SFL To Have A Boss!

[Troy G]

CLUB DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
AFL (NSW/ACT) COMMISSION LTD

AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission Ltd. is seeking to appoint a Club Development Officer to assist senior clubs in the Sydney AFL competitions. It is well documented that the demands on volunteers in community sporting clubs are growing as clubs are expected to operate in an increasingly complex environment. The purpose of this role is to devise and implement club development initiatives by working with those grass roots football volunteers to help build sustainable practices that will ensure the success of all senior football clubs in Sydney.

Key Responsibilities

? Facilitate delivery of club administrator courses, covering topics such as football operations, financial management, committee management, sponsorship and fundraising, junior development and volunteer management.
? Research and record a thorough understanding of the current position of senior clubs and their relationship with junior clubs and leagues.
? Establish a volunteer recognition program.
? Develop club pro-forma accounts to assist clubs with their financial management.
? Assist the Manager - Football Operations in the day to day running of the Sydney football competitions. In particular assist in the organisation of pre-season competitions, finals and representative football.
? Assist in developing training programs that can be implemented across all NSW and ACT AFL leagues.
? Assist club committees in the development of club plans, which may involve reviewing club structures.
? Support clubs with training of club administration personnel and develop volunteer role descriptions.
? Work with clubs to establish healthy football environment policies, eg. smoke free, alcohol and drug awareness.
? Develop strategies to improve the numbers of junior players transferring into under 18 and senior football.
? Assist clubs in developing or improving their relationship with an AFL club and ultimately a range of practices to maximise their partnership.
? Where appropriate assist clubs with their fundraising and sponsorship activities.
? Ensure clubs are aware of all relevant government grants and assist with any such proposals.
? Assist clubs in understanding and effectively using relevant computer software packages and club websites.
? Assist clubs in planning some events and functions.

Key Selection Criteria
? A relevant tertiary qualification in sports management, commerce or business is desirable.
? Experience in working with volunteers and in particular the ability to work effectively with a broad range of people.
? Proven performance at coordinating projects to a common goal.
? An ability to work independently through being pro-active and having the ability to think outside the square.
? An understanding of the Sydney senior football market would be beneficial.
? Highly developed interpersonal and written communication skills are essential.
? Strong computer skills, especially in word processing and spreadsheets.
? Experience in developing and conducting training programs would be an advantage.
? Current drivers licence is essential.

Salary
An attractive package will be negotiated with the successful applicant

Applications
Applications for the position of Club Development Officer are to be addressed to Simon Laughton, Manager- Football Operations, AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission Ltd. and sent via email to [email protected]

Applications close at 5.00 pm on Friday 14 February

[Troy G]

You can look at this two ways!

1. The Sydney AFL finally has someone in charge of it just like the other regions have a manager ie. Canberra, Southern NSW.
Someone who has to have the SydneyAFL as his/her own priority, to represent the SydneyAFL to the public and media etc. Someone who can stand up in the corridors of the AFL NSWACT Commission (or even on the boardroom table!) and say hey what about the SydneyAFL? When the money and resources are given out . Someone who the clubs can go to and say what the hell is going on! Someone to blame if things don't happen!

2. They just saved a lot of money by putting one person in charge of ALL clubs instead of subsidising each club's General Manager by $30,000 pa. This all powerful person, is also going to be the one the Commission gets advise from in the not too distant future as to who gets admitted into the State League/ Canberra Competition and who get left playing Auskick! Let the club sucking up/ power plays/ intense lobbying begin!

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Currently Sydney football is ruled by a Commission, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Sydney Regional Board, Football Operations Manager and a soon to be appointed Club Development Manager. We also have about 80 extra staff involved in a myriad of different roles all drawing salaries from the AFL purse to the value of over $4 million per year.
Imagine what could be done if just 5% of this money ($200,000) was being pumped into facilities and ground improvements for the SFL and SFA clubs each year. We would have had over $1 million spent in the last 5 years and the improvement would be lasting and measurable and fantastic for the game.
We do not need a cast of thousands to tell the clubs how to organise themslelves. We need some good honest hard workers with the best interests of the Competition and the game at heart who are prepared to put aside personal interests and work dilligently at what is expected of them.