Head of Events (Parental leave cover)

About the business

The Essendon Football Club – “The Bombers” – are a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs.  But we’re more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision. The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey.  We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it’s our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we ‘Don the Sash’, we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage.

About the role

As Head of Events you will oversee the planning and management of all aspects of the Club’s Events Program, including match day and major events, while providing leadership, coaching and development to the Events team. You will be responsible for the overarching strategic direction of the Events team, and ensuring it is aligned with the broader Commercial Operations strategic direction, including financial performance (budget) metrics.  

This is a 12-month parental leave cover, key responsibilities include:

• Develop and manage the Club’s annual events calendar, including event concepts, formats and delivery of each event
• End‑to‑end planning and execution of all Club events, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and a culture of continuous improvement
• Manage venue sourcing and bookings, including the operation of the Essendonians Conference Centre (internal and external bookings, catering, AV, room setup and pack down)
• Coordinate all event logistics including guest lists, invitations, RSVPs, dietary requirements, seating plans, run sheets and production schedules
• Liaise with and manage external suppliers and talent (venues, performers, speakers, MCs, AV, caterers, designers and printers) to ensure high‑quality delivery
• Oversee AV production, stage management, bump‑in and bump‑out, and on‑site issue resolution
• Develop and manage event budgets, including forecasting, invoicing, reconciliation and post‑event financial reporting
• Lead, mentor and manage the Events Coordinator, as well as event staff and volunteers
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and lead cross‑departmental working groups to deliver events for multiple areas of the Club
• Partner with the Commercial team to ensure sponsorship deliverables are planned, executed and met
• Manage event communications and content, including CRM invitations, briefing materials, social media coordination and photo/video briefs
• Conduct risk assessments and lead pre‑ and post‑event briefings and reviews, incorporating feedback into post‑event reporting and future improvements
• Deliver exceptional customer and stakeholder experience in line with Club standards and timelines

About your experience

• Proven experience working in an Events based role, including in a management capacity  
• Experience coordinating large outdoor events or festivals 
• Budget management with experience in delivering events in line with budget expectations
• People management
• Ability to plan and execute multiple events concurrently
• Highly developed presentation and interpersonal skills
• Strong commercial acumen with an ability to identify and execute commercialisation strategies
• Excellent time management skills
• Effective leadership and delegation skills
• Innovation and creativity with a proven track record of collaborating with multiple stakeholders
• Ability to negotiate with venues and outside contractors to meet event objectives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

The ideal candidate will have the flexibility to work across a broad range of hours, with schedules that may vary to align with the seasonal demands of the football environment. Occasional interstate travel may also be required.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of a police check, along with holding and maintaining a current Working with Children Check.

The Perks

• Our work doesn’t always fit the 9 to 5. We offer some flexibility with hours.
• More annual leave? Sure! EFC People* will be gifted additional leave per year taken to coincide with Footy Department mini breaks or at the discretion of the CEO.
• Parent friendly – We put family at the centre of our work. We know they are the centre of yours. We offer paid parental leave to both the primary and secondary carer of a biological or adopted child*.
• Access to our Wellbeing Partner – Converge which supports a Healthy Mind, Healthy Body and Healthy Workplace.
• Gym – Access to our on site gym
• Continuous professional development – to compete at our best we have to keep learning. It’s an expectation and a commitment we make to everyone at EFC. All EFC people will have access to the Essendon Leadership Academy which consists of formal learning, coaching and mentoring, to support you in achieving your career goals.
• But wait there’s more – You will have access to great benefits and discounts through our Commercial Partners. Along with two x Flexi Home & Away memberships* giving you access to our Home & Away games at Marvel Stadium and the MCG. Free onsite parking at our premium workspace, The Hangar, and more.

Please keep reading…

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they tick every box. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t currently meet all the criterial, please still consider applying.

At the Essendon Football Club, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our team. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work.

To Apply

Please submit your application as soon as possible as shortlisting will commence immediately. Please include in your cover letter why you are a great fit for this role, and why you want to work with Essendon Football Club. Cover letters should be no more than one page and outline what you can bring to this position.

With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all our people hold a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, including timely responses.

We politely ask not to be approached by recruitment agencies at this time.