Team Welcome Ceremonies Event Lead (Men's RWC 2027)

About the role

Rugby World Cup Australia is looking for a Team Welcome Ceremonies Event Lead to deliver the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027. The role is based in the Sydney CBD office, reports to the World Rugby Director of Corporate Events and runs alongside another Event Lead. It covers end-to-end planning and delivery of the 24 team welcome ceremonies across seven host cities, from venue selection and supplier management to event-day operations.

Key responsibilities

• Partner, plan and deliver 24 Team Welcome Ceremonies across seven host cities
• Turn ceremony concepts into operational plans, including schedules, budgets, checklists, risk documentation and delivery frameworks
• Coordinate venue selection, site visits, security, accreditation, transport, catering, branding and guest experience
• Procure, brief and manage suppliers, production partners and contractors
• Manage content and production, including scripts, run sheets, rehearsals, AV and protocols
• Lead event-day operations: bump-in, briefings, rehearsals, arrivals, live delivery and bump-out
• Maintain project reporting, budgets and risk registers, and support workforce and volunteer deployment

Required profile

• Minimum 3 years' experience planning and delivering live events, ideally in major sporting or international events
• Experience coordinating venues, suppliers and event-day operations
• Strong stakeholder management with experience working with VIPs, dignitaries and international teams
• Willingness to travel and to work evenings and weekends
• Ability to obtain unlimited working rights in Australia; no relocation package

Required skills

• Project, budget and event management tools
• Managing multiple concurrent events, schedules, budgets and risks
• Negotiation, collaboration and problem-solving in fast-paced environments

What we offer

• Fixed-term contract from February 2027 to November 2027
• Hybrid model: four days per week in the office (Mon–Thu), becoming full-time as the tournament approaches
• Weekly fresh fruit, wellbeing initiatives and Lunch & Learn sessions
• On-site showers, towels and hair tools
• Regular team events and weekly catch-ups

Applicants submit a CV (maximum 3 pages) through the online application link; only shortlisted candidates are contacted, and the process includes a two-stage interview in the Sydney office.