Premier Competitions and Events Coordinator

Northern NSW Football; Newcastle-Maitland; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible working environments

Professional development and training

Staff social activities

Company vehicles for work travel

Regular performance reviews

Access to major football events

Job summary

Northern NSW Football is seeking a Premier Competitions and Events Coordinator to lead the annual tournament and event portfolio, translating strategy into plans and managing delivery across major competitions and community events.

You will oversee workforce planning, budgets, risk and safety, stakeholder communications and continuous improvement, ensuring high-quality football experiences for players, clubs, officials and spectators.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead a complex portfolio of football leagues, tournaments and events.
• Strong people leadership across employees, casual staff, contractors and volunteers.
• Excellent project and operational management to turn strategy into plans and deliver multiple priorities.
• Strong financial and procurement capability including budgeting, forecasting and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategy into a clear annual portfolio plan with calendar, budgets and service standards.
• Lead planning and delivery of national and regional football tournaments and events.
• Manage workforce planning, recruitment, rostering and performance for event teams.
• Oversee budgets, procurement, supplier contracts and financial reconciliations.
• Coordinate internal teams (venues, media, partnerships, finance, safety) to deliver integrated event plans.
• Drive post-event reviews, reporting and continuous improvement actions.

Skills

Portfolio leadership

People leadership

Project management

Budget & forecasting

Risk management

Communication skills

Quality & participant experience

Football knowledge

Education

Relevant qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Premier Competitions and Events Coordinator

Reporting to the Head of Premier Competitions, the Premier Competitions and Events Coordinator is accountable for the planning, delivery and continued development of the full Northern NSW Football tournament and event portfolio. The role leads each tournament and event from annual planning and concept development through workforce management, budget control, risk management, communications, on site delivery, quality assurance, evaluation and improvement. The position ensures players, clubs, Member Zones, officials, partners and spectators experience safe, professional and consistently high quality football events.

What will you be doing as Premier Competitions and Events Coordinator:

Portfolio Leadership and Annual Planning:

• Translate NNSWF strategy and the Premier Competitions operating plan into an annual tournament and event portfolio plan, integrated calendar, budget, service standards and improvement program.
• Take full ownership of all NNSWF tournaments and events from concept and approval through detailed planning, delivery, evaluation and close out.
• Set clear objectives, formats, participation targets, attendance targets, experience measures, readiness milestones and accountabilities for each tournament and event.
• Maintain a portfolio wide critical path, decision calendar and reporting cycle so priorities, dependencies and risks are visible and managed early.
• Provide advice and recommendations to the Head of Premier Competitions and other leaders on portfolio performance, future formats, growth opportunities, investment priorities and material risks.

Tournament and Event Delivery:

• Lead the planning and delivery of the NPL Grand Finals, Champion of Champions, Community State Championships, State Cups, Charity Shields, All Star Challenges, Australia Cup and other approved NNSWF tournaments and events.
• Approve and maintain event plans covering objectives, formats, entries, draws, schedules, venues, match operations, workforce, equipment, accreditation, presentations, awards, signage, ticketing, suppliers and contingency arrangements.
• Oversee registrations, participant information, team services, match documentation, run sheets and event control arrangements so delivery is accurate and professional.
• Lead event set up, live operations, incident response and pack down, ensuring responsibilities, decision rights and escalation points are understood.
• Coordinate Technical, Referees, Venues, Media and Communications, Broadcast, Commercial, Finance, Disciplinary and Integrity and other internal teams to deliver one integrated event plan.

People Leadership and Workforce Management:

• Develop and manage the workforce model for the annual tournament and event portfolio, including employee capacity, casual staffing, contractors, volunteers and specialist support.
• Lead, coach and manage the casual workforce and assigned personnel through clear work plans, priorities, decision rights and performance expectations.
• Oversee recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, rostering, briefing, supervision, debriefing, performance management and wellbeing for tournament and event personnel.
• Confirm workforce requirements and coverage well in advance, including appropriate back up arrangements for peak periods, leave, travel and concurrent events.
• Build a capable and accountable event workforce that understands NNSWF standards, provides excellent service and can take ownership of delegated delivery responsibilities.

Budget, Procurement and Commercial Integration:

• Prepare, manage and report against approved tournament and event budgets, revenue assumptions, forecasts, expenditure and resource allocations.
• Control purchasing and supplier commitments within delegations, including scopes, quotations, value assessment, orders, contracts, invoices and performance reviews.
• Identify forecast variations early, take corrective action within authority and elevate material financial risks with clear options and recommendations.
• Work with Commercial, Partnerships, Marketing and Communications to integrate partner rights, event presentation, ticketing, hospitality, promotion and other approved revenue opportunities.
• Complete financial reconciliations and supplier close out promptly and use the results to improve future budgets, procurement decisions and event value.

