VFL Manager

Careers at the St Kilda Football Club represent a unique opportunity to work in a dynamic culture, where we recognise every individual impacts team success. It’s a place where we lift, support, and challenge each other to be greater. And in that pursuit of greatness, we embrace the grit our journey requires.

The Club is at a pivotal moment in its history. With our AFL and AFLW programs building the Club into a new era, there is a palpable sense of excitement and possibility. This is an extraordinary time to join the team, as we implement a newly developed 5-year transformational strategy that will shape our future. As part of this transformation, we are building a legacy - and the timing of this opportunity is unprecedented.

This is your opportunity to make an impact that extends beyond the present, contributing to a legacy that will resonate through the generations.

Job Description

About the role 

We’re seeking a VFL Manager to lead the operational delivery of our VFL program, ensuring players, coaches and support staff are organised, informed and ready to perform.

Reporting to the Head of Football Operations, this is a 12-month maximum term, part-time role, with the possibility of continuing. Based at RSEA Park, Moorabbin, the role requires attendance at all VFL match days and travel for away games.

The role works 2.5 days per week, with the following seasonal pattern:

• Pre-season: Monday and Wednesday, plus a half-day worked flexibly.
• In-season: Game day and either Thursday or Friday, plus a half-day worked flexibly.

You’ll coordinate program schedules, registrations, match-day operations, travel, compliance and administration, while supporting clear communication and smooth player transitions.

Careers at the St Kilda Football Club offer a unique chance to work in a dynamic, high-performance environment where every individual impacts team success. We lift, support, and challenge each other to be greater, embracing the grit and resilience required on our journey.

With our VFL, AFL, and AFLW programs driving the Club into a new era, this is a truly exciting time to join us. Now in our second year having secured a VFL license, we have strengthened our competitive edge, creating a seamless pathway between VFL and AFL and unlocking new opportunities for player development and sustained success. It also creates career pathways and development opportunity for employees. This comes as we implement a newly developed 5-year Club transformational strategy that will shape our future.

Key responsibilities

As VFL Manager, you will:

• Coordinate the VFL program: Build and communicate pre-season and weekly schedules, organise practice matches, manage registrations and mandatory education requirements, and coordinate local-club player releases and injury reporting.
• Lead match-day delivery: Coordinate venues, facilities, access, security, staffing and game-day timelines. Manage team-sheet submissions, PlayHQ lodgement and competition requirements, and resolve operational issues as they arise.
• Coordinate people and communication: Roster volunteers and support staff, communicate weekly expectations, and work with People & Culture to ensure personnel are onboarded in line with Club requirements.
• Maintain systems and administration: Keep Teamworks, PlayHQ and operational records accurate and current, publish required game-day updates, and coordinate approved reimbursements.
• Manage compliance, tribunal and incident administration: Prepare tribunal documentation for review and sign-off, support players through the process, and coordinate insurance claims and incident follow-up.
• Own travel and logistics: Organise away travel and accommodation within approved budgets, communicate clear itineraries, and coordinate equipment and apparel requirements with the Property role.
• Support player transitions: Help players entering and exiting the program understand requirements and prepare for their next steps.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

You’re highly organised, reliable and comfortable taking ownership in a busy football environment. You bring:

• Experience within Australian Rules Football at Club, Talent League, VFL or AFL level.
• Strong planning and time-management skills, with the ability to coordinate competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail, particularly when managing registrations, compliance documentation and operational records.
• Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with players, coaches, volunteers, officials and senior stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and a calm, practical approach to resolving issues under match-day pressure.
• A collaborative approach, with the flexibility to adapt as program needs change.
• Strong process orientation and execution, with the ability to establish clear workflows and use technology and AI to work smarter and improve the quality of outputs.
• The ability to translate plans into clear timings, responsibilities and expectations, and follow through on delivery.

Desirable Experience

Experience in the following areas would be valuable:

• Football operations and program administration.
• Match-day planning and delivery.
• Team travel and accommodation coordination.
• Volunteer and support-staff rostering and coordination.
• Football administration systems such as Teamworks and Play HQ.
• Player registrations, competition compliance and tribunal administration.

What we offer

• On site LINTON STREET café
• Free access to Aquatics and Gym Facilities at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health & Wellbeing
• Free parking onsite & state-of-the-art player gym access
• Discounted St Kilda Football Club memberships and merchandise
• Up to 40% discount on selected NEW BALANCE products
• St Kilda Football Club-only Linen House product pricing
• Discounted movie tickets through Hoyts

Our Mantras

Excellence in everything we do.

+ In equal parts, support and challenge each other to be greater.

+ Lead the way in pursuing innovation and positive impact.

+ Lift from within to challenge what’s possible, and what we can do better

Team-based approach always.

+ Recognise every individual impacts team success.

+ Harness the power of collaboration and diverse voices.

+ Communicate to optimise effort and impact

Building an enduring legacy.

+ As trusted custodians, represent the Club, members and fans with pride and purpose.

+ Leave a stronger Club for tomorrow, than the one you inherited today.

+ Protect, and pass on, a place of belonging for future Saints.

If you connect with our mantras, who the Saints are and where we are headed, this is a brilliant opportunity for a talented professional to join us. 

Please keep reading...

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized folks tend to only apply when they check every box. So if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point above, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit. 

To apply

Applications should include a current CV with a cover letter that addresses why you are interested in working with St Kilda Football Club, why you would be an attribute to our culture and how your skills/experience would be attributes to the position.

Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 30 October. Short-listing of candidates will commence prior to the closure of this role, so please do not delay submitting your application.

The St Kilda Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and LGBTQI+ communities.

We are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and fostering a “child safe” culture. It is essential that anyone involved with the St Kilda Football Club understands their responsibility in relation to child safety and supports such an environment.