Fan Experience Manager (H/F)

Rugby World Cup Australia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model (4 days in office)

Remote travel to Sydney office

Wellbeing programs

Diversity and inclusion focus

Job summary

Rugby World Cup Australia is seeking a Fan Experience Manager to lead and deliver fan-focused programs for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. You will coordinate Fan Festivals, fan journeys, and open training sessions across multiple host cities, partnering with government, venues, and sponsors to create memorable experiences for global fans.

The role requires strong stakeholder skills, practical project management, and a willingness to travel and work outside standard hours to meet tournament

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience delivering major sporting, entertainment, festival or large-scale events.
• Proven ability to plan and deliver Fan Festivals or large-scale events end-to-end.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication across government, host cities and partners.
• Strong project management across budgets, timelines and dispersed teams.
• High competency in risk management, safety and operational readiness.
• Proven leadership and commercial acumen in fan engagement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and delivery of Fan Festivals across host cities, on time and within scope.
• Act as primary liaison for host territories and city partners.
• Develop fan journey and last-mile strategies linking transport hubs, city centres and venues.
• Coordinate fan engagement initiatives including Open Training Sessions and ceremonies.
• Drive fan communications, wayfinding and spectator information resources.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion across all programs.
• Partner with commercial and operational teams to deliver sponsor activations and monitor feedback.

Skills

Fan experience management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Risk management

People leadership

Travel flexibility

Job description

Rugby World Cup Australia (RWCA) is proud to deliver one of the world’s most iconic sporting events — Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. More than a tournament, it’s a celebration of Rugby’s spirit, Australia’s culture, and the power of sport to unite and inspire communities around the world.

Rugby World Cup Australia is seeking a Fan Experience Manager to play a key role in the delivery of the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Reporting to the Head of Fan Experience, this opportunity can be based in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne or Adelaide and will be responsible for shaping how fans experience one of the world's biggest sporting events. Working within the Fan Experience team, you will lead the planning and delivery of Fan Festivals, fan engagement initiatives and host city experiences that connect supporters with the excitement of the tournament both inside and beyond the stadium. This is a rare opportunity to help create memorable, inclusive and engaging experiences for fans from around the globe while contributing to a once-in-a-generation event.

Partnering with host cities, host territories, government stakeholders, commercial partners, venues and internal functional areas, you will oversee complex projects from concept through to delivery. From leading Fan Festival planning and fan journey initiatives to coordinating wayfinding, activations and fan-facing events, you will ensure every touchpoint is carefully planned and executed to a world-class standard. The successful candidate will be a highly organised relationship-builder who thrives in fast-paced environments, can manage multiple stakeholders and projects simultaneously, and is passionate about creating exceptional experiences that leave a lasting impression on fans.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the planning and delivery of Fan Festivals across host cities, ensuring projects are executed on time, within scope and aligned to tournament objectives.
• Act as the primary liaison for host territories and city partners, building strong relationships and driving collaboration across multiple stakeholders.
• Develop and implement fan journey and last-mile strategies that create seamless experiences between transport hubs, city centres, fan zones and tournament venues.
• Coordinate the delivery of fan engagement initiatives, including Open Training Sessions, welcome ceremonies and other experiences that enhance fan participation and tournament atmosphere.
• Drive the development of fan communications, wayfinding solutions and spectator information resources to ensure fans can easily access key event and venue information.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion across all fan-facing programs, ensuring welcoming, safe and engaging experiences for diverse audiences throughout the tournament.
• Partner with commercial and operational teams to deliver sponsor activations, meet contractual obligations, monitor fan feedback and identify opportunities to enhance fan satisfaction and commercial outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience delivering major sporting, entertainment, festival or large-scale events, with proven success managing complex operational and multi-stakeholder programs.
• Demonstrated expertise delivering Fan Festivals or large-scale public events end-to-end, from strategic planning through to on-the-ground execution.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence, build consensus and manage relationships across government, host cities, partners, suppliers and internal teams.
• Strong project management capability, including managing multiple budgets, timelines, priorities and deliverables across a geographically dispersed event environment.
• High competency in risk management, safety and operational readiness, including conducting assessments, embedding compliance requirements and ensuring successful event delivery.
• Proven people leadership and commercial acumen, with the ability to lead high-performing teams, navigate high-pressure environments and identify opportunities to enhance revenue through partnerships, activations and fan engagement initiatives.
• Flexibility to travel as required, and willingness to work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, to support activities and tournament delivery.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Fixed-term contract offering unique exposure to the delivery of a world-class sporting event.
• Flexible ways of working: Enjoy a hybrid work model with four days per week in the office (Monday to Thursday), transitioning to full-time in the office as tournament delivery approaches.
• Remote working opportunity with travel to our modern Sydney office, just a 5-minute walk from Town Hall, surrounded by public transport, great cafes, restaurants, and shops.
• Wellbeing first: Virtual lunch & learns and a focus on keeping our team feeling their best on and off the field.
• Be part of something extraordinary: Play a key role in delivering the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, one of the world's largest sporting events, and help create a lasting legacy for rugby in Australia.
• Australia’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the game, celebrate our people and culture, and deliver lasting social and economic impact.
• At the heart of our mission is diversity, inclusion, and legacy ensuring Rugby’s growth benefits all and inspires a new generation of players, fans, and communities. Join us in shaping an unforgettable celebration of Rugby, culture, and community.

All applicants need to be able to obtain their own unlimited working rights in Australia.

This opportunity does not include a relocation package, so applicants should be prepared to be based in the role location at their own expense.

Rugby World Cup Australia is committed to building a diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

We are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background and are happy to provide reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.

We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, which reflects the global sport we want to be and where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong.