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 are:

Welcome: Open doors, open minds, open hearts - One Game for All
Ready: Always ready, always ahead
Connect: Together, united
Excel: Our best, every day in every way
Protect: Guarding the game, Securing the future

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

The Head of Men’s Football is a senior leader within the Football Department, responsible for providing technical leadership, strategic oversight and system alignment across participation, pathways and performance environments in men’s football. The role operates within a system-focused model, working collaboratively to deliver aligned, high-quality football outcomes.

The role exists to increase cohesion, alignment and performance sustainability across the men’s football ecosystem, applying deep expertise in pathway design, competition structure and the professional game to optimise player development and long-term performance outcomes. It focuses on strengthening connections between community, pathway and elite environments while supporting player wellbeing and system health.

Working as part of the Football Department leadership team, the Head of Men’s Football contributes to whole-of-football strategy, shared decision-making and collective accountability for system performance and international competitiveness.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

This role is Football Australia’s senior technical authority for men’s football, operating within a system-focused Football Department model.

• Serve as Football Australia’s senior technical authority for men’s football, providing whole-of-football leadership across participation, pathways, professional and elite performance environments.
• Apply deep professional game and transfer market expertise to shape player pathways, transitions, competition structures and long-term system sustainability.
• Ensure strong technical alignment between development environments, domestic competitions and Men’s National Team programs to support depth, readiness and international performance.
• Partner with the Executive Director Football and key system stakeholders to co-design and implement integrated men’s football strategies and investment priorities.
• Lead system cohesion across community, pathway and professional environments, strengthening relationships with Member Federations, clubs, leagues and coaches.
• Use performance data, market intelligence and system insight to monitor player movement, identify risks, and drive continuous improvement across the men’s football system.
• Represent Football Australia nationally and internationally with key bodies (e.g. FIFA, AFC, AIS, ASC), leveraging global benchmarks to inform domestic system design and capability uplift.

ROLE OUTCOMES

The priority outcomes of this role are to deliver a technically aligned, high-performing and a coherent men’s football ecosystem that strengthens player development, enhances performance outcomes and supports long-term system health across all levels of the game.

• Deliver a cohesive, technically aligned men’s football ecosystem that connects participation, pathway and elite performance environments.
• Strengthen player development and progression through high-quality, aligned pathways that provide appropriate challenge and consistency across stages.
• Build a sustainable, high-performing men’s football system that balances performance ambition with player wellbeing, pathway integrity and long-term system health.
• Improve performance, depth and readiness of Men’s National Teams as a reflection of system quality, competitiveness and alignment.
• Ensure players access development environments matched to their stage, capability and long-term potential.
• Optimise competition structures, volume and intensity to support development, performance outcomes and player wellbeing.
• Promote environments that enhance motivation, enjoyment and long-term engagement across all levels of the men’s game.

MAJOR INTERACTIONS

• CEO, FDC, Board of Football Australia
• Head of Women’s Football, Head of Nationals Teams, GM Men’s National Teams
• Football Department Leads
• PFA, MF CEOs and MF Technical Departments
• A-League Club CEOs and Academy Directors/Technical Leads, FIFA, AFC and ASEAN Technical Departments

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• The following requirements reflect the senior technical, strategic and system leadership expectations of the role.
• Recognised technical leadership in football, with a deep understanding of participation, pathway and elite performance environments and how these football pillars operate together as a cohesive system.
• Advanced understanding of men’s professional football and the transfer market, including global player labour markets, player valuation, contractual frameworks, agent relationships and regulatory considerations, and their impact on pathway design, performance and system sustainability.
• Proven ability to lead strategic change and system evolution, applying innovation and data-informed decision-making to drive outcomes and monitor progress.
• Highly developed communication, influencing and relationship-management skills, with the ability to engage credibly with clubs, coaches, executives, boards, agents and system partners.
• Demonstrated experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder football environments, leading through influence within federated, matrixed or ecosystem-based systems.

Desirable

• Direct experience working within the professional men’s football market, and involvement in player mobility at domestic or international level including transfers, contracts, squad planning or agent engagement.
• Experience in elite or professional football environments, as a player, coach, technical leader or senior football practitioner.
• Experience within talent development and pathway systems, with a demonstrated ability to connect development environments to professional and international football opportunities.
• Exposure to national or international football structures, including leagues, clubs, federations, confederations or international competitions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in sport, business, leadership, law, economics or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and extensive senior experience in professional football or high-performance sport.

Desirable

• Advanced football coaching or technical qualification (e.g. Pro Diploma, A Diploma or equivalent), or comparable senior technical accreditation.
• Formal education or accreditation related to professional football environments, such as sport management, high-performance leadership or football governance.
• Postgraduate or executive education in leadership, strategy or governance.