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 a critical role within the Football Department, responsible for the end-to-end operational planning, coordination and delivery of Football Australia’s national competitions, including the Australian Championship.

The role ensures the successful execution of competitions across all phases of the lifecycle—leading cross-functional integration across internal departments and external stakeholders to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes aligned to Football Australia’s strategic objectives.

A key component of the role is the management and ongoing development of Football Australia’s Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month rolling strategic football calendar, enabling alignment across domestic and international football activities and supporting long-term planning across the football ecosystem.

The role also supports Football Australia’s involvement in AFC club competitions and drives continuous improvement in competition operations through structured planning, governance and best-practice delivery frameworks.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the operational planning, coordination and delivery of the Australian Championship across all phases of the competition lifecycle
• Drive cross-functional integration across Football Australia teams and external stakeholders to ensure aligned competition delivery
• Develop and manage operational plans, delivery schedules, risk registers, stakeholder plans and implementation documentation
• Apply structured project management approaches to manage timelines, dependencies, risks and operational readiness
• Build strong relationships with clubs, Member Federations, AFC, FIFA and key stakeholders across the football ecosystem
• Coordinate operational meetings, workshops and stakeholder engagement forums
• Produce reporting, insights and updates to support planning, performance tracking and decision-making
• Support Football Australia’s involvement in AFC club competitions including ACL tournaments and qualification pathways
• Manage match day operational readiness and support onsite delivery where required
• Lead and manage the Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month strategic football calendar
• Coordinate inputs from internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment across domestic and international scheduling
• Establish governance processes to maintain accurate, current and accessible calendar systems
• Develop tools, systems and reporting mechanisms to support planning, visibility and stakeholder engagement
• Drive continuous improvement across competition operations through systems, frameworks and best-practice processes
• Provide operational support to senior leadership and contribute to a high-performance team culture

ROLE OUTCOMES / DELIVERABLES

Success in this role will see:

• Successful delivery of the Australian Championship through effective planning, coordination and operational excellence
• An integrated, accurate and strategically aligned Domestic Match Calendar and 48-month planning framework
• Strong stakeholder collaboration across clubs, Member Federations, AFC, FIFA and internal teams
• Improved efficiency and consistency across competition operations through structured frameworks and processes
• High-quality operational documentation, reporting and insights supporting decision-making and performance tracking
• Seamless match operations and event delivery aligned with Football Australia standards
• Continuous improvement embedded across competition operations through innovation, feedback and best practice

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Strong experience in competition operations, project management and event delivery within sport or high-performance environments
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, large-scale operational programs and cross-functional initiatives
• Proven experience applying structured project management methodologies and operational planning frameworks
• Experience working within complex stakeholder environments including clubs, federations and governing bodies
• Strong understanding of domestic and international football structures and competition environments
• Excellent organisational, planning and coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong communication, reporting and stakeholder engagement capability
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Experience with systems, tools and platforms supporting project management and operational delivery

Applications close – 5pm Tuesday 14 July 2026 AEST Please submit your application with a resume and cover letter.