Director - Commercial Partnerships and Business Development

Australian Sports Commission; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training allowances

Professional development

Generous superannuation

Clearinghouse for Sport access

Onsite parking

Job summary

Australian Sports Commission in Canberra seeks a Director of Commercial Strategy and Business Development to lead the development of the ASC Commercial Strategy and own the pipeline of opportunities across the AIS campus and ASC. You will drive sponsorships, partnerships, tenant, event and revenue opportunities, balancing governance and public-sector considerations with ambitious commercial growth.

You will assess priority opportunities through complex negotiations, business cases and investment

Qualifications

• Experience developing organisation-wide commercial strategy and leading sponsorships, partnerships and business development.
• Proven revenue and commercial outcomes from complex precincts or major venues.
• Strong governance, procurement, probity and public-sector accountability exposure.
• Excellent strategic judgement and ability to translate priorities into commercial propositions.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of ASC Commercial Strategy and a pipeline of opportunities.
• Cultivate sponsorships, partnerships, tenants, events and revenue opportunities from the AIS Master Plan.
• Provide strategic commercial advice through business cases, investment proposals and governance forums.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to translate opportunities into well-governed campus outcomes.
• Grow commercial value, partnerships and activation across the AIS campus and Arena.

Skills

Commercial strategy

Sponsorship

Partnerships

Business development

Precinct activation

Major venue

Governance

Public sector

Job description

Director - Commercial Partnerships and Business Development

Australian Sports Commission – Canberra ACT

Applications close at 11:30pm AEST Wednesday 25 November 2026 (late applications will not be accepted).

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 Site Strategy team shapes the long-term future of the AIS campus. We bring together site planning, infrastructure investment, strategic asset management and commercial development to support a safe, high-performing and financially sustainable campus. Working across AIS Operations and with government, sport and industry partners, we turn the AIS Master Plan and organisational priorities into practical investment, partnership and growth opportunities. This is a collaborative team with a clear focus on strengthening the value, utilisation and activation of one of Australia’s most significant sporting precincts.

About the role

As Director Commercial Strategy and Business Development, you will lead the development of the ASC Commercial Strategy and own the pipeline of commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships for the AIS campus and the ASC more broadly. You will identify and cultivate sponsorship, partnership, tenant, event and revenue opportunities arising from the AIS Master Plan and broader organisational priorities, while providing strategic oversight of AIS Arena commercialisation and event attraction.

You will assess and progress priority opportunities through complex negotiations, business cases and investment proposals, providing clear commercial advice to senior leaders and governance forums. In close collaboration with the Director Site Strategy and Director Site Experience, you will establish viable commercial propositions that they will help translate into practical, well-governed and high-quality campus outcomes. Success will be measured by growth in commercial value and revenue, a strong pipeline of future opportunities, enduring and productive strategic partnerships, and increased commercial activation and utilisation of the AIS campus and Arena.

About you

You are a commercially astute and strategic leader with the drive, judgement, networks and experience to build a high-quality opportunity pipeline, form valuable partnerships and deliver sustainable commercial growth. You will bring:

• Extensive experience developing and implementing organisation-wide commercial strategy and leading sponsorship, partnerships, business development, precinct activation, major venue commercialisation or a related function, with demonstrated revenue and commercial outcomes.
• Demonstrated success delivering commercial outcomes from complex precincts, major venues, infrastructure investment, master plans or long-term place-based strategies.
• Significant experience leading commercial functions and multidisciplinary teams, setting direction, managing performance and delivering complex outcomes through others.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including business case development, investment analysis, commercial negotiation, partnership management and performance optimisation.
• A strong record of building and influencing strategic relationships across government, sport and commercial sectors, supported by established contacts and networks that can be appropriately leveraged to create sponsorship, partnership and revenue opportunities for the ASC.
• Excellent strategic judgement and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance commercial opportunity with operational, reputational, governance and public-sector considerations.
• A strong understanding of governance, procurement, probity, risk management, contract management and public-sector accountability.
• Highly developed communication and influencing skills, including the ability to prepare executive advice, business cases, commercial proposals and presentations.

This position is offered as an ONGOING position.

The preferred location for this position is Canberra; however, alternative locations may be considered for the right candidate.

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.
• 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.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact:

• Contact Officer: Sean Egan, Director Site Strategy
• Phone number: 0405 149 ***
• Email address: **********@ausport.gov.au

Eligibility

To be eligible for this position applicants are required to be Australian citizens only and must be able to obtain and maintain an AGSVA Security Clearance.

As part of the Commonwealth Child Safety Framework the ASC is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and leading the way in Child Safety across the sports sector. This position requires a Working with Vulnerable/Children People check to obtain employment.

Notes

• As part of this position, the role occupant may have access to sensitive, and potentially distressing information in the areas of sexual misconduct and child safeguarding.
• The ASC is committed to protecting children from harm. We require all applicants that will work with children to undergo screening processes prior to appointment.
• Should a merit pool be established for this position, it may be used to fill ongoing or fixed term opportunities as they arise within 18 months from the date advertised.
• The ASC operates under the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989 and is separate to the Public Service Act 1999. The ASC accepts most leave liability and recognition of prior service if you are currently employed at a Commonwealth agency.
• If you are experiencing issues or have any questions with the e-recruitment system, please contact the People & Culture Hub via email ******@ausport.gov.au or phone [phone]***.

Getting to know the Australian Sports Commission

At the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), we champion the value of sport. We encourage and help Australians of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to get involved in sport and enjoy the many benefits. We play a central leadership role across the broader sport sector through collaboration and direction. The ASC delivers a variety of grants through investment in high performance and national sport participation programs, performance pathways, people development and wellbeing, and research and innovation. We manage high performance operations at the AIS Campus in Canberra, supporting seven National Training Centres of Excellence, and a European Training Centre in Italy. Further, we individually support thousands of athletes and dozens of Australian sports through guidance and collaboration.