ABOUT US 

North Melbourne Kangaroos is a modern AFL football club based in the beating heart of urban, inner-city North Melbourne. At the Kangaroos we are known for our fighting spirit – a bold and never beaten attitude that has won us six premierships and allowed us to achieve the extraordinary together. We are a diverse and inclusive club; a family where everyone belongs, united by our fighting spirit. 

We are proud to be the first sporting club in Australia to achieve B Corp certification – a recognition of our bold commitment to social responsibility, community impact and doing business for good.  
 

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The Merchandise & Apparel Manager is responsible for leading the club’s merchandise and apparel function. Ensuring strong commercial performance through effective product planning, stock management and operational delivery, while championing a consistently high‑quality supporter experience across in-store and online retail environments. 

Reporting to the Head of Digital Marketing & Analytics, this role will: 

• Own the planning and development of the club’s merchandise range, including core products, promotional items and limited-edition releases. 
• Drive new product, sales and promotional opportunities, working closely with the marketing and digital teams to bring campaigns to life. 
• Lead the club’s retail operations across the Roo Shop, online store and match day/event sales channels. 
• Partner with the digital, marketing and membership teams to deliver an exceptional supporter experience both in-store and online. 
• Act as the key lead for all club apparel requirements across football operations and administration teams. 
• Manage the relationship with the club’s apparel and merchandise suppliers, identifying innovative opportunities to enhance product performance and supporter appeal. 
• Oversee merchandise planning, ordering and inventory management to maximise sales performance and commercial outcomes. 
• Lead, coach and support retail staff to build a positive, high-performing and customer-focused team culture. 
   

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE 

We are looking for a passionate, commercially minded retail professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is excited about the opportunity to shape the supporter retail experience. 

The successful candidate will also have: 

• Demonstrated experience in retail, merchandise, e-commerce, or consumer-facing commercial environments. 
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to identify sales, product and revenue growth opportunities. 
• Experience managing or contributing to multi-channel retail operations, including online, in-store and event-based sales. 
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across internal teams, suppliers and external partners. 
• Experience in merchandise planning, inventory management and promotional execution. 
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and support frontline retail teams in high-volume environments. 
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and operational deadlines. 
• A customer-first mindset and commitment to delivering exceptional supporter experiences. 
• High attention to detail and strong operational discipline across retail processes and brand presentation. 
• Proficiency in POS systems, e-commerce platforms and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel. 

Our ideal candidate can work a wide array of hours with a varying time schedule to suit the seasonal priorities of the football industry. Some interstate travel is required. 

The successful candidate is required to undergo and pass a police check, and hold a current and valid Victorian Working with Children’s Check. 

PERKS & BENEFITS 

We strive to create an inclusive and diverse environment in which our people can thrive. We live our values of Real, Bold, Belonging and Never Beaten By being authentic in our actions, forming genuine connections and being relentless in our approach to growth and improvement. 

In addition to our strong culture, we also offer a number of perks and benefits, including: 

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave for primary carers and 2 weeks for secondary carers, plus a dedicated return to work support program 
• Recently renovated head office with lots of spaces to collaborate and work flexibly 
• Private spaces available for breastfeeding and prayer 
• Ability to substitute certain public holidays for an alternate day of paid leave 
• Additional leave options 
• Regular and fun staff events and celebrations through our reward & recognition program   
• A dedicated resource focused on staff mental health and wellbeing 
• A free and confidential coaching and well-being service for staff and their immediate family members 
• Dress for Your Day policy 
• Access to exclusive offers and discounts through club partners 

APPLICATIONS 

Please submit your CV together with a covering letter outlining your suitability for this role via this link.    

Applications close on Monday, June 1. 

Please note that due to the overwhelming number of applications received by the Club, we are unable to reply to every application on an individual basis.  Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 

The Kangaroos strive to be the AFL’s most inclusive, accessible, and united football club. Our value of ‘Belonging’ means we embrace people from all walks of life and respect each other’s opinions and capabilities. We are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity. 

It is well documented that the overall diversity we see in Australian society, whether it be gender expression, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, and/or ability, isn’t accurately reflected in many workforces. Diversity in all its forms is shown to improve an organisation’s ability to innovate, create, problem-solve, grow and so much more. So, even if you only meet 60% of the selection criteria; the many facets of your intersectional self might just make you perfect for the role. Please get in touch to have a chat to see if the role is right for you.