Director Sport Workforce Capability

Australian Sports Commission; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training allowances

L&D calendar access

Superannuation up to 15.4%

Clearinghouse for Sport access

Job summary

Australian Sports Commission in Melbourne leads the national workforce capability agenda to strengthen coaching, officiating, volunteering, leadership and professional practice across the sport system. This ongoing role shapes evidence-informed programs, policies and frameworks with significant autonomy, aligning with ASC priorities and ministerial expectations.

The Director reports to ASC executives and works with government, sport bodies and sector partners to deliver high-quality workforce

Qualifications

• Demonstrated strategic leadership capability, with experience designing, implementing and improving complex national policies, frameworks, programs or capability initiatives within complex operating environments.
• Proven ability to translate organisational strategy, government priorities and sector intelligence into practical initiatives that deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes.
• Strong knowledge and experience in workforce capability development, leadership development, professional practice or related capability systems, supported by experience leading large scale workforce or capability building initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence system-wide change and drive adoption of national strategies, frameworks or reform initiatives.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and provide authoritative advice to executives, boards, government agencies, sporting organisations and other senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, evaluation and decision-making capability, using evidence and performance frameworks to assess strategic outcomes, identify improvement opportunities and navigate complex strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive briefings, ministerial correspondence, board papers and strategic advice.
• Demonstrated people leadership capability, including workforce planning, capability development, performance management and creating high-performing teams.
• Strong financial, resource and risk-management capability, including accountability for budgets, procurement and public-sector governance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development, implementation and continuous improvement of national workforce capability policies, programs and frameworks across the Australian sport system.
• Provide trusted advice to ASC executives, government and sector leaders on national initiatives that develop people and leadership capability.
• Shape practical solutions that strengthen workforce capability, organisational effectiveness and participant experiences.
• Influence system-wide adoption of national strategies and governance reforms, ensuring alignment with Play Well, Win Well and ASC priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communication

Policy development

Change management

Financial management

Job description

Australian Sports Commission – Melbourne VIC

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

The Australian Sports Commission is currently in the Green and Gold decade. An exciting time filled with international sporting competitions on home soil 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 Workforce Capability Branch strengthens the people, systems and environments that enable sustainable participation and performance outcomes across Australian sport. The branch provides national leadership in workforce capability, participation system development, community sport planning and organisational improvement to support the ASC and Play Well strategic priorities. Working with sporting organisations, governments and sector partners, it develops practical strategies, frameworks and capability initiatives that strengthen the sport workforce including executives, senior managers, coaches, officials, volunteering and sport leaders across the system. Through trusted advice, sector collaboration, investment stewardship and organisational support, the branch drives continuous improvement, promotes leading practice and helps create accessible, high-quality sport experiences that deliver lasting benefits for participants, communities and the sport system.

About the role –

The Director Sport Workforce Capability leads the strategic development, implementation and continuous improvement of national workforce capability policies, programs and frameworks that strengthen coaching, officiating, volunteering, leadership and professional practice across the Australian sport system. Operating with significant autonomy and delegated authority, the role shapes practical, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen workforce capability, organisational effectiveness and participant experiences.

The Director serves as a trusted adviser to ASC executives, government and sector leaders, leading complex national initiatives that develop people and leadership capability, strengthen workforce systems and improve organisational maturity. Through strategic leadership, stakeholder influence and effective resource stewardship, the role supports safe, inclusive and high-quality sporting environments and contributes directly to the delivery of Play Well, Win Well and ASC strategic priorities.

About you –

You are a strategic and influential leader with demonstrated experience developing workforce, leadership and organisational capability at scale. You bring a strong understanding of what effective leadership and professional practice look like and can translate strategy, evidence and emerging priorities into practical programs, frameworks and initiatives that deliver sustainable outcomes. A confident communicator and trusted adviser, you build credibility with senior and diverse stakeholders, empower others and influence change across complex systems, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and impact.

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated strategic leadership capability, with experience designing, implementing and improving complex national policies, frameworks, programs or capability initiatives within complex operating environments.
• Proven ability to translate organisational strategy, government priorities and sector intelligence into practical initiatives that deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes.
• Strong knowledge and experience in workforce capability development, leadership development, professional practice or related capability systems, supported by experience leading large scale workforce or capability building initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence system-wide change and drive adoption of national strategies, frameworks or reform initiatives.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and provide authoritative advice to executives, boards, government agencies, sporting organisations and other senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, evaluation and decision-making capability, using evidence and performance frameworks to assess strategic outcomes, identify improvement opportunities and navigate complex strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive briefings, ministerial correspondence, board papers and strategic advice.
• Demonstrated people leadership capability, including workforce planning, capability development, performance management and creating high-performing teams.
• Strong financial, resource and risk-management capability, including accountability for budgets, procurement and public-sector governance requirements.

This position is offered as an ONGOING position

Why work with us?

The role can be undertaken from multiple locations, however we do have offices 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:

• Phone number: 0490287***