Product Owner

Product Owner - Community Football Platforms

Join to apply for the Product Owner - Community Football Platforms role at AFL - Australian Football League

Product Owner - Community Football Platforms

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Join to apply for the Product Owner - Community Football Platforms role at AFL - Australian Football League

About Us

As an organisation, the AFL works tirelessly in all states and at all levels to enhance and grow the game – from grassroots to elite. Together, we put on the game, deliver important events, communicate with our fans, run community programs, develop coaches and umpires, collaborate with partners, delight members, support clubs and so much more. While our roles may vary, we are all united by a common goal, to progress the game so that everyone can share in its heritage and possibilities.

About Us

As an organisation, the AFL works tirelessly in all states and at all levels to enhance and grow the game – from grassroots to elite. Together, we put on the game, deliver important events, communicate with our fans, run community programs, develop coaches and umpires, collaborate with partners, delight members, support clubs and so much more. While our roles may vary, we are all united by a common goal, to progress the game so that everyone can share in its heritage and possibilities.

The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/ Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and firmly believe that diversity and inclusion is an important part of both the AFL and the communities in which we operate. Our game is for everyone, and we strive to be a workplace for everyone.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE ROLE – This role is Max Term until approx August 2026

The Product Owner – Community Football Platforms plays a pivotal role in leading the development, support, and continuous improvement of the AFL's key digital platforms: PlayHQ and OfficialsHQ.

• PlayHQ is a shared digital platform used by major Australian sports including AFL, Basketball, Netball, and Cricket. It supports competition management, participant registration, payments, fixtures, and live scoring, offering a streamlined experience for clubs, leagues, and participants.
• OfficialsHQ is a specialised system for managing officials (e.g. umpires) and is used across multiple sports. It enables registration, appointment scheduling, match day reports, payment and communication.
  
  

These platforms are essential to the operations of community football, supporting registration, officiating, administration, and resource management across the national network. This role is responsible for managing vendor relationships, gathering and translating user requirements, overseeing platform enhancements, and ensuring optimal user engagement and training. The Product Owner will also lead platform-related projects, advocate for end users, and contribute to strategic planning and innovation.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Product Ownership & Strategy

• Contribute and help drive the vision and roadmap for PlayHQ and OfficialsHQ.
• Align platform capabilities with the strategic goals of the Game Development team.
• Own and continuously refine the product backlog to ensure it is well-prioritised, clearly defined,
• and aligned with strategic goals. Work with stakeholders to turn business needs and user pain points into actionable user stories, and prioritise based on value, effort, and impact.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary liaison for AFL stakeholders on platform operations and support, including issue escalation to vendors beyond first-line customer service provided by the AFL's Stakeholder Services Team.
• Collaborate across stakeholders (e.g., coaching, volunteers, umpires, participation, brand) to gather and prioritise user requirements.
  
  

Vendor Collaboration & Relationship Management

• Collaborate with AFL leaders to manage relationships with platform partners, ensuring delivery of fit-for-purpose solutions aligned with strategic priorities.
• Translate business and user requirements into clear specifications.
• Participate in planning, testing, and reviews with vendors.
• Benchmark other platforms and recommend relevant innovations.
  
  

Project Management

• Lead large-scale platform change initiatives across each platform.
• Define project scope, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and manage risks and dependencies.
• Communicate progress and outcomes to stakeholders.
• Demonstrate leadership, organization, and adaptability.
  
  

Training & Adoption

• Develop and deliver training programs and resources for staff, volunteers, and umpire coordinators.
• Drive adoption of new product features by developing clear change management plans, identifying impacted stakeholders, and delivering targeted communications across multiple channels. Support readiness through training, user guides, and other enablement resources to ensure a smooth transition.
• Manage and support users with elevated system access, ensuring appropriate use of permissions, adherence to governance protocols, and alignment with security and operational standards.
  
  

Support & Governance

• Act as a central support resource for AFL employees and leagues, guiding users and stakeholders to ensure platform functionality aligns with their needs and assisting in troubleshooting user requirements.
• Monitor platform performance, user adoption, and satisfaction.
• Maintain documentation, user guides, risk registers, and support materials.
• Support the Stakeholder Services team in identifying trends and managing complex tickets.
• Ensure product features and data practices align with privacy regulations and user expectations.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and technical teams to embed privacy considerations into product design, prioritise privacy-enhancing features, and support responsible data collection and usage.
  
  

Data & Reporting

• Report on platform usage, adoption, and impact.
• Collaborate with data analysts and use BI tools to extract insights.
• Use data to inform platform improvements and engagement strategies.
  
  

Innovation & Continuous Learning

• Lead pilot programs and trials of new technologies.
• Stay informed about industry trends and best practices.
  
  

Key Skills And Experience

• Proven experience as a Product Owner, Business Analyst, or similar role.
• Strong project management skills and experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience working with third-party vendors or SaaS platforms.
• Understanding of agile methodologies and product lifecycle management.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and training delivery skills.
• Familiarity with community sport workflows and digital platforms.
• Strong understanding of user experience (UX) principles and best practices.
  
  

Desirable

• Certification in Agile methodology (e.g., Scrum, SAFe), with credentials in Product Ownership such as CSPO or PSPO considered beneficial.
• Experience in PlayHQ or OfficialsHQ.
• Experience in sports administration or officiating.
• Understanding of data privacy, user access controls, and digital compliance.
  
  

OUR CULTURE

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THE PERKS

• Play The Day Your Way – a flexible approach to your working life
• My Development – lean into the AFL's My Development program consisting of on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring, and formal learning
• Play Well – access to our extensive Health and Wellbeing program centered around our belief in a healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy workplace
• My Benefits – with thanks to our AFL Corporate Partners, access great benefits and discounts
  
  

Applications Close: 11 August 2025Seniority level

• Seniority levelMid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionProduct Management and Marketing

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