Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Position: Full-Time (Fixed Term)

The nib Newcastle Knights are a professional NRL club proudly owned by The Wests Group Australia, a locally owned, not-for-profit membership organisation. We are committed to building the premier pathways program in the NRL and NRLW, developing players who embody our values: Tradition, Grit, Inspire, and Win.

• Tradition – Honouring our humble, blue-collar roots.
• Grit – Overcoming adversity through toughness and effort.
• Inspire – Empowering others through our actions.
• Win – Approaching every task with a winning mindset.

We are entering a bold and exciting new era, driven by our commitment to becoming the leading development club in the NRL. As part of our strategive vision, we are investing heavily in our pathways systems to create sustained success and develop the next generation of talent. 

We are seeking an organised and passionate Pathways Operations Manager to join our Football Department, playing a pivotal role in a club rich in tradition, built on grit, and committed to winning the right way.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the General Manager of Pathways, you will be at the heart of coordinating operations of our seven Male and Female Pathways Programs: Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup, and Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day operations of all pathway's programs
• Manage schedules, venues, travel, compliance, and player registrations
• Guide and support the Pathways Operations Assistant to ensure consistent, high-quality support across all teams
• Implement streamlined systems and best-practice processes to drive operational efficiency
• Foster a professional, organised, and player-focused environment that enables athletes and teams to thrive.

This is an exciting opportunity to be a key part of a club rich in history, driven to inspire, and committed to winning the right way.

About You

You are highly organised, solutions-focused, and collaborative, with a passion for creating environments where people can perform at their best. You bring experience in sports administration, high-performance operations, or a related field, and are confident leading projects, managing stakeholders, and supporting teams across multiple priorities.
You approach challenges with grit, a club-first mindset, and a drive to inspire others. You are flexible to support weekend games and special events, and you thrive in a culture that values teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement. Your contribution will directly support the growth and success of our pathways programs and help shape the future of the club.

Key requirements:

• Experience in operational management within sport or high-performance environments
• Ability to develop and implement standardised systems and processes
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and collaboration tools
• Compliance, registration, and reporting management experience
• Current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and Driver’s Licence

What We Offer

You’ll join a values-driven team, backed by the strength of The Wests Group, working hard and supporting one another with access to a range of benefits including wellbeing and carers leave, professional development, discounted gym membership, health insurance, accommodation, lifestyle benefits + more!

Commitment to Child Safety

The Wests Group is a Child Safe Organisiation committed to providing a safe and supportive place for Children and Young People to be. We have strong robust recrutiment procedures to make sure the safest and most suitable people work with us and require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment. This procress will include, but not limited to a comprehensive reference check, identity/ right to work check, Working with Childrens check and a national criminal history check (all facilitated by the club)

Apply now and be part of sharing the future of our Knights, on and off the field!