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 VFL High Performance Manager is responsible for overseeing the physical preparation and performance of the VFL playing list. 

Reporting to the Athletic Performance Coach, this fixed-expiry part-time role will be responsible for: 

  • Lead the design and delivery of strength, conditioning, speed, agility and physical preparation programs to optimise the performance of the VFL playing group 
  • Oversee athlete monitoring and load management processes, including GPS tracking, performance analysis and reporting to support player readiness and injury prevention 
  • Collaborate with coaches, physiotherapists and medical staff to manage player development, rehabilitation, return-to-play programs and individual performance plans 
  • Play a key role in VFL training and match day operations, coordinating warm-ups, physical preparation, athlete support and in-game player management 
  • Implement and uphold high performance systems, standards and protocols aligned with the AFL program, ensuring consistency in player preparation, performance and development across the football department 

 

AVAILABILITY REQUIREMENTS 

Contact hours for this role will be approximately 15 hours per week.  

Pre-season will involve 2-3 training sessions per week (including evenings).   

In-season will include 2 training sessions per week (typically Tuesday and Thursday evenings) and 1 VFL game per weekend.   

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE 

We are looking for a team-oriented and driven individual who is passionate about developing athletes to achieve their full potential to join our high performance team.  

The successful candidate will also have: 

  • Bachelor's degree in medical, allied health and/or strength and conditioning field 
  • Minimum two years' experience working with semi-professional or professional athletes within Australian Rules Football or a comparable team-sport environment 
  • Strong knowledge and practical experience in strength and power program design and periodization  
  • Experience designing and implementing conditioning programs for team sport athletes 
  • Experience using sports science and performance technologies and systems, including Catapult GPS, OpenField, VALD, GymAware, or similar 
  • Ability to consider the welfare and holistic development of each player within the context of the broader football program 
  • Genuine willingness to learn and develop 
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and deliver in a fast paced environment 

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 
  • Recently renovated head office with lots of spaces to collaborate and work flexibly 
  • Private spaces available for breastfeeding and prayer 
  • Regular and fun staff events and celebrations through our reward & recognition program   
  • A dedicated resource focused on staff 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 and cover letter outlining your suitability for this role via this link. 

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 25 September. 

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.