Player Development Manager

Comunidad Lift; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site LINTON STREET café

Gym access

Aquatics facilities at Danny Frawley•

Free parking onsite

Discounted club memberships

Job summary

St Kilda Football Club seeks a proactive Player Development Manager to lead holistic development and wellbeing programs across AFL and VFL teams. You will coordinate inductions, relocation support, and connections to psychologists and specialists while maintaining confidentiality.

You will design practical learning to build independence and life skills, develop Individual Development Plans, and collaborate with families and staff to foster an inclusive club culture.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in player development, athlete welfare, wellbeing, education or a comparable people-focused role.
• Experience within elite sport, high-performance environments or organisations supporting young adults.
• Strong understanding of wellbeing, safeguarding, confidentiality and when to refer to specialist support services.
• Ability to design, coordinate and deliver meaningful education, personal development and wellbeing programs.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with players, families and staff.
• Empathy, emotional intelligence and sound judgement for sensitive conversations.
• Strong organisation and follow-through, balancing needs with program priorities and maintaining records.
• Collaborative and adaptable approach with initiative to anticipate challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead player onboarding and integration: coordinate AFL inductions, relocation and settling-in arrangements and connect players with resources.
• Support player welfare and wellbeing: build trusted relationships and coordinate individualised support with confidentiality.
• Deliver personal development and education: design and coordinate learning to build independence and life skills; develop IDPs.
• Strengthen engagement, culture and connection: promote an inclusive, respectful environment aligned with club values.
• Build career pathways and support transitions: help players access education, employment and work placements.
• Lead partnerships and program improvement: maintain records and ensure opportunities meet AFL rules and club requirements.

Skills

Player development

Wellbeing / welfare

Education program design

Interpersonal skills

High-performance environment

Confidentiality

Accountability

Collaboration

Education

Sports management / psychology / counselling / education / social work / youth development (tertiary qualification)

Job description

Introduction:

We’re seeking a Player Development Manager to lead holistic player development and wellbeing programs across our AFL and VFL men’s football programs.

Reporting to the General Manager Football, this is a full-time role, based at RSEA Park, Moorabbin. You’ll help players build personal capability, resilience and independence, pursue education and career opportunities, and navigate the demands and transitions of elite football.

Careers at the St Kilda Football Club offer a unique chance to work in a dynamic, high-performance environment where every individual impacts team success. We lift, support, and challenge each other to be greater, embracing the grit and resilience required on our journey.

With our VFL, AFL and AFLW programs entering an exciting new chapter, there has never been a better time to join St Kilda. Our AFL program is driven by high standards, a possibility mindset and a relentless pursuit of improvement.

We’re building an environment capable of sustained success. We aspire not only to compete with the league’s best clubs, but to be recognised among them, and we’re committed to doing so through discipline, effort and excellence in everything we do.

Description:

As Player Development Manager, you will:

• Lead player onboarding and integration: Coordinate new AFL player inductions, relocation and settling-in arrangements, connecting players with the people, resources and support networks they need to establish themselves.
• Support player welfare and wellbeing: Build trusted relationships, identify emerging concerns and coordinate individualised support. Connect players with the Club’s psychologist, AFLPA and other specialists, maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Deliver personal development and education: Design and coordinate practical learning that builds independence, life skills and resilience. Develop and regularly review Individual Development Plans, supporting players and holding them accountable for their off-field development.
• Strengthen engagement, culture and connection: Work with players, families, support networks and football staff to promote an inclusive, respectful and connected environment aligned with Club values.
• Build career pathways and support transitions: Help players access education, employment, work placements and volunteering opportunities. Support them through changes in playing status, contract uncertainty and life after professional football.
• Lead partnerships and program improvement: Build relationships with education providers, employers, community organisations, the AFL and AFLPA. Maintain confidential records, monitor engagement and outcomes, and ensure opportunities meet relevant AFL rules and Club requirements.

Skills and Experiences:

About You

You’re an approachable, proactive professional who builds trust while helping players take ownership of their personal development. You bring:

• Demonstrated experience in player development, athlete welfare, wellbeing, education or a comparable people-focused role.
• Experience within elite sport, high-performance environments or organisations supporting young adults.
• A strong understanding of wellbeing, safeguarding, confidentiality and when to refer to specialist support services.
• The ability to design, coordinate and deliver meaningful education, personal development and wellbeing programs.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect with players, families, football staff and external partners.
• Empathy, emotional intelligence and sound judgement when navigating sensitive conversations and personal challenges.
• Strong organisation and follow-through, balancing individual player needs with program priorities and maintaining accurate records.
• The confidence to combine encouragement with accountability, keeping players engaged in their development beyond football.
• A collaborative, adaptable approach and the initiative to anticipate challenges and find practical solutions.

Desirable Experience

Experience and qualifications in the following areas would be valuable:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in sports management, psychology, counselling, education, social work, youth development or a related discipline.
• Experience within the AFL, VFL or another professional sporting organisation, with an understanding of the demands of elite football.
• Established networks across education providers, community organisations, employers and professional sporting bodies.
• Supporting athlete career transitions, vocational pathways, mentoring programs or post-sport career planning.
• Completion of the AFLPA x Torrens University 12-week Player Development Manager Program.

What We Offer

• On site LINTON STREET café
• Free access to state of the art gym
• Free access to Aquatics Facilities at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health & Wellbeing
• Free parking onsite & state-of-the-art player gym access
• Discounted St Kilda Football Club memberships and merchandise
• Up to 40% discount on selected NEW BALANCE products
• St Kilda Football Club-only Linen House product pricing
• Discounted movie tickets through Hoyts