Steward

Harness Racing Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Program

Discounted health insurance

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) is seeking a senior stewarding professional to oversee racing integrity across Victoria. The role involves regular interaction with HRV staff and external industry stakeholders, ensuring compliance with Australian Harness Racing Rules and HRV policies.

Strong leadership and communication skills are essential. The successful candidate will lead or contribute to stewarding portfolios, uphold HRV values, and deliver timely reports and documentation for investigations

Qualifications

• Understanding of the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRRs) including race day procedures, handicapping guidelines, field selection, and licensing policies.
• Demonstrated race reading and race video analysis skills.
• Experience at conducting race meetings and related activities.
• Knowledge of the rules of evidence across jurisdictions and proven Appeals advocacy experience.
• Knowledge of equine drug use, analytical processes and veterinary procedures.

Responsibilities

• Raceday duties: supervise harness racing to ensure compliance with AHRR and HRV policies.
• Exercise stewarding powers to ensure fair, safe, and transparent outcomes.
• Officiate at race meetings and trials as Chair, Panel Member or Starter as required.
• Oversee integrity operations including swabbing, audits and testing procedures.
• Analyze race footage to identify breaches and make evidence-based determinations.
• Maintain professional relationships with licensed participants, clubs and stakeholders.
• Prepare stewarding reports, inquiry documentation, and appeal materials in line with procedures.
• Uphold HRV values of integrity, accountability, safety, service and continuous improvement.

Skills

Rules & regulations

Race reading

Video analysis

Race meetings experience

Appeals & advocacy

Job description

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) is a statutory body whose role is to oversee all harness racing activity in Victoria.

Our mission is to deliver the most sought-after and accessible harness racing that produces financial sustainability, ensures clubs arethe heart of their communities and provides equal opportunities for all participants to compete. (Further information about HRV can be found at The Trots – Home of the Trots in Victoria)

We also operate a racetrack, accommodation, and entertainment complex (hotel accommodation, functions, bars, and gaming) which is situated in Melton and trading as Melton Entertainment Park (MEP).

Our Values

Purpose: Act with clear intent, consistency, and alignment to core objectives.

Respect: Extend it unconditionally; earn it through integrity and accountability.

Innovate: Strive for meaningful progress through thoughtful, transformative change.

Deliver: Fulfill every commitment with reliability, precision, and excellence.

Empathy: Seek to understand others by thoughtfully considering their perspectives and experiences.

As a member of the HRV Panel of Stewards, this role assists in overseeing the conduct of racing by administering the Australian Harness Racing Rules and associated policies and procedures, to ensure the reputation and integrity of harness racing in Victoria. The role involves regular interaction with internal stakeholders, including staff within the Integrity Department, the Racing Department, and the General Counsel, as well as external stakeholders such as licensed participants and broader industry stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Raceday Duties

• Ensure Compliance and Integrity: Contribute to the conduct and supervision of harness racing to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR), and community expectations, thereby upholding the integrity and reputation of harness racing in Victoria.
• Exercise Stewarding Powers: Carry out duties and exercise powers conferred under the AHRR and HRV policies and procedures to ensure fair, safe, and transparent racing outcomes.
• Race Day and Panel Duties: Officiate at race meetings and trials, acting as Chair, Panel Member or Starter, as required, to adjudicate on race day matters and ensure consistent and just decision-making.
• Integrity Operations: Assist with the oversight of race day and trial swabbing, audits and other integrity-related testing activities, ensuring adherence to established protocols and reporting requirements.
• Race Analysis and Decision-Making: Apply sound race reading and analytical skills to assess race footage, identify potential breaches, and make evidence-based determinations on racing incidents or tactics.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain professional and respectful relationships with licensed participants, clubs, and other stakeholders, fostering open communication and cooperation.
• Commitment to Excellence: Contribute to a workplace culture that upholds HRV’s values of integrity, accountability, safety, service, and continuous improvement.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare accurate, detailed, and timely Steward’s reports, inquiry documentation, and appeal materials in accordance with procedural and legal requirements.
• Professional Conduct: Demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and fairness in all interactions, reflecting the principles of the AHRR, the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct, and HRV policies.
• Portfolio Responsibilities: Lead and/or contribute to the management of designated stewarding portfolios, such as Appeals, Starters, Clerk of the Course, Betting Analysis, or other assigned areas, by supporting the Senior Steward or Chairman of Stewards in ensuring effective administration and consistency within each portfolio.

Qualifications and Experience

• An understanding of the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRRs), including but not limited to, race day procedures, handicapping guidelines, field selection criteria, Bookmaker and Totalisator rules, policies and procedures relating to horse registration and licensing of participants.
• Demonstrated race reading and race video analysis skills.
• Experience at conducting race meetings and associated activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the rules of evidence, relating to various legal jurisdictions, including Criminal and Civil Law. Proven experience in the conduct of Appeals and competent advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of equine drug use, analytical processes and general veterinary procedures.??
• Understand internal processes relating to policy, licensing and registration.
• Understanding of bookmaker and totalisator rules, transaction processes and registration of bookmakers & bookmakers’ clerks.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Racing and Gaming Acts.
• Ability to mediate between conflicting parties and handle conflict situations with authority.
• Understand and be able to distinguish, advise and direct between alternative courses of action.
• Understanding of Appeals and the effective prosecution of matters.

Other Requirements

Given the unique nature of this position and the operational requirements of the racing industry, the position is expected to travel within between HRV Head Office located in Flemington, Melton Entertainment Park, country clubs and regional Victoria outside of normal working hours, including weekends, weeknight and public holidays.

The position holder must:

• Undergo a satisfactory police background, reference checks and probity checks in accordance with policy.
• Be prepared to travel by light or commercial aircraft to various regional and/or interstate locations.
• Possess and maintain a current, valid Australian state or territory motor vehicle driver’s licence (e.g., Victorian Licence).
• Possess and maintain a current, valid Victorian Working with Children Check.
• Be prepared to undertake the Certificate IV in Racing Administration should HRV require.
• Recognise that at times they may be required to work in and around horses and occasionally handle horses and access stewards' towers via ladders and steps.

What We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted health insurance
• Free on-site parking

Harness Racing Victoria are an Equal Opportunity and Child Safe employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to child safety and supporting the best interests of children in all our operations. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining people from a diverse background, including but not limited to, those identifying as LGBTIQ, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people with a disability.