The AFLW Player Development Manager (PDM) is a unique opportunity to work for Hawthorn Football Club. We have a proud and successful history and elite behaviours and professionalism on and off the field.

Working within our AFLW Program as the Player Development Manager, you can reach your full potential with the best facilities, technology, and expertise available in Australian sport. We live and breathe our Club Values of One For All, Play to Win and Love Our Club. You will work and thrive in an environment that is committed to excellence, being inclusive and supported by a culture of wellbeing and balance.

Our Club’s vision is to deliver long term objectives to continually grow, innovate and achieve on-field success. This includes our commitment to growing both of our football programs (AFLW & AFL), along with the building of our new state of the art facility - The Kennedy Community Centre.

About the role

This permanent part-time opportunity (0.8FTE) delivers an elite player engagement and wellbeing program designed to empower our AFLW players to excel off the field, helping them reach their full potential on the field, enjoy their time at the club, and live fulfilling lives beyond their football careers.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Provide guidance and support for players on wellbeing related issues in a professional and confidential manner.
• Help players develop time, social, and self-management skills with the view to be resilient, resourceful, and independent individuals
• Support regular communication and collaboration with the AFL and AFLPA on key operational initiatives
• Oversee the relocation and living arrangements of new players
• Liaise closely with HFC and AFLPA Psychologists on player wellbeing
• Assist players to identify goals and pursue off-field interests through study, work, work experience, volunteering.
• Utilise club & industry resources, including education grants
• Plan and implement the Player Development program which proactively develops core skills and attributes, and addresses career development and educational needs.
• Respond to player needs as they arise
• Use off-field components of Individual Development Plans to identify trends across the playing group and inform program delivery within the club
• Maintain relationships with parents, partners and families through induction and in-season activities/gatherings/game day proceedings
• Play a role in the support of appropriate confidential internal & external referral networks
• Manage the transition of players entering and exiting the program
• Represent the Club as Child Safety Officer within the football program
• Manage match day player welfare as required, including communicating with family members regarding player injuries
• Support the delivery of other club-based programs eg. Player Partner & Family support, Employer & Host Family networks, player induction, assisting players with their transition in and out of the club

The successful candidate:

The ideal candidate will be an approachable leader with a proven ability to utilise their strong relationship building skills and knowledge of an elite sporting environment, to achieve program outcomes with a diverse group of players.

You will have:

• Proven ability to nurture and develop people of all levels
• Demonstrated leadership capability
• Understanding of on-field and off-field requirements of athletes
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information
• Desire to collaborate and work as part of a team
• Tertiary qualification in education, health science, behavioural, social science, or psychology field
• Completion of AFLPA Executive Certificate in Player Development (required within 12 months of appointment)
• Experience working with elite athletes and families (desirable)
• Ability to work within an elite sport environment (ie weekends, nights and interstate travel required for games)
• Current Victorian Employee Working with Children Check

Our offer to you

As a Hawthorn Football Club employee, you will work in a supportive, values driven and harmonious team. You will be challenged and provided with opportunities to learn new things, grow, and develop. Our initiatives which drive wellbeing, connection and performance include:

• Access to gym facilities
• Special offers and discounts through our Corporate Partners
• Professional development opportunities – inhouse and external
• One Club memberships to enjoy games with your family and friends

The Hawthorn Football Club is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and diverse candidates. We welcome applicants who reflect the diversity of the Australian community and encourages applicants from the following backgrounds to apply:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Culturally and linguistically diverse
• LGBTIQ+
• People with a disability
• People who live in rural and regional locations

We provide a welcoming, safe, and flexible approach to work and provide an environment that benefits from and enables the best from everyone.

As an organisation we are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. It is essential that anyone involved with the Hawthorn Football Club understands their responsibility in relation to child safety. Our organisation requires all applicants to obtain a ‘Working with Children Check’ prior to appointment.