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.
At St Kilda, we understand who we represent, and the privileged position we hold as custodians of a football club built on more than 150 years of history. We’re committed to growth, improvement, and innovation, and we’re excited to bring new talent into the inner sanctum to help us reach these ambitious goals.
We are seeking a highly organised, values driven and innovative Game Day Manager to join our Brand, Marketing & Communications Team.
About the role
The Game Day Manager is responsible for the flawless planning, coordination and execution of all match day operations across St Kilda Football Club AFL and AFLW home matches, pre-season matches and open training sessions.
This role owns the operational delivery of the in-stadium experience — from run-of-show and on-field presentations to fan activations and major club events. You’ll be the central point of leadership on game day, coordinating multiple stakeholders, managing vendors, overseeing budgets, and adapting in real time to ensure an exceptional experience for fans, players and partners.
Beyond delivery, this role plays a key part in evolving our match day experience — driving innovation, inclusivity and best practice across the AFL landscape.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of all AFL and AFLW home matches, including marquee games such as Opening Round and Spud’s Game
- Own match day operations including run-of-show management, on-field presentations, in-stadium entertainment and fan activations
- Act as the primary point of contact on game day, providing calm, decisive leadership and real-time problem solving
- Manage all external vendors and suppliers (F&B, AV, entertainment, security, volunteers and event staff) to ensure high-quality delivery
- Oversee creative and operational delivery of LED, big screen and stadium signage assets in collaboration with AFL Media and broadcast partners
- Lead cross-functional collaboration across Marketing, Consumer, Partnerships, Football Operations to deliver a seamless whole-of-club experience
- Manage match day and event budgets, ensuring strong cost control, financial reporting and compliance
- Partner with the Partnerships team to deliver sponsor activations while identifying opportunities to drive revenue or offset costs
- Champion safety, compliance, inclusivity and sustainability across all events
- Stay at the forefront of industry trends, continually improving the fan experience through innovation and benchmarking
About you
You are an experienced event or operations leader who thrives in high-pressure, live environments. You bring a strong balance of operational rigour, stakeholder confidence and creative thinking — and you genuinely care about delivering experiences that make people proud to be Saints.
You’ll likely bring:
- Proven experience delivering large-scale events, live sport or complex operations
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across diverse groups
- Confident leadership presence and sound judgement under pressure
- Strong operational and financial management skills, with demonstrated experience delivering budgets and commercial outcomes
- A passion for fan experience, innovation and inclusive, community-led outcomes
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset aligned to Saints values
What you need
- Tertiary qualification in Events, Marketing, Communications, or related fields.
- 5+ years in event or game day management, ideally within the sports industry.
- Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams without direct reports, serving as the operational leader and decision-maker on event days across multiple venues and stakeholder groups.
- Experience coordinating with large external stakeholders, such as AFL clubs, stadium operations, vendors, security, and sponsors, ensuring seamless delivery of complex events.
- Demonstrated commercial and financial acumen, with proven track record of managing event budgets, controlling, costs, and delivering financial reports.
- Experience as the on-site event lead/manager for large-scale events, responsible for run-of-show execution and real-time issue resolutions
- Valid Working with Children Check or willingness to obtain one
What we offer
- Fantastic culture of grounded people, passionate about what they do
- Hybrid working, with 3 Connect Days at RSEA Park per week and the balance worked as needed by role
- On site LINTON STREET café
- Free access to gym & Aquatics Facilities at our Danny Frawley Centre for Health & Wellbeing
- Access to x2 General Admission tickets to every Saints home game @ Marvel
- Free parking onsite
- Bring your Pet to Work Fridays!
- Paid Wellbeing days – time off to relax & recharge
- 12 weeks paid Parental Leave for primary carers (2 weeks for secondary carers)
- Discounted Saints memberships and merchandise
- Up to 40% discount on selected NEW BALANCE products
- Saints-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 Events Manager 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 January 2026. 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 LGBTIQ 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.
