The Australian Sports Commission is embarking on the Green and Gold decade. An exciting time filled with international sporting competitions on home soil, including the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup, and culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have an ambitious new Strategic Vision and we need the best players on our team to help us deliver real results for the sporting sector and all Australians.

Are you up for the challenge?

About the team - The Sport Programs team are responsible for leading community participation engagement, investment, research and strategy. This includes overseeing participation investment programs, engagement with system partners, including State and Territory Government network and Community Sport Associations, whilst leading key Play Well initiatives including National Volunteering Plan , Physical Literacy and the Play Well Research Approach.

About the role - The Senior Program Manager is responsible for driving positive national sport outcomes to ensure everyone has a place in sport. This role leads key projects identified through the ASC strategy and the national participation strategy, Play Well. This includes the Play Well Research Approach and other national initiatives, such as the National Sport Volunteering Plan.

The role will provide operational leadership for the Play Well Research Approach, including oversight of the Play Well Research Unit; a national collaboration between the ASC and multiple universities focused on generating high-quality research and evaluation aligned to Play Well. A key priority is bridging the traditional gap between research and practice, with a strong emphasis on accelerating the translation and real-world adoption of research outputs.

In consultation with the Director, is role is responsible for strategically leading system partners in a coordinated national approach to community sport participation research, while fostering strong, effective collaborations with the ASC.

As a key member of the Sport Programs team, the Senior Program Manager plays an integral role in enabling the delivery of the ASC’s strategic vision and corporate plan. As a Senior Program Manager you will:

• Manage complex, multi-level stakeholder relationships across the sport system and adjacent sectors, aligning expectations and driving collective outcomes at both state and national levels.
• Drive a nationally coordinated research engagement approach aligned to Play Well, ensuring strong connection between research generation, policy development, and on-the-ground practice.
• Lead the coordination and strategic delivery of the Play Well Research Unit, including supporting Research Fellows to co-design priorities, develop integrated workplans, and track performance against defined success measures and milestones.
• Lead strategic partnerships with government and system stakeholders to strengthen the measurement and articulation of sport’s impact, embedding consistent and evidence-based approaches.
• Provide strategic leadership to national sporting organisations and system partners in adopting a reimagined approach to research, with a strong focus on translation, uptake, and real-world application.
• Support the design and implementation of frameworks, policies, and guidance that strengthen capability in research, evaluation, and translation across the sector.
• Facilitate cross-system collaboration to align research investment and effort, ensuring resources are prioritised toward initiatives that deliver on national strategy while responding to local context.
• Apply advanced negotiation and influencing skills in complex environments to achieve aligned outcomes, underpinned by clear agreements and actionable delivery plans.
• Lead and coordinate complex, cross-functional ASC projects that enhance operational efficiency and maximise impact across the sport system.
• Act as a trusted and empathetic influencer to drive system-wide change, grounded in ASC values, and focused on delivering tangible value to the sector.
• Oversee high-quality reporting and insights on program and project outcomes, translating evidence into clear narratives for executives and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable strategic and business planning frameworks that support long-term research and system impact.
• Collaborate within a high-performing team to build and sustain effective internal and external partnerships that enable high-quality, evidence-informed outcomes.
• Provide clear, strategic advice and insights to senior management, informed by data and research.

About you - We are looking for a curious, collaborative and impact-driven research translation professional with strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to transform complex data, research and evaluation findings into meaningful insights that inform strategy, policy and practice.

This position is offered as an FIXED TERM position until 28th May 2027 with the possibility of being extended or made ongoing.

Why work with us?

We have offices located in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.  Across all locations, we offer:

• Options for flexible working arrangements.
• Annual allowances towards training based on individualised career goals.
• Access to a customised ASC L&D calendar for ongoing professional and career development.
• Generous superannuation scheme with up to 15.4% employer contributions.
• Corporate discount on AIS Shop merchandise.
• Access to Clearinghouse for Sport, an information sharing platform for Sporting professionals.

Additionally, our Canberra campus offers:

• Free onsite parking
• Onsite facilities including café, dining hall, gym, and swimming pool.
• Priority placement for your children to access the award winning, onsite AIS Caretaker’s Cottage Childcare Centre.

Acknowledgement of Country  

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where its offices are located, the Ngunnawal people and recognises any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the people of the Yugambeh Nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The ASC extends this acknowledgment to all the Traditional Custodians of the lands and First Nations peoples throughout Australia and would like to pay respects to all Elders past and present. The ASC recognises the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to society and sport in Australia and celebrates the power of sport to promote reconciliation and reduce inequality.