Talent Attraction Specialist

Join the team shaping the future of Australia’s game.

This is your chance to do work that has real impact, in an organisation that moves fast, aims high and plays a meaningful role in the lives of millions across the country through football. Every role at the AFL helps progress the game, so more people can love it, connect with it and see what is possible through it.

The opportunity

The AFL is looking for a highly connected Talent Attraction Specialist to join us to help find, engage and build relationships with exceptional talent before opportunities even arise. This role plays a critical part in strengthening our workforce by identifying and nurturing talented people who can help shape the future of the game, our clubs and our industry.

Working closely with hiring leaders and People Business Partners, you will proactively connect current and future opportunities with outstanding candidates from established talent pools while continually expanding the AFL’s reach into new and diverse talent markets. You will be a strong advocate for the AFL as an employer, bringing our story, purpose and people experience to life in a way that attracts high-performing talent.

This is a hands-on role for someone who loves being out in the market, building relationships, making introductions and creating opportunities. Success comes from curiosity, initiative and action — picking up the phone, meeting candidates, keeping great people warm and spotting talent long before they become active job seekers.

What you’ll own

You will help ensure the AFL has access to the strongest possible talent pipelines, enabling us to attract exceptional people across a broad range of functions and disciplines.

You’ll add value through:

• Building and maintaining strong talent pipelines, ensuring high-quality candidates are readily available for current and future hiring needs.
• Actively sourcing and engaging candidates through professional networks, referrals, industry connections, partnerships and talent platforms.
• Meeting with, connecting with and engaging prospective candidates regularly to build meaningful, long-term talent relationships.
• Identifying exceptional talent across a range of industries and introducing suitable candidates to leaders across the organisation.
• Acting as a strong advocate for the AFL as an employer, representing our purpose, culture and employee experience with pride and clarity.
• Expanding the AFL’s reach into networks and communities of talented women and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Developing and delivering proactive talent attraction strategies for priority, specialist and recurring roles across the AFL.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with professional associations, community organisations, education providers and industry groups.
• Partnering with hiring leaders and People Business Partners to understand role requirements, workforce plans and emerging capability needs.
• Presenting talent pool candidates for current opportunities and supporting informed and timely hiring decisions.
• Delivering employer brand initiatives and candidate engagement campaigns that enhance the AFL’s reputation as an employer of choice.
• Using market intelligence, candidate insights and recruitment data to strengthen attraction strategies, improve hiring outcomes and maintain accurate candidate records.

What you’ll bring

• Demonstrated experience in talent acquisition, executive search, recruitment or talent attraction environments.
• Proven success identifying, sourcing and engaging high-quality candidates, including passive talent.
• Strong capability to map talent markets, uncover opportunities and build trusted relationships with candidates over time.
• Experience developing, managing and leveraging talent pools to support current and future workforce requirements.
• Knowledge of inclusive attraction strategies and approaches that improve access to talented women and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to provide practical talent advice and challenge thinking constructively.
• Confidence building networks across a broad range of industries and maintaining relationships that create future talent opportunities.
• The judgement and communication skills to represent the AFL with professionalism, energy and care in every candidate interaction.
• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the drive to take action and consistently engage with candidates and talent communities.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail and professionalism when managing candidate pipelines, data and stakeholder expectations.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems, sourcing tools, talent platforms and emerging technology, including AI, to improve recruitment outcomes.
• A collaborative approach, sound integrity and a commitment to creating positive candidate and stakeholder experiences.

Why you’ll love being on our team

At the AFL, you will be part of a values-led team that aims high, backs each other and brings energy, care and integrity to work that matters. This is a place where people play to win, play as one team and play with passion, while always staying grounded in fairness, inclusion and respect. We work hard, support each other and create the conditions for our people to grow, perform and thrive.

What you can look forward to:

• Play The Day Your Way, our flexible approach to working life, built to support you on game day and every day
• My Development, with coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and formal development to help you keep building your game
• Play Well, our health and wellbeing programme designed to support a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy workplace
• My Benefits, giving you access to a range of partner offers and discounts through our AFL Corporate Partners
• AFL Silver Memberships for permanent team members, so you can enjoy the action at Marvel Stadium and the MCG with family and friends
• 6 months paid primary parental leave with no qualification period for permanent team members

Everyone has a place here

Our game brings people together, and we want our workplace to do the same.

We are committed to building a culture of belonging and an environment where people feel respected, included and able to thrive, and where diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

Whether you’re a footy fan or new to our game, we welcome everyone to apply. We know great candidates don’t always tick every box – if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match the job description.

The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

Ready to play your part?

If this opportunity is right for you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now, applications may be reviewed as they are received.