Venue & Government Partnerships Manager - VIC
Date: 15 Sept 2026
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Company: Australian Football League
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
As Venue & Government Partnerships Manager (Victoria), you will help shape the venues and facilities that support football’s continued growth across Victoria.
Based at the AFL House in Docklands, this full-time ongoing role coordinates national and local resources to deliver the goals of Towards 2030, the AFL’s National Infrastructure Strategy, and the Growing the Heartland Victorian Facilities Plan.
Working closely with AFL Victoria’s leadership team and the Venue Network Enhancements and Partnerships team, you will drive priority infrastructure outcomes, strengthen government partnerships and provide operational leadership to the Victorian venue development function.
What you’ll own
You will lead the planning, partnerships and investment activity needed to strengthen Victoria’s football venue network and support the game at every level.
You’ll add value through:
- Driving the local delivery of venue and facility priorities under Towards 2030 and Growing the Heartland
- Planning for new grounds and improved facilities in areas where they are most needed to support growing participation
- Leading the planning, funding, design and delivery of priority elite, talent and second-tier infrastructure projects
- Building and maintaining productive partnerships with the Victorian Government, local councils, venue operators and infrastructure organisations
- Overseeing the annual audit of Victorian football venues and using its findings to identify investment opportunities and prioritise improvements
- Developing approaches that maximise investment through government funding opportunities and election cycles
- Coordinating national and local resources to deliver strong venue outcomes across Victoria
- Providing operational leadership to the Victorian venue development function and supporting a collaborative, high-performing team environment
- Contributing to broader AFL and AFL Victoria priorities that progress the game and strengthen outcomes for communities
What you’ll bring
- Demonstrated experience delivering strategic infrastructure or facility development outcomes
- A strong understanding of community sport, facility planning and development
- Experience working with or within the sporting and government sectors
- The ability to build and leverage effective stakeholder partnerships across government, community sport and infrastructure environments
- Strong engagement, communication and negotiation capability
- Sound financial acumen and the judgement to identify and maximise investment opportunities
- Experience leading collaboratively and creating a team-focused, customer-focused environment
- Knowledge of Australian Rules Football and community football environments
- A relevant tertiary qualification
- A commitment to working with integrity, fairness and shared purpose to achieve outcomes that benefit the game and its communities
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?
Applications close 9 October 2026