Business Development Executive

AFL; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extra time off

Parental leave

Wellbeing program

Learning & development

Discounts & memberships

Free parking

Job summary

The Essendon Football Club is seeking a Business Development Executive in Melbourne to grow commercial revenue and elevate partner experiences. You will work with our Senior Manager, Business Development to identify opportunities, nurture relationships, and connect clients with match-day and corporate experiences.

You’ll build trusted partnerships, manage a robust sales pipeline across hospitality and sponsorships, and contribute to team revenue targets.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in sales, account management, hospitality, events or related field.
• Proactive, curious, resilient with attention to detail.
• Experience with CRM systems and managing client data.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with new and existing clients through outreach and meetings.
• Manage a healthy pipeline across hospitality, corporate suites, match-day dining, memberships, sponsorships and events.
• Deliver client-focused service and tailor solutions to partner needs.
• Support membership engagement, group activities, and major club events.
• Identify sponsorship opportunities with the Commercial Partnerships Team.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and contribute to revenue targets and KPIs.

Skills

Sales experience

Relationship building

CRM experience

Communication skills

Hospitality knowledge

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

We’re looking for a Business Development Executive to help grow our commercial revenue and elevate the experience we create for our partners and premium hospitality clients. In this role, you’ll join a supportive, collaborative team and work closely with our Senior Manager, Business Development to identify new opportunities, nurture meaningful relationships, and connect clients with our suite of match ‑ day and corporate experiences.

What You’ll Do

• Build trusted relationships with new and existing clients through thoughtful outreach, meetings, networking and research.
• Manage a healthy pipeline across hospitality, corporate suites, match ‑ day dining, EFC Network memberships, player sponsorships and Grand Final packages.
• Deliver responsive, client ‑ focused service and seek tailored solutions that meet diverse partner needs.
• Support premium membership engagement, coterie group activities, match ‑ day hosting and major Club events.
• Work collaboratively with the Commercial Partnerships Team to identify sponsorship opportunities.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and contribute to shared team goals, including revenue targets and KPIs.

About You

This role suits someone who enjoys connecting with people, thrives in a dynamic environment, and brings a positive, solutions ‑ focused mindset.

You’ll bring:

• Strong communication and relationship ‑ building skills backed by at least two years’ experience in sales, account management, hospitality, events or a related field.
• A proactive approach, with curiosity, resilience and great attention to detail.
• Experience with CRM systems and managing client or sales data.

If you’re excited about the role but not sure you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. Research shows women often only apply when they meet 100% of criteria—we’re interested in your potential and what you can bring to our team.

About Us

The Essendon Football Club – “The Bombers” – are a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs. But we’re more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision.

The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of the Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey. We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it’s our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we ‘Don the Sash’, we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage.

The Perks

• Extra Time Off? Absolutely! On top of standard leave, EFC People get up to 10 additional leave days each year, aligning with Footy Department mini-breaks or at the discretion of our Executive Team.
• Family Comes First. We know family is your priority, and it’s ours too. That’s why we offer generous paid parental leave for both primary and non-primary carers.
• Fitness & Wellbeing Perks. Take care of your mind and body with our Wellbeing program, run in partnership with Converge. Plus, enjoy access to our state‑of‑the‑art elite fitness facilities and heavily discounted access to Windy Hill Fitness Centre for you and your partner.
• Level Up Your Career. At EFC, we never stop learning! All team members have access to EFC Learning Programs, with face‑to‑face and online learning designed to support your professional growth.
• And That’s Not All! Enjoy exclusive discounts from our Commercial Partners, plus two Flexi Home & Away memberships giving you access to all Essendon home & away games at Marvel Stadium and the MCG. Add in free onsite parking at our state‑of‑the‑art HQ, The Hangar, and exclusive inner sanctum events and experiences!

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to contribute their best. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens us as One Club.

With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all our people hold a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, and we endeavour to provide timely responses.