Risk Management, Safety and Quality Control:

• Own tournament and event risk management, including current risk assessments, emergency and incident plans, medical coverage, safeguarding, weather, venue and operational contingencies.
• Ensure delivery complies with NNSWF and Football Australia requirements, approved policies, work health and safety obligations, venue conditions, insurance requirements and organisational delegations.
• Set and monitor event quality standards covering football operations, participant services, spectator experience, presentation, facilities, workforce conduct and communications.
• Use readiness reviews, venue inspections, checklists, rehearsals and quality control checks to confirm each event is ready to proceed and meets the approved standard.
• Manage incidents calmly and promptly, preserve complete records and immediately elevate safety, safeguarding, integrity, legal or serious reputational matters through the relevant NNSWF pathway.

Stakeholder Relationships, Communications and Experience:

• Act as the senior operational relationship owner for clubs, Member Zones, Football Australia, venues, councils, suppliers, partners and community stakeholders involved in the portfolio.
• Lead clear and coordinated internal and external communication before, during and after each tournament and event, with approved messages, channels, responsibilities and timelines.
• Ensure clubs, teams, participants, officials, workforce, partners and spectators receive accurate information and professional, responsive service.
• Work across NNSWF to create welcoming, inclusive, accessible and engaging experiences that reflect the organisation's standards and the needs of different participant groups.
• Lead event briefings, stakeholder meetings and issue resolution processes and ensure commitments, feedback and actions are recorded and closed.

Growth, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement:

• Develop and deliver initiatives that grow tournament participation by Member Zones and clubs, including targeted engagement, clearer value propositions and improved formats.
• Develop attendance strategies with relevant internal teams and monitor performance against approved participant and spectator targets.
• Design and implement participant and spectator survey processes and use the results to track satisfaction, identify priorities and improve event experiences.
• Maintain a reliable portfolio performance dashboard covering participation, attendance, satisfaction, delivery, safety, workforce, budget and stakeholder outcomes.
• Complete structured post event reviews, report outcomes and lessons, assign improvement actions and confirm that agreed changes are implemented.
• Benchmark NNSWF tournaments and events, test approved innovations and use systems, technology, data and appropriate use of AI to improve quality, efficiency, reach and value while protecting privacy and organisational controls.

How Success will be Measured:

• Event calendar is well planned and communicated to all relevant stakeholders well in advance to allow for consultation and appropriate planning.
• All tournaments and events are delivered safely, on schedule, within approved budgets and to the agreed football, presentation and service standards.
• Tournament participation by Member Zones and clubs grows against the annual targets agreed with the Head of Premier Competitions.
• Participant and spectator satisfaction meets or exceeds approved targets, measured through consistent post event surveys and feedback processes.
• Participant and spectator attendance meets the approved target for each relevant tournament and event.
• Event plans, budgets, risk controls, communications, venues, suppliers and workforce arrangements are complete by agreed readiness dates.
• The event workforce is appropriately recruited, trained, rostered, briefed, supported and held accountable for delivery standards.
• Budgets, procurement, invoices, financial reconciliations and forecast reporting are accurate and completed within agreed timeframes, with material variances escalated early.
• Risks and incidents are managed promptly and transparently, with no material safety, safeguarding, compliance or control failure.
• Clubs, Member Zones, participants, officials, partners and internal teams receive clear, timely and coordinated communication and professional service.
• Post event reviews, performance reporting and improvement actions are completed promptly and produce measurable gains in participation, attendance, satisfaction, quality or efficiency.

About You:

• Demonstrated success leading a complex portfolio of football leagues, tournaments, major sporting events.
• Strong people leadership and workforce management capability, including experience leading employees, casual staff, contractors and volunteers.
• Excellent project and operational management skills, with the ability to turn strategy into detailed plans and deliver several concurrent priorities.
• Strong financial and commercial capability, including budget management, forecasting, procurement, supplier management and financial reconciliation.
• Sound experience in event risk management, work health and safety, incident response, safeguarding and operational contingency planning.
• Excellent communication, consultation, negotiation and relationship management skills across clubs, Member Zones, partners, venues and community stakeholders.
• A strong focus on quality and participant experience, with confidence using surveys, data and performance reporting to evaluate and improve outcomes.
• Sound judgement, calm leadership during live events and the confidence to make decisions, manage competing interests and elevate material risks appropriately.
• A practical understanding of Australian football structures, tournament formats, match operations and the volunteer club environment.
• Confidence using event, competition and digital systems and exploring appropriate technology and AI applications. A relevant qualification is desirable, or equivalent experience.

The Fine Print:

• Be engaged in work outside traditional business hours and during weekends as required.
• Travel throughout Northern NSW and occasionally interstate.
• Maintain a current paid Working With Children Check, National Police Check and driver licence.

Benefits of Working at Northern NSW Football:

• Access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program.
• Flexible working environments.
• Regular staff professional development and training.
• Regular staff social activities to help connect with your teammates.
• Access to company vehicles for work related travel.
• Regular performance reviews to help you achieve success.
• Opportunities to watch and be involved in some of our region's biggest football events.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

At Northern NSW Football, we respect and celebrate the power of diversity. We strive to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of our football family and harness the unique talents, perspectives and experiences of our staff and the communities in which we work and play.