Match Day & Fan Engagement Manager

• Create unforgettable match day moments that bring the Red & Black to life
• Lead the fan journey from first cheer to lifelong Bomber
• Experience professional growth and exclusive perks

About us

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 the 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

This is a rare opportunity to shape and own the Essendon match day experience across AFL and AFLW, delivering moments that fans feel, remember, and come back for. This role is central to ensuring match days run flawlessly, fans are deeply connected to the Club, and all operational, commercial and experience outcomes are delivered with precision. You will operate as the lead decision‑maker on game day, balancing strategy, execution and risk in a fast‑moving environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Match Day Experience & Operations

• Own and deliver the full fan experience across all AFL and AFLW match days
• Act as the lead contact and final decision‑maker on game day
• Plan and execute all internal, external and on‑ground activations, including Club and partner activity
• Develop atmosphere strategies for home and themed matches, incorporating AV, lighting, sound and in‑stadium production
• Manage key game day delivery partners including stadiums, signage, AV and operational vendors

Stakeholder, Talent & Internal Alignment

• Coordinate and manage all involved talent on game day, including players, coaches, MCs and special guests
• Lead cross‑club integration to ensure all departments are aligned, prepared and sequence their activity effectively
• Produce clear, comprehensive match day briefs and ensure timely communication across all stakeholders

Fan Growth, Engagement & Strategy

• Partner with the Marketing & Fan Engagement team to identify and engage both new and traditional fan segments
• Design and deliver fan development initiatives that grow attendance, engagement and transactional value
• Execute fan engagement activity across match days, training venues and priority local and interstate locations
• Ensure all fan initiatives are underpinned by measurable outcomes, including data capture, insight generation and relationship growth

Venue, Risk & Compliance

• Manage AFLW match day venue operations in line with AFL Venue Management Guidelines
• Oversee security, safety and emergency management processes across match days and Club activations
• Ensure compliance with AFL Integrity requirements, including incident response planning and reporting
• Lead risk management planning and mitigation for AFL and AFLW match days

Budget & Commercial Accountability

• Manage and allocate budgets for match day delivery and fan engagement campaigns
• Ensure financial discipline while delivering high‑quality, high‑impact experiences aligned to Club priorities

About you

You’re a natural experience creator who thrives in fast-paced, high-energy environments and knows how to turn moments into memories.

You’re a highly organised, detail-driven operator who knows how to run a tight ship in high-pressure environments. You thrive on responsibility and take pride in delivering flawless execution, even when plans change at the last minute.

You bring proven major events experience, ideally in sport, and are confident juggling multiple stakeholders, timelines and priorities. Budgets, risk management, venue requirements and compliance don’t faze you; in fact, structure and preparation are what allow you to move quickly and decisively when it counts.

A natural leader and communicator, you keep people aligned, informed and accountable, guiding talent, internal teams and external partners with clarity and confidence. You’re commercially minded, comfortable working to KPIs, and passionate about using fan insights and data to strengthen engagement and long-term relationships.

Above all, you care deeply about the fan experience and understand that behind every successful match day is meticulous planning, sharp execution and someone who is always one step ahead all while proudly embodying Essendon’s values of unity, passion, excellence and respect.

The Perks

Extra Time Off? Absolutely! On top of standard leave, EFC People get up to 10 additional leave days each year, aligning with Footy Department mini-breaks or at the discretion of our Executive Team.

Family Comes First.  We know family is your priority, and it’s ours too. That’s why we offer generous paid parental leave for both primary and non-primary carers.

Fitness & Wellbeing Perks. Take care of your mind and body with our Wellbeing program, run in partnership with Converge. Plus, enjoy access to our state-of-the-art elite fitness facilities and heavily discounted access to Windy Hill Fitness Centre for you and your partner.

Level Up Your Career. At EFC, we never stop learning! All team members have access to EFC Learning Programs, with face-to-face and online learning designed to support your professional growth.

And That’s Not All! Enjoy exclusive discounts from our Commercial Partners, plus two Flexi Home & Away memberships giving you access to all Essendon home & away games at Marvel Stadium and the MCG. Add in free onsite parking at our state-of-the-art HQ, The Hangar, and exclusive inner sanctum events and experiences!

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, outlining 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, and we endeavour to provide timely responses.

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