About NZ Football:
Football is the global game, and in Aotearoa New Zealand it is the largest participation sport, offering meaningful experiences and opportunities for everyone. From tamariki to seniors, community players to high-performance athletes, football connects people across all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. At New Zealand Football, our purpose is to enrich lives, connect communities, and inspire our future through high-quality football experiences. Our vision is to unite communities and inspire generations through the game we love. Te Kākahu o New Zealand Football reflects our shared strength, identity and purpose woven from ambition, excellence and inspiration, with threads of unity, care, guardianship and connection. From these foundations flow the values that guide how we work and show up for one another and the game. We are committed to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are on a journey to grow and embed a rich, vibrant culture of diversity and inclusion. We aim to make football the most inclusive sport in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we’d love you to join us.
As the Women’s Football Development Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of women’s football pathways, working closely with key stakeholders across the game to strengthen capability and support the continued growth and development of women’s football throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
This is a fixed-term maternity cover position through to early October 2027, providing an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to women’s football during an important period for the game.
Working as part of our Football Development team, you’ll connect with federations, clubs, schools and other key partners to support effective delivery and create quality football experiences for girls and women across the game.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the implementation and delivery of women’s football development pathways.
- Work collaboratively across New Zealand Football to develop programmes and initiatives that strengthen women’s football.
- Build capability across federations, clubs and schools to support the delivery of women’s football player pathways.
- Lead and support the regional network of Women’s Football Development Officers.
- Develop strong relationships with federations and other stakeholders to understand local needs and support effective delivery.
- Continue to evaluate and improve women’s football programmes, frameworks and resources.
- Support the development of women’s football and futsal competition structures.
- Lead the development of initiatives that strengthen connections between New Zealand Football, federations, clubs and secondary schools.
About You
You’ll be someone who understands sport development and enjoys bringing people together to turn strategy into practical outcomes. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders and know how to build strong relationships, influence others and keep initiatives moving.
You’ll bring strong communication and organisational skills, a collaborative approach, and the resilience to work effectively in a busy environment. Just as importantly, you’ll be passionate about creating quality opportunities and experiences for girls and women in football.
Qualifications and Experience
- At least five years’ experience in sport development across junior, youth and/or senior levels.
- Experience successfully leading and implementing projects.
- Strong knowledge of sport development and the New Zealand sporting environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- A relevant tertiary qualification in sport management would be advantageous.
- New Zealand Football coaching qualifications would also be advantageous.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to play an important role in the continued growth and development of women’s football in Aotearoa. You’ll work alongside passionate people across the game and help strengthen the pathways, programmes and connections that create positive football experiences for girls and women.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Research shows that individuals from underrepresented groups, including women, often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you're excited about this role and believe you have what it takes, even if your experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply.
Our recruitment process is fair and inclusive, and we're committed to making it accessible for everyone. We value diverse perspectives and the unique contributions each person brings to our culture. Put simply, you can be yourself here.
Applications close 5pm Wednesday 18th November, however we will review applications as they are received and may close the advert early if an appointment is made. Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.