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Salary***CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY 11th MARCH***
FIXED-TERM CONTRACT UNTIL END OF JANUARY 2028
World Rugby is the international federation responsible for the global development of Rugby. It’s strategic mission is to accelerate the growth of Rugby, inspiring more people to engage with the sport.
Australia’s hosting of Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2029 are at the heart of that mission, representing an exciting growth opportunity for Rugby in Australia, the region, and the global game more broadly.
Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting and entertainment brands in the world and the dual men’s and women’s hosting model creates a transformative opportunity to showcase the very best of Rugby and Australia to an unprecedented global audience.
The 2027 tournament will be a nationwide celebration of the sport, its values and Australia’s cities, culture and people, engaging new audiences and inspiring a new generation of fans and players.
In Australia, the tournament is expected to generate $860m in direct visitor expenditure across Australia from more than 200,000 international visitors and inject a further $300m into the Australia economy as a result of hosting in 2027 alone.
With women and the heart of World Rugby’s growth mission, Rugby World Cup 2029 represents a transformative opportunity take the sport to the next level. Women’s Rugby is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and the fanbase growing at a faster rate than other sports with 166 million fans globally. The commercial value of women’s Rugby is expected to grow by 10x over the next decade, which is great for Australia.
Hosting both tournament also presents a fantastic opportunity for Rugby Australia to harness the power of the Rugby World Cup and grow its participation across Australia and the ambition to bring 30,000 players into the rugby ecosystem.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be part of a global event that will set new standards and drive the growth of Rugby. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about sport, understand the power it has to make a difference and have a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion for the event.
You will be part of a team that aims to inspire a new generation of audiences and participants.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The General Manager of Events Services has the responsibility, under the guidance of the Managing Director and working in close collaboration with the EventsCo Director of Events Services, for designing, procuring, contracting and managing the services required to support the successful operational delivery of the tournament across the tournament footprint.
The role will ensure that all support services in each host city are appropriately scoped and delivered to the highest possible standards for each client group by ensuring the planning process is relevant and thorough and integrates all other departments within the LOC and other stakeholders.
Reporting to the Managing Director there will be a close working relationship with all operations teams and client groups within the LOC and EventsCo. The General Manager of Event Services will have a number of direct reports across the functional area responsibilities.
Whilst the LOC has carriage of both the 2027 and 2029 RWCs, all roles are being recruited on the basis of working to deliver RWC27 and commence the early planning for RWC29, with a contract end date reflective of the successful conclusion of RWC27. All roles within the LOC will be reviewed at the appropriate point in time to determine whether they will be extended to cover RWC29 and to suit the needs of the business at that time.
What you’ll be doing:
- As a member of the executive team, you will play a key role in shaping the strategy, operational and delivery solutions for the RWCs
- Responsible for the successful operational implementation of the following functional areas:
- Accommodation
- Accreditation
- Travel, arrivals and Departures
- Transport
- Catering
- Cleaning & Waste
- Logistics and Freight
- Security
- Tournament Guest Programme
- Oversee and integrate the requirements and regulations of above-mentioned projects in the Master Project Plans and detailed budgets in order to ensure the requirements of all relevant stakeholders are aligned and delivered in a cost effective manner for each tournament and event.
- Be the key point of reference for the Managing Director on all Event Services matters and shall actively represent him/her on different occasions.
- Ensure that relevant World Rugby procedures and directives are applied within the functional areas, working collaboratively with the EventsCo Director of Events Services.
- Manage budget including regular reporting with the Managing Director, the Executive General Managers of Business and the EventsCo Director of Events Services.
- Be a key member of the LOC executive team and works collaboratively with colleagues in Europe as defined by the operational organisational structure.
- Acts as the representative, whenever required, of the Event Services division towards the various governmental or local authorities.
- Work closely with other members of the senior team to support the LOC and EventsCo management with tournament reviews, Board meetings and assurance check points.
- Oversee the recruitment and management of the divisions staff including FA Managers/Coordinators and contractors including their training and onboarding requirements and tournament-time deployment.
- Oversee the development of and contribute to required documentation, including tournament handbooks, manuals and guides, as well all LOC and wider EventsCo policies and procedures.
- Be a key member of the senior executive team and work collaboratively with colleagues across Australia, London and Dublin as defined by the operational organisational structure.
- Lead the engagement on behalf of the LOC with industry as it relates to tournament support and delivery.
- Minimum of 8 years managing teams delivering services for events University degree in appropriate subject (or adequate training/vocational education)
- Demonstrable success in leading and managing a wide portfolio with multiple demanding stakeholders – providing direction and development, through to overseeing operational planning and delivery for a portfolio of similar functional areas..
- Experience developing complex project plans and the creation of strategic tools for guiding the planning and delivery of major international projects and holding stakeholders to account for delivery against specific agreed objectives.
- Ability to effectively monitor organizational performance and implement decisive corrective actions
- Ability to hire, develop, coach, appraise and retain highly qualified employee
- Capacity to make key decisions for the business through critical problem-solving skills and an ability to use sound judgement
- Experience of budget management and balancing delivery against expenditure and affordability.
- Experience of working with teams of senior and experienced individuals and multi-functional / virtual teams to achieve the integrated delivery of complex projects.
- Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, Event Management, Business Administration, or a related field with at least 10 years’ industry related experience.
- Proficiency in event management software, project management tools, and Microsoft Office suite is desirable.
- Further education is desirable.
- Relevant certifications or security clearances are a plus.
- A passion for sport and to contribute to the further growth of Rugby.
- Takes positive action to build a diverse team and develop a culture of inclusion and belonging.
- Role-models World Rugby’s values of Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Passion, and Solidarity.
- A positive, ‘can-do’ attitude; someone who is resilient, flexible, curious, and delivery focused.
- Adept at working under pressure in a fast-paced environment, delivering work to deadlines and honouring commitments.
- A collaborative team player, who builds strong relationships with colleagues and a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, managing multiple workstreams at once; meticulous attention to detail.
- A flexible approach to working within an organisation that will grow and adapt to the needs of that time
- Can navigate ambiguity and cut through complexity, taking a logical and creative approach to problem-solving.
World Rugby is committed to building a diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, which reflects the global sport we want to be and where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong.
Flexible Working:
The role offers hybrid working during the initial phases of planning, noting that as the event draws near the role will be required to be full time in the office integrating with the rest of the team. The current planning is based on:
