ABOUT US

Purpose: To lead, promote, unite, develop and regulate football

Vision: To unite and elevate Australian football to become a world-class, globally respected system that inspires our nation and develops excellence at every level

Mission: Working with our stakeholders every day – to build the capability, capacity and capital we need now and into the future – to transform every football dream into reality

To achieve the above, we live by our company values which are:

• Welcome: Open doors, open minds, open hearts – and respect
• Ready: Always ready, always ahead
• Connect: Together, united
• Excel: Our best, every day in every way
• Protect: Guarding the game, securing the future

WHAT WE OFFER

At Football Australia we want to look after our people and below are just some of the many benefits of joining our team:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Birthday Leave
• Study Leave
• Wellbeing & Lifestyle leave
• Paid Parental leave in addition to statutory government offering
• Volunteer leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Partner discounts
• Workplace Banking Program
• Social Activities such as 5-a-side futsal

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The National Competitions & Match Planning Manager is responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of Football Australia's national competitions, including the Australian Championship.

The role leads competition operations across the full competition lifecycle, working closely with internal teams, clubs, Member Federations, AFC, FIFA and other key stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.

A key focus of the role is the management and ongoing development of Football Australia's Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month strategic football calendar, supporting alignment across domestic and international football activities.

This role is ideally suited to someone with experience managing sporting competitions, leagues or tournaments within a sporting organisation, governing body or professional sporting environment.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the planning and delivery of the Australian Championship across all phases of the competition lifecycle.
• Manage competition operations, delivery plans, timelines, risks and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Drive collaboration across Football Australia teams, clubs, Member Federations and key external stakeholders to ensure successful competition outcomes.
• Lead the management and ongoing development of Football Australia's Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month strategic football calendar.
• Coordinate competition scheduling and calendar planning across domestic and international football activities.
• Support Football Australia's involvement in AFC club competitions, including operational planning and delivery requirements.
• Oversee match operations readiness and provide onsite competition support where required.
• Develop reporting, planning tools and operational frameworks that support effective decision-making and delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement across competition operations through process improvements, governance and best practice.
• Provide operational support and advice to senior leadership while contributing to a high-performing team culture.

ROLE OUTCOMES / DELIVERABLES

Success in this role will see:

• Successful delivery of the Australian Championship and other national competitions.
• An accurate and strategically aligned Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month planning framework.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across clubs, Member Federations, AFC, FIFA and internal teams.
• Effective competition scheduling, operational planning and delivery governance.
• High-quality reporting, insights and planning documentation that support decision-making.
• Efficient and consistent competition operations supported by scalable frameworks and processes.
• Seamless match operations and competition delivery aligned with Football Australia standards.
• A culture of continuous improvement across competition and match operations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience in competition operations, league operations, tournament management or sporting event delivery.
• Proven ability to manage complex operational programs and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience applying project management and operational planning frameworks.
• Experience managing schedules, fixtures, calendars or competition planning activities.
• Strong stakeholder management experience across clubs, associations, governing bodies or sporting organisations.
• Excellent planning, organisation and communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving capability and a proactive approach to delivery.
• Experience using systems and tools that support operational planning and project delivery.
• Knowledge of football structures and competition environments is desirable.

Applications close – 5pm Monday 20 July 2026 AEST Please submit your application with a resume and cover letter.