Travel Manager (Men's RWC 2027)

Closing date for applications is 20th May 2026 

Full time Fixed Term Contract start July 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 Travel Manager to join our team in the Sydney CBD. Reporting to the Head of Transport, this position has end‑to‑end responsibility for planning, coordinating and managing all tournament travel for key stakeholders, including teams, match officials, tournament guests, World Rugby‑appointed staff and Rugby World Cup Australia employees. Acting as the central point of coordination, the Travel Manager works closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure travel operations are efficient, reliable and aligned with tournament timelines and service standards.

This role manages key supplier relationships, including airline partners and the Travel Management Company, oversees travel systems and processes, supports budget management, and helps identify and mitigate travel‑related risks. As the tournament approaches, the Travel Manager will build and lead a small travel team and play a hands‑on role through planning, live operations and post‑tournament phases. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced travel professional to contribute to one of the world’s largest sporting events and help set new standards for major event delivery.

• Plan, develop and deliver the end‑to‑end travel program for Rugby World Cup 2027, including commercial and charter travel, ensuring seamless delivery across all tournament phases.
• Manage and coordinate all travel requirements for key stakeholders, including Teams, Match Officials, Tournament Guests, World Rugby‑appointed staff and RWCA employees, acting as the central point of contact for all travel‑related matters.
• Lead and maintain strong operational relationships with airline partners and the Travel Management Company (TMC), ensuring high service standards, effective issue resolution and continuous optimisation.
• Work closely with internal departments across RWCA, World Rugby Events & Media, the wider Transport team, and Arrivals and Departures to deliver integrated and efficient travel operations.
• Support the development and use of the Tournament Management System (TMS) and Online Booking Tool (OBT), establish and communicate travel policies and booking guidelines, and provide training and support as required.
• Recruit and manage travel team members as the function scales, oversee travel expenditure in partnership with the Head of Transport, and ensure costs remain aligned with approved budgets and project plans.
• Identify and mitigate travel‑related risks, ensure delivery against tournament timelines, and contribute to reporting, knowledge transfer and post‑tournament debriefs to support organisational learning.

• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in the travel industry, ideally within sport or major events - mandatory
• Experience supporting single‑sport tournaments or complex, time‑critical travel programs – highly regarded
• Proven experience managing both commercial and charter travel, including airline engagement, schedule coordination and stakeholder servicing.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a broad and diverse stakeholder group, including internal teams, World Rugby partners, airlines and Travel Management Companies.
• Strong understanding of operational delivery within a project‑based environment, with experience working to fixed deadlines and managing multiple moving parts under pressure.
• Experience working with travel management systems, booking platforms and online booking tools; ability to support system development, process improvement and workforce training.
• Sound understanding of budget management and cost control, with the ability to track expenditure, support reporting and ensure compliance with approved budgets.
• Capability to build, lead and motivate teams as the function scales, with strong communication skills, attention to detail, diplomacy and the ability to remain calm and solutions‑focused in high‑pressure environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Flexibility to work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, and to adjust working patterns in line with business needs, particularly during tournament time to support operational delivery.

• 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 and learn with 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 with our team in our Sydney.

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.