As the pioneers of the AFL, The Melbourne Football Club holds a special place in history. Our legacy dates back 165 years, when we wrote the rules of the game. We became the inaugural VFA/VFL/AFL Club and still carry the distinction of being the oldest professional sporting club in the world. Our vision of the future has been shaped by the foundations of our past. A foundation which created the Demon Spirit. At Melbourne, we're proud. Proud of our rich history, proud of our values, with Trust, Respect, Unity, and Excellence at our core. Proud of our people, who live these values each and every day. Proud of our passion, our colours and our spiritual home. We're proud to belong. ABOUT THE ROLE An exciting opportunity has arisen for a High-Performance Manager to join our AFLW & Academy Department in Season 2025. The AFLW Head of High Performance/Academy is a dual role, focused on leading and optimising high-performance programs for the Melbourne Football Club's AFLW team and Academy Pathways. Reporting to the Head of Women's Football, this role is crucial in implementing elite performance strategies, promoting athlete development, and building a culture of excellence across both AFLW & Academy environments. With responsibilities spanning physical preparation, injury prevention, and talent progression, the role supports the club's commitment to fostering future AFLW talent. This is a full 12-month, full time position, commencing in January 2025. KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY The key areas of responsibilities will include: AFLW High Performance Lead and implement the AFLW High-performance program, focusing on physical preparation, recovery, and injury management. Collaborate with coaching and medical staff to create individualised athlete development plans and provide performance data to inform decisions. Manage strength, conditioning, and nutrition programs while conducting regular player performance reviews and educational sessions on injury prevention, nutrition, and wellness. Academy High Performance Manager Oversee high-performance programs for the clubs Academy pathways, including talent development models for U14, U16, and scholarship athletes. Manage strength, conditioning and recovery, and collaborate with coaches to integrate performance data into talent development. Drive innovation and align training with both AFLW and Academy goals. Leadership & Management Provide strategic leadership across AFLW and Academy high-performance teams, fostering collaboration and continuous learning. Communicate closely with coaching staff and Head of Women's Football, while driving a values-led environment. Report on performance metrics and present data-driven insights to inform ongoing program improvements. Manage budgets, resources and scheduling while providing detailed reports to the Head of Women's Football on player performance, trends, and program effectiveness. Monitor and evaluate KPI's for staff to initiate annual Performance Reviews while offering data-driven insights and improvement strategies. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE You are passionate about developing female athletes and guiding their pathway to elite performance. With a tertiary qualification in Sports Science, Exercise Physiology or a related field, along with extensive experience in a high-performance role within elite sports, preferably within AFL/AFLW - you bring the expertise needed to lead effectively. With strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple programs being essential, your leadership and management experience is crucial. You possess a solid understanding of injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across departments to achieve club-wide success. With the ability to engage and inspire both staff and athletes, your dedication to innovation in high-performance methodologies and commitment to fostering a culture built on Club values is pivotal in enhancing team success. PERKS & BENEFITS This position presents the opportunity to work in our newly developed high-performance facility at Casey Fields, as well as AAMI Park, within the Melbourne & Olympic Park Sporting Precinct. We provide a welcoming, safe, and flexible approach to work and provide an environment that benefits from and enables the best from everyone. Our people thrive within a club that is committed to a standard of excellence and supported by a culture of wellbeing and balance. Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children & Young People Melbourne Football Club is committed to and takes seriously its responsibility to provide an environment for children and young people that is caring, nurturing and safe. We expect representatives of the Club, regardless of their role or level of responsibility, to act to safeguard children and young people, and support such an environment. This role will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and a Victorian Working with Children Check. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please submit a cover letter and CV outlining your suitability for the role. Applications close Thursday 28th November 2024. Please note that interviews may commence prior to closure date. The Melbourne Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and diverse candidates. If you believe that you have the passion, dedication, and potential to contribute to our organisation but may not meet all the specified selection criteria, we still encourage you to get in touch with us. We recognise that talent comes in many forms and that unique skills and experiences can be valuable assets to our club. Please note that due to the overwhelming number of applications received by the Club, we are unable to reply to every application. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr