Marketing and Communications Manager (Maternity Leave Cover)

Position: Marketing and Communications Manager (Maternity Leave Cover)

Salary: A competitive salary package will be negotiated based on experience

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Direct Reports: Digital Content and Engagement Officer, Seasonal Interns and work placement students

Term: Full time contract until 30 June 2027

Location: Softball Australia Headquarters – Sports House, Albert Park, Melbourne

Ready to step up to the plate? Softball Australia is on the hunt for a creative, organised, sport loving marketing and communications all rounder to join our team during an exciting time for the game — and help us deliver the world’s biggest women’s softball event right here on home soil.

This isn’t your average mat leave cover. This is your chance to help shape the story of Australian softball as we build towards the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027. If you love fast-paced environments, big campaigns, and bringing people together through sport, you’ll feel right at home with us.

Why Softball Australia?

We’re the National Sporting Organisation for softball, representing 23,000+ members and over 100,000 players nationwide, from grassroots legends to world class athletes. Our vision is simple: softball is for everybody, and we’re here to inspire heroes on the world stage.

Our values: Unified. Respect. Creative & Brave. Fun.

If that sounds like you, keep reading.

What You’ll be Doing

You’ll be the engine room behind Softball Australia’s marketing, communications and commercial activity – helping grow participation, build audiences, strengthen partnerships and elevate the profile of our sport on the road to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Finals 2027.

This is a hands-on role that sits at the centre of brand, media, digital, partnerships and major events. One day you might be planning a national campaign, the next managing a sponsor activation, coordinating media opportunities or helping deliver a World Cup milestone.

Your week might include:

• Leading national marketing and communications campaigns that grow awareness, participation and engagement
• Crafting compelling content and copy that inspires people to connect with softball
• Overseeing digital content planning and audience growth alongside our Digital Content & Engagement Officer
• Managing media opportunities, team announcements and high-profile event moments
• Working with photographers, videographers, broadcasters, designers and other suppliers to bring our stories to life
• Delivering the marketing and communications plan for the 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals
• Building strong relationships with commercial partners and delivering activations that create genuine value
• Identifying opportunities to support partnership growth and maximise sponsor engagement
• Managing merchandise and apparel initiatives that drive fan engagement and commercial outcomes
• Protecting and strengthening the Softball Australia brand across every touchpoint
• Collaborating with stakeholders across the sport to help deliver lasting impact for softball in Australia

What You Bring to the Team

• A degree in Marketing/Communications or equivalent experience
• Experience coordinating marketing and comms (bonus points if it’s in sport or a member-based organisation)
• Strong writing skills and a knack for social first content
• Confidence working across digital channels, campaigns and reporting
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Canva
• Data literacy — you know how to read the numbers and make smart recommendations
• Excellent organisation, time management and attention to detail
• A collaborative, proactive, solutions-focused mindset
• Ability to juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball
• A Working With Children Check (or willingness to obtain one)

What You’ll Love About This Role

• Your chance to build the stories for the Softball World Cup Finals
• A genuinely supportive, values-driven team
• The chance to work on a once-in-a-generation global event
• Hybrid flexibility — based at Sport House, Albert Park
• Real creative freedom and the ability to make your mark
• A role where your work directly grows a sport loved by thousands

Child Safeguarding Message

Softball Australia is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all children and young people participating in our sport.

We believe that children have the right to feel safe, respected and valued in all softball activities. Child safety is everyone’s responsibility and we expect all staff, volunteers, coaches, officials and participants to uphold the highest standards of behaviour.

At Softball Australia we have zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, or harm in any form and require all applicants that will work with children and young people to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment this may include a police check.

A copy of Softball Australia’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy can be found here softball.org.au/integrity/integrity-and-policies

Ready to Join the Team?

If you’re passionate about sport, storytelling and creating impact and you want a role where no two days look the same, we’d love to hear from you.

Step up to the plate and help us deliver something special.