Deputy Director (Investigation), ECDA/RL

The Regulation & Licensing Division (RL) in the Early Childhood Development Agency ensures quality standards of care and education in preschools (e.g. child care centres, kindergartens), through the enforcement of regulatory requirements under the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Act (2017) and Regulations (2018) on preschools. This includes the licensing of centres, investigations into reports of incidents in preschools, and handling public feedback on preschool services. The Deputy Director (Investigation) leads and oversees three teams of officers in the Investigation Branch, who conduct investigations into incidents occurring in preschool settings. This could include cases of alleged child mismanagement, and other breaches of the ECDC Act, Regulations, and Code of Practice. Key Responsibilities: • Assess whether allegations should be investigated, assign cases across investigation officers. Guide and supervise officers in investigation work, on recommendations for interventions/penalties, and on updates to Senior Management and Political Office Holders. • Calibrate the appropriate course of regulatory actions to take against non-compliant centres. • Work with officers on appeals by operators against the regulatory actions taken and by parents who are unhappy with the outcome of feedback/investigations, by re-looking into the case, grounds of appeal and ensuring fair and defensible decisions are in made. • Liaise with operators, educators, parents, government agencies, and members of public for sensitive cases, ensuring that replies are informative, clear and empathic. Provide support to officers in managing challenging operators and parents, and input to media enquiries/media releases on cases. • Develop and implement investigation protocols and procedures, including measures to improve efficiency in the Investigation Branch. • Lead workgroups to improve ways to improve child safety in preschools (e.g. mandatory CCTV policy). • A good degree; preferably, in early childhood, education or social sciences. • At least 10 years of working experience leading officers/team; preferably with experience in investigative and/or operational work. • Knowledge of early childhood education practices and regulations, or able to build up a good understanding of them through on-the-job training. • Tenacious and resilient. Able to take negative reactions from unhappy stakeholders, able to work fast and hard over prolonged periods, where necessary. • A good team-player. • Able to be firm and fair, while being service-oriented, and to communicate clearly and engage effectively. • Nurturing and focused on people development.