Regional Manager Wimmera Mallee & Sunraysia

AFL; Mildura; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Development program

Health & wellbeing program

Staff memberships

Job summary

AFL is seeking a Regional Manager to lead Sunraysia, Wimmera Mallee game development and growth efforts across two key regions. Based at Horsham or Mildura, you will drive participation, support clubs and volunteers, and deliver sustainable football experiences across a large regional footprint.

You will translate insights into growth plans, partner with leagues and councils, manage budgets, and lead a high-performing team in a values-led AFL Victoria environment that prioritises inclusion,

Qualifications

• Experience leading community, sport, participation, growth or regional development outcomes.
• Strong understanding of community football, including clubs, leagues, participants, volunteers, coaches and pathways.
• Ability to turn local insight and data into practical growth plans.
• Autonomous working habits for a remote-based regional role.
• Proven ability to build partnerships across clubs, leagues, schools, councils and government.

Responsibilities

• Lead AFL Game Development strategies in the region with local growth plans.
• Identify growth opportunities from insights and data and translate into action.
• Strengthen participant journeys across Auskick, schools, junior, youth and senior football.
• Connect promotional activity, school programmes, club readiness and volunteering to growth pipelines.
• Partner with leagues, clubs and local stakeholders to improve retention and access.
• Support sustainability of leagues and clubs through governance and planning.
• Build trusted relationships with government, partners and communities.
• Maintain a visible regional presence through travel and proactive communication.
• Manage resources and budgets in line with AFL guidelines.

Skills

Community development

Partnerships

Budget management

Data-driven thinking

Leadership

Job description

Regional Manager Wimmera Mallee & Sunraysia

At the AFL, we work across the country and at every level of the game, from grassroots to elite, helping shape the future of Australia's game.

Our teams grow and strengthen the game, create moments that bring fans and communities closer to it, and build what comes next for our people, our industry and the generations that follow.

Whether we are supporting clubs and competitions, developing coaches and umpires, delivering major events, growing participation or helping bring Marvel Stadium to life, we are united by a shared purpose to progress the game so more people can love it and connect with it.

We are values-led, ambitious and team-first, and we back our people to make a real impact.

Join the team shaping the future of Australia's game. This is your chance to do work that has real impact, in an organisation that moves fast, aims high and plays a meaningful role in the lives of millions across the country through football. Every role at the AFL helps progress the game, so more people can love it, connect with it and see what is possible through it.

The opportunity

As Regional Manager - Sunraysia & Wimmera Mallee, you will help bring the AFL's vision of Footy in Every Home to life across two proud football regions. This role leads local game development outcomes across the region, with a focus on growing participation, strengthening clubs and leagues, supporting volunteers, coaches and umpires, and creating strong community football experiences.

Based across our offices either at Horsham or Mildura, you will work closely with clubs, leagues, schools, councils, government, industry partners and community organisations to build sustainable football outcomes across a large and diverse regional footprint.

What you'll own

• Leading AFL Game Development strategies in the region, with local growth plans across participation, engagement, retention and transition.
• Using local insights, participation data and stakeholder feedback to identify growth opportunities and turn them into practical, place-based action.
• Strengthening participant journeys across Auskick, schools, junior football, youth football, senior football, umpiring, coaching and volunteering.
• Connecting promotional activity, school and community programmes, club readiness, volunteer support and competition structures to build a strong local growth pipeline.
• Partnering with leagues, clubs and local stakeholders to improve participant retention, inclusive environments and access to football opportunities.
• Supporting the long-term sustainability of leagues and clubs through affiliation, governance, planning and operational support.
• Building trusted relationships with community football stakeholders, local and state government, industry partners and community organisations.
• Advocating for inclusive, fit-for-purpose football facilities in partnership with local councils and government.
• Maintaining a visible regional presence through purposeful travel, stakeholder engagement and proactive communication.
• Creating strong operating rhythms, reporting habits and priority-setting disciplines to keep regional activity focused, transparent and aligned to AFL priorities.
• Managing regional resources, budgets and priorities in line with AFL guidelines and community football outcomes.
• Contributing to a connected, high-performing and values-led AFL Victoria team.

What you'll bring

• Experience leading community, sport, participation, growth or regional development outcomes.
• Strong understanding of community football, including clubs, leagues, participants, volunteers, coaches, umpires and pathways.
• Ability to turn local insight, participation data and stakeholder feedback into practical growth plans.
• Strong autonomous working habits, with the planning discipline to deliver in a remote-based regional role.
• Confidence building partnerships across clubs, leagues, schools, councils, government, commercial partners and community organisations.
• Sound judgement, resilience and professionalism when managing competing priorities or complex stakeholder environments.
• Commercial and financial capability, including budget management, resource prioritisation and value-for-money decision making.
• Project leadership skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, track outcomes and communicate progress clearly.
• A participant, customer and community-focused approach to improving access, experience and retention.
• Knowledge of AFL Game Development products, participation formats and pathways.
• Ability to represent AFL standards and behaviours with care, integrity and consistency.
• Commitment to building inclusive, safe and welcoming football environments.

Why you'll love being on our team

At the AFL, you will be part of a values-led team that aims high, backs each other and brings energy, care and integrity to work that matters. This is a place where people play to win, play as one team and play with passion, while always staying grounded in fairness, inclusion and respect. We work hard, support each other and create the conditions for our people to grow, perform and thrive. What you can look forward to:

• Play The Day Your Way, our flexible approach to working life, built to support you on game day and every day
• My Development, with coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and formal development to help you keep building your game
• Play Well, our health and wellbeing programme designed to support a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy workplace
• My Benefits, giving you access to a range of partner offers and discounts through our AFL Corporate Partners
• AFL Silver Memberships for permanent team members, so you can enjoy the action at Marvel Stadium and the MCG with family and friends
• 6 months paid primary parental leave with no qualification period for permanent team members

Everyone has a place here

Our game brings people together, and we want our workplace to do the same. We are committed to building a culture of belonging and an environment where people feel respected, included and able to thrive, and where diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. Whether you're a footy fan or new to our game, we welcome everyone to apply. We know great candidates don't always tick every box - if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn't perfectly match the job description. The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/ Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

Applications close 16 October 2026