General Manager, Football Education, Australia

Closing Date of Applications – 23/04/2025

Our Story

Established in 2013, City Football Group is the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs, with total or partial ownership of twelve clubs across the world. City Football Group also invests in other football related businesses and serves as a global commercial platform for our partners, whilst fulfilling our purpose of empowering better lives through football on a local and global scale, consistent with what “City” football has meant to people for over a century.  

The role

We’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for a strategic and dynamic operational leader to join our team as the General Manager - Football Education, Australia.

In this pivotal role, you will report to the Director of Commercial & Marketing (Australia) and collaborate closely with the Director of Pay to Play (City Football Group) to lead the strategic and operational delivery of our flagship Football Education programs nationwide.

We’re seeking an analytical, commercially minded leader with a proven track record in managing complex, multi-site programs. You’ll bring a strong background in driving growth and innovation, ideally within the education or sports sectors.

This role is central to shaping the future of football education in Australia. You will ensure operational excellence, deliver outstanding participant experiences, and drive sustainable growth across all programs.

Your Impact

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement strategic plans to grow the Football Education programmes and align them with the club's overall commercial strategy.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify new opportunities for growth and innovation.

• Ensure the sustainability and scalability of all programmes within the portfolio, optimising for operational efficiency and market adaptability.

Commercial Management:

• Lead revenue-generation strategies to meet the growth target of doubling programme revenue by FY2028.

• Continuously monitor and evaluate program performance, implementing data-driven improvements to enhance participant experience and operational efficiency.

• Develop partnerships with schools, institutions, and other organisations to enhance programme offerings and broaden market reach.

• Work with the marketing team to devise and execute an annual marketing plan for each programme year.

Operational Oversight:

• Oversee the design and delivery of football education programs, ensuring quality and consistency across all locations.

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Football Education programmes to ensure smooth delivery and high-quality outcomes.

• Oversee logistical planning, including venue bookings, resource allocation, and programme scheduling.

• Drive a culture of delivering excellent customer service across all program interactions.

People Leadership:

• Lead, inspire, and manage a high-performing team across multiple locations in Australia, ensuring quality and consistency throughout all activities

• Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

• Provide ongoing development and mentorship opportunities for team members to ensure their growth and the sustained quality of the football education program.

• Act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, including schools, councils, and strategic partners.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Proven experience in people leadership, ideally within the education or sports industries.
• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of achieving revenue growth targets.
• In-depth understanding of financial processes, including P&L management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations across multiple programmes and locations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Strategic and Analytical thinker with a results-driven mindset.
• Highly organised, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Dynamic and adaptable, with a passion for innovation and growth.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Resilient under pressure, maintaining focus and composure.

Desirable

• Passion for football and/or education.
• Experience in managing partnerships with schools, universities or similar institutions.