Football is the global game and Football in New Zealand is the biggest game in the country, providing experiences and opportunities for all – male and female, young and not so young, talented athletes and community level players. New Zealand Football’s purpose is to provide high quality football experiences that will enrich lives, connect communities, and inspire our future with a vision of uniting communities and inspiring generations. New Zealand Football is committed to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is embarking 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.
Job Description
As the Community Pathway Manager, you will play a key role in strengthening how community football is delivered across Aotearoa. Reporting to the Technical Director, you will lead the development and delivery of the Community Player Pathway and Administrator Pathway within New Zealand Football’s Whole of Football 2.0 framework, with a strong focus on building the capability of community clubs as the foundation of high-quality participation experiences.
Working closely with federations, clubs and schools, you will support the implementation of nationally aligned frameworks while enabling locally-led, context-responsive delivery. Through this work, you will help strengthen club, player and administrator delivery systems so community clubs are well placed to deliver high-quality, inclusive and sustainable football experiences.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the Community Player and Administrator pathways within Whole of Football 2.0.
Lead the ongoing development and enhancement of New Zealand Football’s national community club development programme, the Club Support Programme, in partnership with federations.
Develop and deliver programmes and resources that strengthen community player, club and administrator capability aligned to national frameworks.
Work collaboratively with Technical and Growth & Development teams to ensure alignment across community, coach, referee, women’s football, futsal and talent development initiatives.
Partner with federations, clubs and schools to support high‑quality, locally relevant delivery that reflects community needs while maintaining national consistency
Coordinate annual planning, budgeting and continuous improvement aligned to national strategy.
Champion best practice, learning and innovation and consistency across community player, administrator and club development pathways.
Desired Skills and Experience
About You You are an experienced sport development professional who is passionate about community football and building strong, inclusive sporting environments. You bring strong relationship management skills, the ability to lead projects from concept to delivery, and a collaborative approach to working across diverse stakeholder groups. You are organised, adaptable and motivated by making a meaningful impact at grassroots level.
Qualifications
At least 5 years’ experience in sport development across junior, youth and senior environments.
Experience leading and implementing programmes or projects within complex stakeholder systems.
Strong knowledge of sport development, ideally within the New Zealand context.
Tertiary qualification in sports management or a related field (preferred).
Coaching qualification (e.g. NZF C‑Licence or equivalent) an advantage.
Why Join Us? This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping how football is experienced at community level across Aotearoa. You’ll work in a purpose‑driven organisation, alongside passionate people, making a real difference in communities through sport.
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 on Monday 27th April 2026, however, we will process applications as soon as they are received and this job advert may close sooner if an appointment is made prior to the closing date, don’t delay, apply now! Please note all applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.
