About Us
History is being made in Perth! The Bears are coming to the NRL in 2027, and we’re looking for passionate people to help us build something incredible from the ground up. This is your chance to be part of the action, working behind the scenes of a professional sporting club as we prepare to roar onto the national stage.
If you love sport, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want to be part of rugby league history, this is your moment.
The Opportunity
As we prepare for our entry into the National Rugby League in 2027, we are seeking a Head of Media & Communications to lead the Perth Bears’ media strategy, public communications, and narrative management. This role shapes and amplifies the club’s voice across all channels – from media relations and corporate communications to broadcast and digital content. Reporting to the General Manager – Commercial, this key role ensures the Perth Bears are proactively crafting the club’s story externally and internally, while responding constructively to the fast-moving sports media landscape.
What You’ll Do
Media Strategy
- Develop and implement the Perth Bears’ media and stakeholder strategy, aligned with the club’s commercial and fan engagement objectives.
- Develop a communications framework in conjunction with Perth Bears executive, ensuring the club is prepared to respond to issues swiftly and confidently.
- Shape the voice of the club across all media touchpoints.
- Develop a stakeholder engagement plan including a comprehensive communications framework.
- Lead the curation of “behind the scenes” stories and player narratives to foster emotional connection with the fanbase, working closely with Marketing and the Football Department.
Media Relations & Communications
- Serve as the primary media contact and spokesperson coordinator for the Perth Bears.
- Write and distribute media releases, match reports, player announcements, and club communications.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local, state, and national sports media outlets and journalists.
- Coordinate and manage all media access to players, coaches, and club officials.
- Provide media training and guidance to players and staff as required.
- Report on media metrics and coverage.
Corporate Communications
- Develop a government stakeholder strategy and establish and maintain relationships with government stakeholders, serving as the liaison between the club and relevant officials.
- Develop a community outreach communications plan in conjunction with Football, Pathways and Community teams that aims to leverage Perth Bears involvement in community and local game participation.
- Manage internal communications, alongside the People & Culture function, to ensure staff, players, and key stakeholders are informed and aligned.
Content Creation & Social Media
- Collaborate with Marketing to develop the club’s content calendar across all digital platforms, ensuring media priorities are reflected.
- Monitor analytics and audience engagement data, using insights to continuously refine strategy and improve reach.
- In collaboration with the content team, assist in the planning and publishing of video content including match highlights, player interviews, training footage, and promotional material.
Start-up phase deliverable
- Develop and execute a “Road to 2027” media strategy in collaboration with the Executive team.
- Develop and launch a communications framework in collaboration with the Executive team.
- Establish the club’s government and key stakeholder communications strategy.
- Deliver a steady stream of high-quality, engaging, and shareable content from day one.
- Establish key media relationships across state and national sports desks.
- Implement workflows and production processes that support consistent, scalable content output.
- Build on the Perth Bears’ social media presence across all major platforms.
What We’re Looking For
- Demonstrated experience in a media, content, or communications leadership role – ideally in sport, entertainment, or a high-profile consumer brand.
- Strong skills in social media management, digital content creation, and audience growth.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including media release writing.
- Proven ability to build and manage media relationships.
- Experience in stakeholder or government relations, including developing engagement strategies and managing senior external relationships.
- Experience with media monitoring platforms (e.g. Meltwater or similar).
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performance environment with tight deadlines.
- Familiarity with the WA sports landscape, NRL and media environment.
- Experience leveraging AI tools for content production and workflow efficiency.
- Tertiary qualifications in Communications, Journalism, Media, or a related field.
Working in a Start-Up Environment
The Perth Bears are a start-up organisation in a critical foundation phase. This position is intentionally hands-on and will initially operate with lean support structures.
You will be fully accountable for building the club’s media and communications framework from scratch. You will design, build and deliver concurrently while the club grows around you. This is not a role with layers of administration or inherited systems. You will be required to design processes, integrate technology platforms, build relationships, solve problems in real time, and deliver outcomes concurrently.
Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, strong personal accountability, and the ability to move seamlessly between strategic planning and hands-on execution. As the club scales, there will be significant opportunities to shape the future structure and resourcing of the function.
Why Join Us
This is more than a job — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the success of Perth’s new NRL team. You’ll be part of a start-up phase where your ideas, energy and leadership will directly influence the club’s future.
• This is a rare opportunity to build a team entirely from the ground up, within a high-profile, values-driven organisation
• Work in a dynamic, ambitious and supportive start-up culture
• Leave your mark on rugby league in Western Australia
How to Apply
If you’re ready to join one of the most exciting new ventures in Australian sport, we want to hear from you. Apply now with your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you’re the right person to build the Bears’ future.
You will be sent a pre-screening questionnaire after submitting your application.
Important Information
This role is based on-site in Perth, Western Australia.
The Perth Bears are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability.
Please note, the Perth Bears do not accept unsolicited applications or requests for employment sent directly to the Club. Only applications submitted through the advertised channels will be considered.
Applications will be reviewed as received, we encourage early applications, as interviews may commence prior to the advertised closing date, and the ad will be closed early should a suitable candidate be identified.
This role is not open to recruitment agencies.
