Head of Community Growth & Participation

Hockey NSW; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

CEO collaboration

Great place to work

Office with a view

Connected membership

Real impact

Job summary

Hockey NSW is seeking an experienced Executive Manager to lead community and participation initiatives across metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW. This senior role reports to the CEO and ensures a welcoming, safe and well-run environment for players, coaches, umpires and volunteers.

You will shape participation strategy under the 2027-2029 plan, support associations to stay vibrant and sustainable, and lead programs that attract new people to hockey while advancing coach and umpire pathways at

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years' experience in sport development, participation, community engagement or a similar leadership role.
• A track record of growing and retaining participation or membership.
• Experience working with volunteer-led organisations.
• A strategic thinker who can turn a plan into real action on the ground.
• Confident managing budgets and grant funding, and leading high-performing teams.
• A current driver's licence and NSW Working With Children Check (or able to get one).
• Happy to work some evenings and weekends (with time in lieu). Community hockey happens when people are free, so you'll be at games, forums and events from time to time. You'll also travel to regional NSW.

Responsibilities

• Lead entry-level, junior, school and new-format programs that bring new people into hockey.
• Lead coach and umpire participation and development at grassroots level, working with our Pathways & Performance team as people progress.
• Drive inclusion programs for women and girls, First Nations communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people with disability.
• Build strong relationships with government, councils, schools and community partners.
• Help shape and deliver our participation strategy under the new 2027-2029 Strategic Plan, with growth and retention as headline outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy development

Budget management

Governance & compliance

Partnership development

Volunteer engagement

Job description

Hockey NSW is seeking an experienced Executive Manager to lead community and participation initiatives across metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW. This senior role reports to the CEO and ensures a welcoming, safe and well-run environment for players, coaches, umpires and volunteers.

You will shape participation strategy under the 2027-2029 plan, support associations to stay vibrant and sustainable, and lead programs that attract new people to hockey while advancing coach and umpire pathways at