• One Year Term, with the possibility to extend
• Full time

This rare full-time High Performance Manager opportunity offers the chance to join St Kilda’s well-established AFLW program, which is poised for a club-record season. It’s an exciting time to be part of a team on the brink of a breakthrough year.

Reporting to the Executive General Manager AFLW, this pivotal role is responsible for managing players' individual and team fitness programs to optimise performance of elite AFLW footballers. The playing group is a high-potential team with a mix of emerging talent and on-field leaders, coached by an experienced AFLW Senior Coach.

The High Performance Manager ensures a best practice approach aligned with AFLW industry standards, working closely with the Senior Coach, Sports Science, and Medical teams to oversee and implement all aspects of athlete strength and conditioning. Of high importance is the development and execution of a high quality running program designed to improve athlete’s capacity for repeat high-intensity efforts. Additionally, the High Performance Manager will lead, mentor, and support a part-time Strength and Rehabilitation Coach, as well as student interns, helping them develop their skills and expertise in this specialised field.

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 find the next level.  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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Athlete Performance

• Develop individualised athlete loading plans for the annual cycle, tailoring the off-season, pre-season, and in-season periods.
• Design the team conditioning plan for both pre-season and in-season periods.
• Oversee injury rehabilitation and collaborate with medical staff to ensure effective rehabilitation and safe return-to-play plans.
• Manage team-level load forecasting, including conditioning and strength programming with detailed monthly, weekly, and daily planning.
• Game day management of warm ups, bench rotations and post-game recovery.  
• Communicate weekly with coaching staff to provide updates and recommendations regarding player availability and readiness.

Management

• Benchmark AFL clubs and other elite sports to leverage trends and data relevant to AFLW high performance.
• Track player development to ensure continuous improvement in physical performance, positioning St Kilda Football Club as a leader in player performance development.
• Ensure optimal service delivery to players and coaches.
• Provide regular feedback and coaching to the role’s direct report, fostering professional growth and meeting performance expectations.
• Manage the high performance student interns, ensuring valuable learning experiences are facilitated.
• Optimise resource allocation for high performance resourcing, ensuring maximum effectiveness of staff and interns.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead by example, promoting the Club’s values and fostering a performance-driven culture across the department and Club.
• Ensure high operational standards and effective internal communication within the high AFLW department.
• Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including AFL clubs, external sports science providers, and the VFLW program, ensuring positive collaboration and alignment.
• Report to the EGM AFLW and Senior Coach on strategic progress and innovations, continuously exploring and presenting new opportunities in sports science and performance.

Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with the EGM AFLW and Senior Coach to develop and implement performance-focused strategic plans.
• Oversee the AFLW High Performance Plan, ensuring individual physical performance plans align with AFLW standards and long term player development.
• Monitor progress and report outcomes against performance goals to ensure alignment with broader team objectives.

ABOUT YOU

• You are passionate about innovation, staying ahead of industry trends, and continually researching the latest best practices in strength and conditioning.
• You demonstrate strong commitment and a results driven approach, always open to exploring new ideas and methods to achieve optimal outcomes.
• You excel in collaborative environments, working effectively across teams to achieve shared goals.
• You possess high emotional intelligence, enabling you to communicate effectively with a diverse range of athletes, specialists, and staff.
• You thrive under pressure and excel in high-intensity environments.
• Your success will depend on your ability to build strong, trusted relationships with the AFLW playing group.
• You are flexible and available for travel, as well as evening and weekend game days.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Post Graduate qualification in Sports Science (or similar).
• Experience managing sports science technology programs (e.g. Catapult, VALD suite) to support athlete development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (mid to advanced level).
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify key issues, develop solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
• Solid understanding of the AFL environment and the demands of high performance sport.
• Australian Strength & Conditioning Association Level 2 accreditation (Professional level preferred).
• Experience in the AFLW industry or a comparable high-performance sporting environment.
• Proven experience working with elite athletes, in team or individual settings, with a preference for female athletes.
• Expertise in strength and conditioning programming, including load monitoring, gym-based programming, GPS, and various conditioning aspects (endurance, speed, strength, power, hypertrophy, agility, flexibility, rehab, prehab).
• Extensive coaching experience in Strength & Conditioning, including recovery and rehabilitation of elite athletes.
• Current driver’s license and ability to travel for home and away games.
• Flexibility to work weekday afternoons/evenings and weekends (match days) during the season.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Fantastic culture of grounded and best in class people, passionate about what they do
• On site Linton Street café
• Free access to Aquatics Facilities at our Danny Frawley Centre for Health & Wellbeing
• Free parking onsite & state of the art gym access
• Discounted Saints memberships and merchandise
• Up to 40% discount on selected New Balance products
• Incredibly generous discounts on Westinghouse products
• Amazing discounts from our friends at Loewe televisions and coffee machines
• Saints-only Linen House product pricing
• Discounted movie tickets through Hoyts

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 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 align to the position.

Applications will close at 5pm, Sunday 16th January 2025.

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.