and the UK. Collaborating with esteemed higher education providers like Victoria University, Swinburne University, Charles Sturt University, University of Canberra, University of the Sunshine Coast and London Metropolitan University, ECA is committed to delivering a world-class educational experience.

We have got an exciting opportunity for Professional Experience Placement Manager (Early Childhood Education) to be part of our team at VU Brisbane at our Fortitude Valley campus. VU Brisbane is a new campus, designed to cater for international undergraduate and postgraduate students who want to study Business, IT and Early Childhood programs. Students at VU Brisbane experience a smarter, more engaging way to study with the award-winning VU Block Model, completing one subject at a time. Students learn in interactive, workshop-style classes where they get to know their teacher and classmates, put theory into practice, apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, and receive fast feedback on their assessments.

As a key member of the team, you will have the rewarding opportunity to progress your career within the education industry.  We are looking for someone who wants to grow with the company and is self-motivated and an enthusiastic 'go-getter'. 

Key Responsibilities: 

The primary purpose of the Professional Experience Placement (PEP) Manager is to work in partnership with relevant Colleges within Victoria University, central Victoria University Portfolios and the Education Centre of Australia to provide placement management during the student lifecycle through the relevant degrees, ensuring consistency in the application of Victoria University’s (VU) policies and procedures. The Professional Experience Placement Manager is responsible for the following VU programs at VU Brisbane: 

• Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education | Victoria University (vu.edu.au)
• Additional education programs that may be offered at VU Brisbane.

An important component of this role is the establishment of new opportunities for student Professional Experience Placements and the building and maintenance of relationships with education providers across Brisbane. There are general administrative duties as appropriate, including gathering student documentation, tracking student placement, coordinating agreements and undertaking risk assessments. The position is responsible for accurate record keeping ensuring regulatory and VU compliance is achieved and maintained. The position will also be responsible for managing a small team of PEP Coordinators as the student numbers on the campus grow over time.

Key Responsibilities

The major responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

• Pre-placement briefing sessions.
• Secure placements from Queensland sites ensuring appropriate spread and numbers of appropriate placements are secured.
• Liaise with relevant staff to ensure placements are allocated effectively, following regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Involvement in student remediation plans in conjunction with Unit Convenors.
• Support students on PEP as required with Unit Convenors and Facilitators, and act as the first point of call for industry providers.
• Liaise with placement sites to ensure students are allocated effectively.
• Implementation of students with disabilities reasonable adjustment plans.
• Review and evaluation of placements and undertaking risk assessments.
• Monitor adherence to established administrative procedures and implement business improvement initiatives as required.
• Accurate record keeping ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Manage a small team of PEP Coordinators as student numbers increase.
• Maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders on placement related matters to support planning, implementation, and quality assurance of PEP.
• Seek new placement opportunities and continue to support and build current relationships with placement providers and key industry stakeholders.

As the successful candidate you will ideally have: 

• Relevant tertiary qualifications.
• Worked in Higher Education with experience coordinating professional placements either in industry or university setting.
• Discipline knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education.
• Strong understanding of PEP.
• Time management skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship building skills.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution experience.
• Previous experience in managing PEP – Desirable.
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications – Desirable.
• Experience in teaching or supervision of students – Desirable.
• Experience in undertaking program evaluation – Desirable.
• Experience in managing a small team – Desirable.

In return we will offer you: 

• A collaborative and supportive team environment 
• An energetic culture that inspires and supports excellence in our employees
• Work/life balance
• Continuous support in your professional development
• Enhance your employee benefits package with a diverse range of offerings, from discounts at gyms and specialty retail stores to a comprehensive employee assistance program. Our commitment extends to supporting new parents with company-paid parental leave and to foster continuous employee growth, we proudly provide a 25% discount on courses offered by ECA.

EEO Statement

At ECA, we champion our core organisational values of providing 'Equal Opportunity and Social Inclusion', thus we strive to be a place of growth where everyone can continually thrive.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people living with a disability, women, people who identify as LGBTIQA+, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

This position is open to all Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents and applicants who hold a current and valid Visa with full working rights in Australia.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Due to the expected high volume of responses only short-listed candidates will be contacted

For further information on this role, to gain an insight into the team or if you need assistance/accommodation due to a disability please email ************@eca.edu.au