Sport and Recreation Development Officer

Merri-bek City Council; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 86,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fortnightly RDO

Training & career development

Salary sacrifice options

Flexible work options

Study assistance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Merri-bek City Council in Melbourne seeks a Sport and Recreation Development Officer to energise local clubs and communities. The role is full-time with hybrid work, focusing on advisory support and governance improvement to foster inclusive participation in sport.

You will collaborate with clubs, State Sporting Associations and Council teams to address barriers to participation and contribute to Active Merri-bek initiatives, promoting safe, welcoming environments for all residents.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification or substantial experience in sport/recreation management.
• Experience working with sporting clubs and community groups.
• Knowledge of governance, policies and long-term sustainability.
• Commitment to social justice and equitable access to sport and physical activity.
• Understanding of child safety and wellbeing requirements.
• Strong communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and time management.
• Current Victorian Driver’s Licence.
• Current Working with Children Check.

Responsibilities

• Support local sport and recreation clubs to strengthen governance and sustainability.
• Build relationships with clubs, associations and community groups.
• Contribute to recreation planning, policy development and key projects.
• Promote inclusive environments and equitable access to sport.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Governance support

Community recreation

Inclusion

Social justice

Child safety

Communication

Planning

Time management

Driver's Licence

Working with Children Check

Education

Tertiary qualification in sport/recreation

Job description

Sport and Recreation Development Officer

• Full-time Permanent role (based on 35hours per week)
• FortnightlyRDO
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

• Hybrid Working
• Full-time Permanent role (based on 35hours per week)
• FortnightlyRDO
• Salary: $86k - $97k + Super
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

Join Merri-bek City Council and help local sport and recreation clubs thrive. In this role, you’ll build strong relationships with sporting clubs, associations and community groups, providing specialist advice and practical support to strengthen club governance, improve sustainability and create welcoming, inclusive environments.

You’ll help turn community needs into opportunities for more people to participate in sport and physical activity. Working collaboratively with clubs, State Sporting Associations, government and Council teams, you’ll support initiatives that address barriers to participation and promote fair and equitable access, particularly for communities identified in Merri-bek’s Human Rights and Equity work.

You’ll also contribute to recreation planning, policy development and key projects, including work that supports Active Merri-bek and participation by people who are traditionally under-represented in sport. This is an opportunity to make a practical difference to the strength, inclusiveness and future of community sport.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• A relevant tertiary qualification, or significant demonstrated experience in sport or recreation management, community development or a related field.
• Strong experience working collaboratively with sporting clubs, community groups and a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience supporting clubs to strengthen governance, policies, practices and long-term sustainability.
• A sound understanding of community recreation, community development, inclusion and participation, and sport and recreation planning.
• A commitment to social justice and equitable access to sport and physical activity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ communities, migrant, refugee and faith communities, and women, girls and gender-diverse communities.
• An understanding of child safety and wellbeing requirements in the sport and recreation sector.
• Well-developed communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build relationships and work towards positive outcomes.
• Strong planning, evaluation, time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A current Victorian Driver’s Licence.
• A current Working with Children Check.

What the role can offer

• Fortnightly RDO
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contactSedat Sir on [phone] ***.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Wednesday,18 November 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Please note that when applying for this role, you may be required to attach your valid Driver's Licence, WWCC, and First Aid and CPR certificate. Please have this ready when completing your application.

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revisedStatement of Commitmentto Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about ourChild Safety Commitment Statementon our website.