Welfare And Player Excellence Manager

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Introduction:
The GIANTS are on an exciting journey both on and off the field. With teams in the AFL, the AFL Women’s League and Super Netball competitions, the GIANTS truly are a club like no other.

On field, the AFL team has quickly grown into one of the competition’s most exciting teams with several players becoming household names across the country. Likewise, the on-field achievements of our AFL Women’s and GIANTS Netball teams are seeing the club connect with more fans and followers than ever before.

Off field, the club’s exciting, innovative, and fresh brand is growing as it engages with members, fans, the community and key stakeholders across Western Sydney, Canberra and Nationally.

The GIANTS’ AFL and AFL Women’s teams are based at the club’s elite training and administration facility in Sydney Olympic Park, with GIANTS Netball based adjacent at Netball Central.

At the heart of our brand, there’s a GIANT in all of us, is the belief that everyone is a GIANT and by living our values and commitments we will deliver on our purpose – To create a club like no other that delivers the best family entertainment, wins premierships and enriches the lives of people in Western Sydney, Canberra and broader communities.

Description:
Position Purpose

The GIANTS have an exciting opportunity within our club to support our welfare and development programs across AFLW and AFL. This is a full-time role, working as the AFLW Player Development Manager for an average of three days per week to support all player development and welfare requirements for our AFLW playing group. The Player Development Manager works directly with our AFLW players to identify, manage and support player transition into an elite sporting environment.
The Player Development Manager is a values-led and high-performing individual driven to care, support and guide the playing group. This role will also support players in work experience and career opportunities during their time at the club. The role will connect players' families with the club and support the induction process for families. The role provides hands-on support, particularly during the AFLW pre-season and in-season period and will be required at each AFLW game across
the home and away season.

This role also supports the wider welfare and personal excellence team at the club to lead player onboarding, housing, living skills and player transition, for an average of two days per week. The role will lead the club and AFLPA induction process for players and support the induction of their families.
This role will work to connect past players across all playing groups back into the club with regular communications, connections and events as required. Due to the seasonal nature of the sport and the different season timings, the focus of the role will flex across the year with different levels of support required across the different programs at different times of the year.

Reports to:

• Executive General Manager, AFLW and Football Operations

Other Key Relationships:
Internal:

• Welfare and personal excellence team
• AFLW welfare group including medical staff and club psychologist
• All three playing groups: AFLW, AFL & VFL
• Club staff
• Club staff across the wider business
• GIANTS Executive and Management team

External:

• Australian Football League
• AFLPA
• Club networks and coterie groups
• Player managers
• Player families
• Past players

Roles and Responsibilities

AFLW Player Development Manager

• Build trusted and valued relationships with players, coaches, Executives, High Performance staff, the AFLPA and AFL and each player's primary personal network (e.g. family, partners, managers) as key stakeholders.
• Through strong player relationships, facilitate individualised Professional Development Plans that capture the players' health and wellbeing, career and educational needs. Deliver Professional Development Plans using a case management approach.
• Act as a conduit between the players and the appropriate professional development and wellbeing programs and services.
• Attend, contribute and report at players' and High Performance staff meetings including individual and team program reviews.
• Provide welfare assistance on match days to connect families and provide any wellbeing support to players as required.
• Provide appropriate first incident response to players who present with professional and personal issues.
• Provide guidance and support on wellbeing related issues in a professional and confidential manner dealing with players.
• Liaise closely with the AFL and AFLPA on wellbeing related issues as appropriate.
• Refer players to support services (where needed) in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide guidance and awareness to Executive, High Performance and coaching staff on welfare, education and personal wellbeing matters, at all times seeking appropriate consent from the player.
• Assist players to experience different roles, make informed career choices and build employability skills through engaging in work experience, volunteering, community events etc.
• Work with High Performance team and coaches regarding player non-selection, transitions, delistment, retirement, injury, rehabilitation and/or relocation.
• Have an up-to-date knowledge of programs available in the marketplace to address personal development needs.
• Advise, where appropriate, relevant club staff on player issues that will have a wider impact on the game and club.

Welfare and Player Excellence - AFL, AFLW

• Lead club and AFLPA inductions and onboardings across both playing groups.
• Provide assistance and appropriately manage the relocation of new players to Sydney. Manage thew induction program including the players' entry and exit into the program and develop and support the players' ability to live independently in Sydney.
• Prepare transitional support for players that are preparing to retire or are delisted from the game.
• Liaise across the club and club networks, as well as past player alumni, to assist with networking opportunities for players.
• Work to connect past players across all playing groups back into the club with regular communications, connections and events as required.

Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain timely and accurate reporting within the club, AFL and AFLPA systems.
• Fulfil all AFLPA education and induction modules and liaise with Heads of Development regarding wider education opportunities for the playing groups.
• Compliance with club, AFL and AFLPA requirements.
• Provide ongoing status reports to Executive, High Performance and coaching staff on players' development.
• Provide documentation as required and directed.
• Co-ordinate Player Development and Welfare program expenditure in line with agreed budget and financial policies.
• Assist players in their own networking and profile-raising activities, including optimising player appearances.
• Operate within the club and AFL's code of ethics.
• Attend annual conferences and events as required.
• Develop and manage key stakeholder relationships and partnerships.
• Ensure adherence to appropriate standards of safety, welfare and health.
• Undertake other associated duties consistent with the standing and responsibilities of the position.

Skills and Experiences:
Skills and Knowledge

• Certificate IV in education, health science, behavioural, social science or psychology field or related discipline.
• Completion of AFLPA Executive Certificate in Player Development (or a demonstration of commitment to complete).
• A minimum five years' experience in a related field.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Comfortable to be a team player and work autonomously, going above and beyond to achieve the desired results.
• Be a strategic thinker, using research and creativity in the development of the player development plan.
• Professional, helpful, and efficient manner.
• Understanding of out-of-traditional hours requirements of working in an elite sporting environment.
• Understanding AFL/W is ideal, but not essential.

GIANTS Commitments & Values

Engage

• We entertain in all that we do
• We enrich ourselves and others by being open and accessible
• We communicate and collaborate.

Grow

• We will build our club and our people
• We strive for greatness
• We celebrate our wins.

Challenge

• We hold ourselves and others accountable to the highest standards
• We will innovate, create and lead
• We are resilient.

Respect

• We celebrate our diversity and promote inclusion
• We own our story to enhance our legacy
• We are authentic and act with integrity in all we do.

The GIANTS are proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a flexible and safe working environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant because of race, colour, national origin, sex, gender, disability, religion, marital status, parental status, nor any other protected personal characteristic.