General Manager

Northern Pride RLFC; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Pride RLFC, based in Cairns, Queensland, seeks a General Manager to lead the organisation through its next growth phase. The role focuses on strategic and operational leadership, governance, reporting to the Board and delivering sustainable outcomes for the club and its community.

The General Manager will oversee staff, financial performance and commercial revenue, while strengthening partnerships with rugby league stakeholders and local government in Far North Queensland.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a senior management or General Manager role.
• Strong leadership, people management and organisational skills.
• Experience managing financial and operational performance.
• Excellent stakeholder, partnership and relationship management capabilities.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence.
• Oversee budgets, expenditure and cash flow with Board-approved plans.
• Drive sponsorships, partnerships, memberships and other revenue streams.
• Lead a high-performing team and ensure governance, risk and WHS compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder mgmt

Governance

Job description

Northern Pride RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in Cairns, Queensland. We are committed to excellence both on and off the field, fostering a strong community presence and delivering world-class sporting experiences. Our club represents the pride and passion of the Cairns region, and we are dedicated to developing players, engaging supporters, and building a sustainable future for rugby league in North Queensland.

The Opportunity

Northern Pride Rugby League is seeking an experienced and dynamic General Manager to lead the organisation through its next phase of growth and development.

Based in Cairns and proudly representing Far North Queensland, Northern Pride is a significant part of the region’s sporting and community landscape. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded and community-focused leader to take responsibility for the effective day-to-day management and performance of the organisation.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the General Manager will implement strategic and business plans, lead staff and operations, oversee financial and commercial performance, strengthen stakeholder relationships and ensure Northern Pride continues to operate professionally, sustainably and in accordance with its purpose, values and regulatory obligations.

The successful candidate will be a highly visible ambassador for Northern Pride, building strong relationships across rugby league, government, business, community and the broader Far North Queensland region.

About the Role

As General Manager, you will provide strategic leadership while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence. You will be responsible for:

Leading staff and operational teams and fostering a positive, accountable and high-performing culture.

Implementing Board-approved strategic and business plans.

Supporting the Board through timely, accurate and insightful reporting.

Maintaining strong governance, risk management, compliance and workplace health and safety practices.

Overseeing financial performance, budgets, expenditure and cash flow.

Driving opportunities for growth across sponsorships, partnerships, memberships and other commercial revenue streams.

Maintaining strong relationships with sponsors and commercial partners and ensuring commitments are delivered professionally.

Providing management oversight of football and competition operations, including men's and women's rugby league programs and pathways.

Building strong relationships with the Queensland Rugby League, National Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys and other key football stakeholders.

Supporting successful match-day, event and operational delivery.

Developing relationships with government, business, community and sporting organisations across Far North Queensland.

Representing Northern Pride professionally and positively within the community and media.

Supporting marketing, communications, membership, attendance and community engagement initiatives.

Promoting inclusion, cultural respect and positive community outcomes.

Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation, efficiency and organisational growth.

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader who combines strong commercial and operational capability with genuine relationship-building skills.

You will bring

Demonstrated experience in a senior management or General Manager role.

Strong leadership, people management and organisational skills.

Experience managing financial and operational performance.

Excellent stakeholder, partnership and relationship management capabilities.

Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.

A high level of integrity, professionalism and accountability.

The ability to manage competing priorities and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.

The confidence and capability to work closely with a Board and provide sound strategic and operational advice.

Experience in one or more of the following will be highly regarded:

Sport, rugby league or professional sporting organisations.

Not-for-profit or community organisations.

The Queensland and Far North Queensland sporting and community environment.

Business planning, governance and risk management.

Working with Boards and senior stakeholder groups.

Why Join Northern Pride?

This is more than a management position - it is an opportunity to play a leading role in the future of rugby league in Far North Queensland.

You will have the opportunity to:

Lead a recognised and respected regional sporting organisation.

Make a genuine contribution to the Far North Queensland community.

Work across sport, business, government and community sectors.

Influence the strategic direction and continued growth of Northern Pride.

Lead a committed team and work alongside key rugby league stakeholders.

Build strong commercial and community partnerships across the region.

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