ABOUT US

Football Australia is situated on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the histories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to building a brighter future together. 

Football in Australia is a melting pot of approximately 2 million participants represented by over 200 different cultures, we are proud to be the most diverse and globally connected sport within the Australian sporting landscape.  

This diversity in culture, ideas, and experience makes us strong and prepares us to achieve our vision to ‘be a leading football nation where everyone is inspired to live and love the game’. To achieve this, we live by our company values which include: 

• Impact On & Off the Field: Challenge the way we think and do to seek ways to grow the impact football has, influence industry thought leaders.
• Inclusive & Diverse Football for all: Football is embedded in the nation's social fabric, follows the story of Australia, be accessible for all
• A United Team: Bringing people together to unleash the power of football and to deliver the vision, we bring the team spirit to the game
• Trust: Building trust across the whole football community, be trusted custodians of the game, act with integrity and objectivity

WHAT WE OFFER

At Football Australia we want to look after our people and below are just some of the many benefits of joining our team:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Birthday Leave
• Study Leave
• Wellbeing & Lifestyle leave
• Paid Parental leave in addition to statutory government offering
• Volunteer leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Partner discounts
• Workplace Banking Program
• Social Activities such as 5-a-side futsal

ABOUT THE ROLE

Football Australia is seeking a passionate and strategic leader to fill the role of National Female Engagement Lead for Community Referees. This position is integral to promoting gender diversity and supporting the growth of female referees across Australia. The successful candidate will design, implement, and manage programs that foster a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for female referees at all levels of the game.

Please note that this role is fixed term until 30th June 2027

Duties & Responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a strategy to increase the engagement of female referees, mentors, and leaders within community football.
• Establish measurable goals and performance metrics to monitor progress and promote gender equity in officiating.
• Oversee program budgets, ensuring all initiatives are planned and executed within allocated resources.

Psychologically Safe Environments for Referees:

• Conduct workshops across various locations and states to educate and support stakeholders in fostering inclusive and safe spaces for female referees.
• Implement recommendations from workshops and reviews to create welcoming, equitable, and inclusive environments.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to promote and sustain psychologically safe environments for referees.

Referee Ambassador Program & Engagement Initiatives:

• In collaboration with the community referee department design, implement, and oversee the Referee Ambassador Program, appointing ambassadors to serve as role models for female referees.
• Manage ambassador honorariums and coordinate marketing and public relations activities to enhance the visibility of female referees.
• Build and sustain a network of ambassadors to drive awareness and participation in female officiating.

Mentoring Program for Female Referees:

• Establish a structured mentoring program to support female referees in their development and progression.
• Lead group workshops and recommend (LMS) modules focused on skill development and professional growth for female referees.
• Foster an environment of guidance and mentorship to support female referees along the officiating pathway.

Female-Specific Referee Courses:

• Address financial barriers by providing resources that encourage participation and advancement in refereeing by providing resources and expertise.
• Organise interactive workshops with hands-on training to enhance skills and foster a sense of community among female referees at all levels, leveraging the expertise of elite female match officials.

Budget Management and Reporting:

• Monitor program expenditures to ensure all activities are executed within the allocated budget.
• Prepare and deliver progress reports every six months, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improvement to Football Australia and other stakeholders.

Track program performance and make adjustments to maintain alignment with strategic goals and budgetary constraints.

A full copy of the position description can be found here.

ABOUT YOU

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by women in male-dominated environments, with a proven ability to foster inclusivity and drive positive change.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to effectively manage, inspire, and empower diverse teams to achieve shared goals.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining strong relationships across stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a successful track record in designing, implementing, and managing impactful programs, e.g. securing and managing grants.
• Proven experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to deliver successful initiatives.
• Strong familiarity with remote learning tools, technologies, and strategies, particularly in supporting a dispersed, national workforce. 
• Experience in sport (preferably football), with a demonstrated focus on development and engagement programs that promote participation and inclusivity.
• A full list of experience, skills and qualifications can be found in the above position description

Additional Requirements: 

• Full working rights in Australia
• Working with children check (paid/employee) or state-based equivalent 
• International Criminal History Record for each country (other than Australia) in which you have resided for 12 months or more in the last 10 years (if applicable)
• Out of hours and weekend work as required

Click APPLY NOW to submit your application, including a cover letter and current resume. 

Application Closing Date: 11th February 2025

Football Australia are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a safe working environment that embraces and values child safety, diversity, and inclusion. Our values and behaviours support and encourage an environment that sees its people drive impact on and off the pitch, are trusting in each other, united to achieve and embrace an inclusive environment.

We encourage applications from people who identify as female or non-binary, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island people, people with disabilities and people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you require support or advice with your application, please contact us.

In submitting an application, you agree to our collection statement. To review, head to the following link: footballaustralia.com.au/jobs/collection-statement