Head of Ticketing (RWC 2027 LOC)

***CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SUNDAY 24TH NOVEMBER***

HEAD OF TICKETING (RWC 2027 LOC)

FIXED-TERM CONTRACT UNTIL END OF DECEMBER 2027

BASED IN SYDNEY

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) Australia Local Operating Company (LOC) is searching for an experienced, motivated and innovative Head of Ticketing to join our team!

The Head of Ticketing will be responsible for implementing the Ticketing Strategies for RWC 2027 as set by World Rugby, working closely with the World Rugby Events & Media (WREM) Global Ticketing Team. You will build, recruit and lead a dedicated ticketing team covering roles across tickets sales, marketing and operations and play a crucial role in delivering the tournament’s revenue and attendance objectives.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be a part of a global event that will set new standards and drive the growth of Rugby. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about sport, understand the power it has to make a difference and have a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion for the event. You will be part of a team that aims to inspire a new generation of audiences and participants.

About the role

• Responsible for the implementation of the tournament ticketing strategy
• Support the Head of Global Ticket Sales to develop and implement the local strategies to deliver against tournament ticket sales revenue targets
• Lead the development and execution of world leading and fit for purpose B2C and B2B ticketing systems, integrating contractual obligations and maximising revenue opportunities
• Support the Head of Global Ticketing Operations to define the ticketing operational plans and structures for the tournament to enable and ensure delivery of world leading ticketing services, while always enabling tournament revenue and attendance objectives
• Define, manage and monitor venue seating bowl manifests, seat assignment, ticket quota and ticket distribution
• Recruit and manage the local Ticketing team across sales and operational roles
• Build, maintain, monitor and report on a detailed tournament ticketing project plan – working closely with the program management team as well as Ticketmaster
• Ensure efficient and effective integration with the WREM ticketing management team and provide local insights, sales results and trends to help inform strategies
• Lead the local relationship with Ticketmaster
• Ensure that all key ticket sales dates are met in a timely manner and implemented across all relevant Functional Areas and partners including marketing, comms, venue ops, TSP etc.
• Monitor and report on tournament specific sales and marketing budgets
• Contribute to the communications plan and customer journey elements for ticket holders
• Forge and manage important relationships internally and externally

About you

• You have proven experience leading high profile ticketing projects for Major Events in Australia and implementing effective ticketing strategies to achieve sales targets
• You have a deep knowledge of ticket sales and operational processes and systems, and familiarity with the latest ticketing technologies
• You have strong data analysis skills to identify trends and opportunities - you derive value from data sets to enable immediate and/or future decision making, and understand the confidentiality requirements of data
• You are an excellent communicator, highly personable and can build strong relationships with colleagues and a diverse range of stakeholders quickly
• You have the proven ability to collaborate with colleagues to effectively deliver on mutual objectives
• You have strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and help drive an organisational culture that enables others to perform at their best
• You have meticulous attention to detail, exceptional organisational skills, the ability to prioritise and multitask, and remain calm under pressure
• You are adept at working under pressure in a fast-paced environment, delivering work to deadlines and honouring commitments
• You are flexible to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, depending on event schedules

About us

World Rugby is the international federation responsible for the global development of Rugby. It’s strategic mission is to accelerate the growth of Rugby, inspiring more people to engage with the sport. Australia’s hosting of Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2029 are at the heart of that mission, representing an exciting growth opportunity for Rugby in Australia, the region, and the global game more broadly.

Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting and entertainment brands in the world and the dual men’s and women’s hosting model creates a transformative opportunity to showcase the very best of Rugby and Australia to an unprecedented global audience.

The 2027 tournament will be a nationwide celebration of the sport, its values and Australia’s cities, culture and people, engaging new audiences and inspiring a new generation of fans and players. In Australia, the tournament is expected to generate $1.3B in direct visitor expenditure across Australia from more than 250,000 international visitors and inject a further $80m into the Australia economy as a result of hosting in 2027 alone.

With women and the heart of World Rugby’s growth mission, Rugby World Cup 2029 represents a transformative opportunity take the sport to the next level. Women’s Rugby is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and the fanbase growing at a faster rate than other sports with 166 million fans globally. The commercial value of women’s Rugby is expected to grow by 10x over the next decade, which is great for Australia.

Hosting both tournaments also presents a fantastic opportunity for Rugby Australia to harness the power of the Rugby World Cup and grow its participation across Australia.

Whilst the LOC has carriage of both the 2027 and 2029 RWC’s, all roles are being recruited on the basis of working to deliver 2027, with a contract end date reflective of the successful conclusion of 2027. All roles within the LOC will be reviewed at the appropriate point in time to determine whether they will be extended to cover 2029 and to suit the needs of the business at that time.

Flexible working

The role offers hybrid working during the initial phases of planning, noting that as the event draws near the role will be required to be full time in the office integrating with the rest of the team. The current planning is based on:

• 2024 & 2025 – 4 Days in the office (Mon-Thu)
• 2026 and 2027 – Full time in the office

How to apply

Please submit your CV (maximum 3 pages), along with a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.

RWC 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. 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. RWC 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. 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.