Vida is looking for an Operations & Sports Development Manager to join our team and help grow connections, programs and participation across our sports. We are seeking an energetic and highly organized candidate to bridge the gap between operational delivery, growth and planning.

The role will primarily focus on Tennis but have cross over to Football, Basketball, Fitness and our Recovery facility.

About Vida

Vida is a culture-driven company with a vision to create life opportunities through sport. Our five core values underpin our culture and environment, and although all our venues have their own distinct identities, there is a common atmosphere of passion, fun, teamwork, growth, community, and exceptional shared experiences.

Vida started in Tennis, more than two decades ago, and sees an average of three thousand participants per week in coaching programs as well as delivering over 150 tennis events annually. Vida Tennis is recognised as a Tennis Australia Talent Development Hub and has an extensive school network of delivery.

The Vida network now encompasses Footy, Basketball, Fitness and Recovery.

Vida Footy delivers premier coach education, junior association programs, and localized club development frameworks to Australian Rules Football clubs across Melbourne.

The Role

We are seeking an energetic, highly organized, and strategic Operations & Sports Development Manager to join our Melbourne based team. This position is ideal for a sports administrator who loves to work in a team environment to help grow a variety of sports programs and events.

You will use program coordination and targeted promotional frameworks to drive grassroots participation, support our coaching workforce, manage tournaments and events, and expand our schools and club networks across Melbourne.

- Company: Vida
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria (Based across multiple Melbourne facilities)
- Work Type: Full-time (Minimum 38 hours per week)
- Classification: Sports & Recreation > Coaching & Sports Development
- Salary: Will be based on experience & qualifications relevant to the role and our internal pay scale. The salary range will start from $80,000 per annum (base) plus superannuation, with the opportunity for performance incentives.

Core Responsibilities & Duties

- Event & Tournament Management: Oversee the planning, coordination,



and end-to-end delivery of Vida Tennis’s annual calendar of 150+ tournaments, competitive match play events, and junior experiences across venues.
- Software Integration: Support the implementation of our Software partners across the network; OutCoach, XPoint, Tournament Planner and CRM management systems
- School & Grassroots Program Delivery: Design, implement, and coordinate structured development programs across network primary and secondary schools, driving student recruitment and building active retention pathways into permanent club coaching frameworks.
- Participation Development - Marketing & Campaigns: Support and co-ordinate with our Office Manager and Marketing team in the promotion of events, tournaments, offers and participation initiatives.
- Session Delivery: Deliver on-court introductory tennis sessions within primary schools or club facilities to new participants. Support the delivery of coaching programs where required.
- Coach Education & Workforce Support: Support, advise, and provide ongoing resource distribution to our coaching team of 100+. Arrange coach education programs, workshops, and curriculum delivery for local clubs, schools, and Junior Football Associations through Vida Footy.
- Program Monitoring & Evaluation: Complete quarterly strategic plan reports on our key metrics; participation numbers, match play numbers, school engagement, retention, player progression.
- Talent Identification: Helping to identify promising athletic talent and providing pathways or connections to Academy Programs, both internal and external to Vida.
- Facility & Stakeholder Management: Manage daily facility operations, equipment inventories, and safety compliance across managed venues. Liaise professionally with local city councils, schools, regional sports clubs, and governing bodies (such as Tennis Australia).
- Community Grant Administration:



Utilize strategic planning and communication to engage a variety of community demographics. Assist in compiling data-driven applications for local, state, and federal sports grants.

Key Selection Criteria (Skills & Experience)
- Work Experience: A minimum of 2 to 3 years of highly relevant experience working directly within sports administration, community program delivery, or sports development frameworks.
- Education / Qualification: An AQF Diploma, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree in Sports Management, Sports Development, Marketing, Business, or a highly related discipline ia highly regarded.
- Tennis Australia and/or AFL coach qualifications are also highly regarded.
- Technical Capabilities: Proven ability to manage sporting event logistics, coordinate school-based education programs, and manage facility operations.
- Software IQ: A robust understanding of Sports specific software or an ability to learn new software end-to-end.
- Sports Governance: An understanding of regulatory frameworks, child protection laws (e.g., Working with Children Checks), and safety policies within sporting environments.
- Outreach Skills: Strong capability to utilize promotional, communication, and digital engagement strategies to drive grassroots sports enrollment and community participation (experience mapping marketing concepts directly to sports delivery is highly valued).
- Compliance & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication skills, a collaborative leadership style, and an active Victoria Working with Children Check (WWCC). A strong understanding of Australian sports governance is preferred.
- Values: Alignment with the Vida Tennis values. The ability to develop and build strong professional relationships with the Vida Team, students, parents, club members and the tennis community.
- Personal Traits: Well organised and a love of learning and growing your knowledge. Show initiative and creativity

If you think we would be a great fit for each other and want to be part of our team, then please apply. International applicants may apply, but a follow-up discussion regarding your visa status (Working Holiday, subclass 408 or 482 ) and future plans would be required to determine if you could join the team.

Please email all inquiries and information to [email protected]

📌 Operations & Sports Development Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Vida Tennis
📍 Melbourne