The Safeguarding and Compliance Director provides strategic leadership, governance and independent oversight of safeguarding and regulatory compliance across Busy Bees Aotearoa.

The role can be based anywhere in NZ and will require regular and reasonable travel to our ECE centres across Aotearoa. Our Support Office is based in Orewa, Auckland.

About us | Ko mātou tēnei

At Busy Bees Aotearoa, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose, values and commitment to excellence guide the way we work every day. Globally, Busy Bees has a workforce of more than 25,000 people, with around 1,600 employees across 84 centres in New Zealand.

The Opportunity | Te Āheinga 

Working collaboratively with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and wider Busy Bees Group, you’ll provide independent expert advice, oversight, constructive challenge and assurance to the CEO, SLT and Board on safeguarding, regulatory compliance and associated organisational risks.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership across safeguarding and regulatory compliance, embedding these priorities within organisational strategy and decision-making.

• Lead and continuously improve Busy Bees Aotearoa’s safeguarding framework, ensuring alignment with legislation, regulatory requirements and Group standards.

• Champion a proactive safeguarding culture where tamariki are safe, protected from harm and supported to thrive.

• Provide expert oversight of serious safeguarding concerns, allegations and child protection matters across the organisation.

• Develop and oversee safeguarding and compliance learning, training and capability programmes, strengthening organisational knowledge and practice.

• Build strong internal and external partnerships that support effective safeguarding, compliance and organisational assurance.

• Use safeguarding, compliance and operational data to identify trends, emerging risks and opportunities for improvement.

• Partner with People and Culture to ensure robust safe recruitment practices are embedded across the organisation.

• Drive continuous improvement in safeguarding, regulatory compliance, assurance and organisational capability.

• Collaborate with the wider Busy Bees Group to share knowledge, contribute to global initiatives and support consistent standards across the organisation.

About You | Mōu 

You’ll be a strategic leader with deep expertise in safeguarding, risk and compliance, ideally gained within a highly regulated, child-centred environment.

Your background will include:

• 5+ years’ senior leadership experience in safeguarding, child protection, risk, compliance, education or a related field.
• Experience leading safeguarding, compliance and regulatory frameworks within a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Proven experience managing complex safeguarding matters, serious incidents, investigations and organisational reviews.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand legislation, regulatory requirements with the ability to translate these into practical operational approaches.
• Experience working collaboratively with regulators and statutory agencies, such as Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Education, ERO, New Zealand Police
• Strong capability in risk analysis, reporting and providing clear, credible advice to senior leaders, governance groups and Boards.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organisational change without direct operational authority.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in law, risk management, social work, education, psychology, criminology, or a related discipline.

What You Will Get in Return | Ngā Painga mōu on  

• Remote working from anywhere in NZ
• Competitive salary plus company car
• Health & wellbeing initiatives including EAP

Ready to make an impact?

If you’re passionate about strengthening organisational practice and ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications are invited from candidates who have the legal right to work in New Zealand and have a full, clean NZ Driver Licence.

Why Work for Busy Bees?
If you’re passionate about early learning, Busy Bees is the place to be. Although we are part of a global organisation, our company was founded by three families looking for better, more enriching childcare. Three decades later, we still keep the same values at heart.

We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the important people in our teams. We invest in our people and work with them to build career pathways that inspire.