The AFL is Australia’s premier sporting organisation supporting two constantly evolving national competitions, AFL and AFLW. Our purpose is to progress the game, so everyone can share in its heritage and possibilities.

We have a strong workforce presence in most States and Territories of Australia including Northern Territory, QLD, NSW / ACT, Victoria and Tasmania.

As the AFL/ AFLW competitions continue to grow and evolve at both the elite and community levels, we are focused on ensuring we attract and retain great people in both permanent and casual roles at all levels and within all areas of our industry.

Importantly, we aim to reflect the communities where our game is played by recruiting locally where possible to strengthen our connection to the ‘grassroots’ of our game. We are also fortunate to have hundreds of passionate volunteers within our industry, offering their time and expertise to help grow our game.

The AFL's purchase of Marvel Stadium in Docklands, Melbourne, further diversifies our workforce with more than 1000 casual employees to make every moment matter for our fans and customers.

ABOUT US

As an organisation, the AFL works tirelessly in all states and at all levels to enhance and grow the game – from grassroots to elite. Together, we put on the game, deliver important events, communicate with our fans, run community programs, develop coaches and umpires, collaborate with partners, delight members, support clubs and so much more. While our roles may vary, we are all united by a common goal, to progress the game so that everyone can share in its heritage and possibilities.

For the AFL, the safety and health of our players—former, current, and future—is of paramount importance. The AFL has formulated a five-year Strategic Plan for Sport-Related Concussion in Australian Football (2022-2026) which outlines the AFL’s evolving integrated framework for the prevention, management and research of concussion and repetitive head trauma.

A priority in the AFL Concussion Strategic Plan is the establishment of the AFL Brain Health Initiative, a prospective, longitudinal research program, which will provide the opportunity to monitor AFL and AFLW players’ brain health from pathway program graduation to elite football via the draft or other entry points, across players professional footballing careers, through to retirement, and beyond. The Initiative will examine athlete, injury and environmental factors associated with recovery from sport-related concussion, return to play, and long-term brain health and player wellbeing.

The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/ Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and firmly believe that diversity and inclusion is an important part of both the AFL and the communities in which we operate. Our game is for everyone, and we strive to be a workplace for everyone.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE ROLE

An exciting opportunity exists for a Project Manager to undertake the coordination and operational oversight of the Brain Health Initiative longitudinal research program, with scope to apply their skills across other AFL, AFLW, State, pathways and community football concussion research programs.

The Brain Health Initiative Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating the multi-site data collection hubs (AFL clubs, draft process, external research and commercial partners), and data management, along with development of standard operating procedures and training across industry, and responsibility for data quality assurance, harmonisation and sharing.

The role will provide an opportunity to work across dedicated AFL teams in concussion, healthcare, and mental health and wellbeing who strive for innovation and prioritise research translation to influence policy and build an evidence-base for the safe participation of players in professional and community sport.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead administrative and operational functions of the Brain Health Initiative concussion research program
• Liaison with industry stakeholders (e.g. clubs personnel, players, AFLPA) and research partners
• Management of data capture and curation
• Development of standard operating procedures and associated training
• Coordination of player appointments to enable research data collection
• Responsibility for research program budget reporting and financial management
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
• Uphold the integrity and ethical conduct of research in keeping with the AFL Research Governance Framework
• Preparation of research progress reports to Brain Health Initiative Steering Committee
• Scope for research personnel training and supervision

OUR IDEAL TEAM MEMBER

Core Competencies:

• Willingness to occasionally travel interstate to AFL clubs
• Extensive knowledge of clinical healthcare research, ideally within a neurological field
• Knowledge or expertise in the field of high-performance sport additionally recognised
• Demonstrated research coordination and project management experience across various stages of research including development, design, data collection, reporting and completion
• Demonstrated excellence in diverse stakeholder engagement and management
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Exceptional organisational and planning skills, with ability to work independently

Mandatory:

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent in relevant medical, nursing or allied health field
• 5 years+ experience in management and coordination of large, multi-site research trials including longitudinal cohort studies, registries and/or clinical trials
• Completion of Good Clinical Practice training in the last 4 years

OUR CULTURE

Please visit www.afl.com.au/careers/our-organisation

We are proudly a WORK180 endorsed employer for women, to see the great benefits that the AFL offers, please visit https://work180.com/en-au/for-women/employer/afl

THE PERKS

• Play The Day Your Way – a flexible approach to your working life
• My Development – lean into the AFL’s My Development program consisting of on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring, and formal learning
• Play Well – access to our extensive Health and Wellbeing program centered around our belief in a healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy workplace
• My Benefits – with thanks to our AFL Corporate Partners, access great benefits and discounts
• AFL Silver Memberships – permanent team members can access AFL matches at Marvel Stadium and the MCG, enjoy and share the experience of our game with your family and friends!

Applications Close: 6 June 2023