Senior Image & Looks Manager (Men's RWC 2027)

Closing date for applications is 8 March 2026

Full time Fixed Term Contract start April 2026 until November 2027 Location: Sydney (Gadigal), Australia

Rugby World Cup Australia (RWCA) is proud to deliver one of the world’s most iconic sporting events — the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

More than a tournament, it’s a celebration of Rugby’s spirit, Australia’s culture, and the power of sport to unite and inspire communities around the world.

Rugby World Cup Australia is seeking a dynamic Senior Image & Look Manager to join our Sydney office, reporting to the Head of Venues. This senior leadership role is responsible for directing the end to end delivery of the Rugby World Cup 2027 Image and Look program. This position oversees all planning, design, production, procurement, budget management, and installation of venue dressing across match venues, training sites, and other tournament locations. Acting as the functional lead, the Senior Manager ensures all visual identity elements from wayfinding and signage to LED integration and venue theming are delivered to world class standards and aligned with operational, commercial, and stakeholder requirements. The role manages relationships with major suppliers, including RWCA’s primary Image and Look contractor, and ensures all work adheres to health, safety, and compliance standards.

• Leadership & Culture
• Lead the Image and Look Functional Area, including planning frameworks, delivery processes, and team structures.
• Recruit, manage, and develop the Image and Look team while fostering a positive and collaborative culture across RWCA and partners.
• Develop and maintain the tournament wide Image and Look Functional Area Operating Plan (FAOP).

Supplier & Contract Management

• Oversee day to day performance of the Image and Look contractor and key suppliers, ensuring delivery against KPIs, budgets, and timelines.
• Manage procurement, contracting, and performance monitoring for additional Image and Look services beyond the primary contractor’s scope.
• Implement effective change management processes across all supplier agreements.

Program Management & Venue Integration

• Direct the design, planning, approval, and installation of all Image and Look elements across match venues, training sites, and RWC facilities.
• Ensure designs meet Functional Area requirements and comply with RWCA commercial and brand guidelines, including management of commercial clean programs.
• Track all logistics and champion sustainability and value engineering solutions to optimise budgets and operational efficiency.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Integrate health and safety requirements into all Image and Look planning, installation, and contractor workflows.
• Ensure adherence to Australian regulations, local authority requirements, and international best practices.
• Oversee safe delivery of all installation activities across venues and facilities.

Planning, Reporting & Integration

• Represent Image and Look in venue operational planning, review processes, and approvals.
• Provide accurate reporting on budgets, risks, milestones, and overall project progress.
• Coordinate closely with venue management and support legacy planning and post event knowledge transfer.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Image & Look, venue dressing, overlay, brand implementation, or a comparable major event delivery role.
• Proven success delivering large scale or international events, with strong familiarity in operating within complex, multi venue environments.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including managing teams, driving performance, and fostering a positive, collaborative culture.
• Strong supplier and contract management experience, including procurement, negotiation, and oversight of contractors against KPIs and budget.
• Expertise in program management, with the ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver multiple workstreams under tight timelines.
• Solid understanding of brand and commercial compliance, including applying brand guidelines and managing commercial clean environments.
• Working knowledge of WHS and regulatory requirements relevant to installations, construction adjacent activities, and safe venue operations.
• Outstanding stakeholder, communication, and relationship building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse, multicultural environments.
• Ability to commit to work outside standard business hours to support even operations i.e. evenings, weekends, and public holidays
• Experienced working in international or multicultural environments, with an understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.

• Competitive salary: We know world-class talent deserves to be rewarded.
• Hybrid game plan: Work from home on Mondays and Fridays, with a 3-day in-office schedule (Tues–Thu), moving to full-time in-office in 2027 as the tournament approaches.
• Unbeatable location: A modern space across from Sydney’s Hyde Park, just a 5-minute walk from Town Hall, surrounded by public transport, great cafes, restaurants, and shops.
• Wellbeing first: Weekly fresh fruit, Lunch & Learns and a focus on keeping our team feeling their best on and off the field.
• Locker-room ready: Showers, fresh towels, and Dyson hair tools so you can reset and refresh any time.
• Team spirit: Weekly drinks and social catchups that celebrate wins big and small.
• Make your mark: Play a key role in bringing the third largest sporting event in the world to life right here in Australia!

Australia’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the game, celebrate our people and culture, and deliver lasting social and economic impact. At the heart of our mission is diversity, inclusion, and legacy ensuring Rugby’s growth benefits all and inspires a new generation of players, fans, and communities. Join us in shaping an unforgettable celebration of Rugby, culture, and community.

Please submit your CV (maximum 3 pages) outlining your suitability based on the requirements for the role via the APPLY NOW link. Only suitable candidates will be contacted.

In setting expectations, there will be a 2-round interview process in our Sydney office.

All applicants need to be able to obtain their own working rights in Australia.

We do not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies and no fees will be payable. 

Rugby World Cup Australia is committed to building a diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background and are happy to provide reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, which reflects the global sport we want to be and where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong.