PAUL STEPHENSON
Summary
Experienced Sports Administration professional with a strong record of optimizing processes and driving efficiency. Focused on team collaboration, strategic planning, and achieving measurable results. Skilled at adapting to changing needs and leading cross-functional teams. Emotionally intelligent people manager, with demonstrated expertise in project management, process improvement, and resource allocation, resulting in enhanced operational performance. Known for dependability and a results-driven approach to consistently deliver exceptional outcomes.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager Stakeholder Engagement and Pathways
Gold Coast Titans
10.2023 - Current
- Drove the creation and implementation of a Strategic Plan for the Future Titans program, elite pathways, and recruitment/retention initiatives, delivering measurable outcomes aligned with the club's vision for player development and team success.
- Built and sustained strong, collaborative relationships with local leagues, affiliate clubs, and governing bodies, facilitating consistent communication to ensure alignment and mutual support across all stakeholders.
- Developed, managed, seasonalised and tracked budgets reflecting the strategic priorities of high-performance programs, implementing detailed operational plans to achieve key performance indicators within budget constraints.
NRL Football Operations Manager
Gold Coast Titans
11.2021 - 10.2023
- Plan and execute preseason training plans including the use of fields, strength and wrestle gyms, pools and recovery facilities
- Manage stakeholders including affiliate clubs including club expectations and communication
- Liaise with coaches on movement of players and staff in pathway competitions
- Assist in NRL auditing process of top30 players playing in second tier competitions
- In conjunction with head coach and performance manager, plan and execute team travel including flights, bus transfers, hotels and training venues
- Co-ordinate equipment and apparel movement
- Liaise with restaurants on dietary requirement of players and staff
- Coordinate the onboarding of new NRL players by sourcing accommodation, induction and linking with wellbeing
- Track and organise the heat sealing of milestone jersey heat-sealing or embroidery
- Handle the registration of players and team submission with the NRL during season
- Manage the ordering of team apparel and in conjunction with performance and medical staff coordinate the ordering and of consumables including food and supplements for players
- Coordinate the set-up of NRL team change rooms on game day including sponsor and team signage
- Manage the service of football department equipment including gym and recovery facilities
- Manage players and football department staff game day ticketing requirements
State Manager of Match Officials
Queensland Rugby league
02.2020 - 11.2021
- As State Manager of Match Officials for QLD Rugby League, I have fostered a success-oriented culture of accountability within the High Performance Unit where resources are used effectively and efficiently to achieve objectives
- I have developed a QLD Rugby League match officials strategic plan that was approved by the QRL board, and aims to increasing the number of referees of QLD origin, refereeing in the NRL
- I built a pathways document aimed at clarifying the pathway for community officials, to gain entry into the high performance unit, and beyond to the NRL
- As part of my role, I sit in the performance and pathways team at QRL
- I have a very good understanding of the pathways competitions across NSW and QLD that act as feeder competitions to our NRL clubs, and the issues facing players at the sub elite level
- ACHIEVEMENTS
- Developed a QLD Rugby League Match Official Strategic Plan and Pathways document approved by QRL Board
- Established an effective and collaborative working relationship with colleagues within the NRL match official’s unit
- Built a best practice talent identification network working close with the RDO networks cross the state to ensure aspiring referees have a clear and accessible pathway to major competitions
- Establish a reporting system and match evaluation process that enables decision making effectiveness to be regularly measured and reported
- Develop an annual budget for approval and actively monitor program expenses to ensure activities are delivered within agreed budgets
- Improved stakeholder engagement with the13 Referee Associations across the state by holding question and answer information’s sessions, to empower associations to make decisions
- RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage team workload to maximise productivity while ensuring team members are supported in wellbeing and flexibility initiatives; manage contractor relationships
- Provide exceptional leadership ensuring policies, procedures, and all other employment activities are performed, adhered to and addressed
- Foster and empower people in the team to deliver quality results and focus on driving & developing high achievers in the team
- Encourage and oversee effective internal communication of direct reports to facilitate strong cross-departmental collaboration
- Provides collaborative leadership to the team while being self-motivated and results driven
- Demonstrate hands-on problem solving to generate ideas and solutions
- Represent the Whole of Game beliefs and desired behaviours
Chief Executive Officer
Tweed Heads Seagulls R.L.F.C
01.2018 - 02.2020
- As the CEO of Tweed Heads Seagulls RLFC, I have driven and delivered the strategic and operational plans that aligned with the Vision and Values of the club
- I am required to have a high level of stakeholder engagement across the Queensland Rugby League, National Rugby League, commercial partners, media, volunteers and members to drive and articulate the strategic aims and business direction of the organisation with confidence and integrity
- Working within an Affiliate football club environment, I am responsible for the management of the day to day operations of the Football Club, including all the financial and human resources, driving and developing the business consistent with the agreed strategic plan and direction of the Board
- RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategy
- In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develop and implement a corporate vision, Strategic Plan and annual business plan for the Club to achieve the stated goals and aims across the whole-of-business in the short and long term
- Develop and manage the Seagulls improvement strategy for the clubs Facilities including playing fields, gymnasium, change rooms and office space, so we can stay competitive in our competition, and be a sustainable club in the future
- Business Management
- Autonomy in running the business operations, including employing, and managing the Tweed Heads Seagulls4 fulltime, and10 casual employees
- As well as overseeing numerous volunteers and part-time assistants
- Negotiations for contracting players, and overall responsibility for the management of the player roster
- Development of all club budgets including, sponsorship, player payments, apparel, staff wages development spend
- Weekly and monthly Board reporting
- Leadership
- Provide strong, effective leadership and direction to the Seagulls and its feeder Clubs to ensure future growth, development and promotion through well executed commercial and event related programs
- Build a high trust environment underpinning productivity, energy and collaboration across the organisation
- Build, lead and develop a team to deliver against planned objectives, identifying areas for employee development, and provide ongoing coaching and player development pathways
- Articulate a vision for the club that is innovative, market leading, and commercially sustainable, generating enthusiasm and a shared commitment across the staff, coaches, players, volunteers and all stakeholders
- Commercial
- Identify and develop stable and diverse revenue streams, underpinning the delivery of the Club programs, services, and activities across all revenue generating areas
- In conjunction with the Board, manage the Club operations in a transparent, efficient and profitable way, creating a commercially sustainable Football Club irrespective of on-field performance
- This will include development of annual budgets and facilities upgrades and management of costs, including cash flow, facilities upgrades, financial reporting and budget control
- Coordinate and manage all Club events ensuring the Club builds a reputation of providing best in class service, identifying opportunities to fundraise and enhance return on investment for Club
- Plan, lead and grow digital strategies to identify emerging opportunities
- Technical
- Provide overall management to guide and support the Coaching staff to assist with recruitment and retention of players, with focus on building a sustainable talent development pathway to attract high potential recruits from juniors through to Intrust Super Cup
- Develop and enhance relationships across all key stakeholders from Board, staff, sponsors, other Clubs, media, players, and members through strong brand and communication programs to enhance the Norths Devils brand
- Actively support and develop community programs, establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to enhance the Club brand
- Facilitate game day operations (both at home and away fixtures) and management of home game volunteers and staff for events
Sponsorship and Player Wellbeing Manager
Tweed Heads Seagulls R.L.F.C
01.2017 - 01.2018
- RESPONSIBILITIES
- Sponsorship
- Develop leads with prospective commercial partners
- Creatively use sponsorship assets to build innovative sponsorship and partnership packages
- Pro-actively sourcing and securing sponsors for all grades throughout the club
- Manage all contractual rights and work with sponsors to deliver their activation goals and benefits
- Be the central point of contact internally and externally for all partner and sponsor related activity
- Ensure all invoicing is submitted to sponsors and accounts are in order
- Work closely with colleagues to ensure they are aware of sponsorship partners and activations
- Host and manage sponsors at all cub events and on game day
- Program Development and Management
- Develop, implement and annually review social responsibility and personal development programs for all contracted players, staff and volunteers from the U/16’s junior representative teams to retiring State Cup players
- These programs complemented the “whole of game” wellbeing and education strategy and align with all State, National, Affiliated NRL Club and State Cup Club policies
- With the support of State and NRL staff, affiliated NRL Club coordinate the Clubs attendance, delivery and evaluation of mandated Wellbeing and Education programs such as the Rookie Camps, Semi Pro Days and Better Choices training events
- Coordinate the Clubs Welfare and Education Committee that contains representatives from senior management, football management, senior coaching, senior playing group and wellbeing staff
- Welfare Support
- Manage the Clubs relationship with the NRL/RLPA free and confidential counselling service provider and ensure all players, staff and immediate families are aware of this service and how to connect
- Develop a network of other specialised counselling; mental health/wellness support services that the players, staff and immediate families can access as required
- Provide regular awareness sessions for all players, staff and families on all relevant
- Wellbeing Programs
- With the support of the State and affiliated NRL Clubs Wellbeing, staff provide opportunities for every player to develop an individual Wellbeing plan
- Deliver wellbeing messages and activities to all contracted players and staff, which may include relocation assessment for young players, homestay arrangements, flourishing scales, resilience journals, cultural and spiritual leadership, financial literacy and healthy relationships
- Career Wise Support
- Providing career-coaching support to all Club contracted players from the U/16’s to retiring State Cup players
- This may include the delivery of career wise workshops, education and vocational support, one on one career coaching and Job networking opportunities
- With the support of the affiliated NRL Club career coaches and wellbeing, staff establish a network of educational, vocational and employment providers for all players and staff
Acquisitions Manager – Investor Developer Program
Positive Advisory
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Research and acquire development sited for clients
- Ascertain financial viability of developments through feasibility statements and market research
- Negotiate land and build contracts
- Project manage development process by liaising with local councils, builders, clients and financial institutions
- Present to groups of perspective clients and sell the benefits of our program
Licensed Real Estate Agent and Principal of iThink Property Gold Coast
iThink Property Pty Ltd
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Manage a sales team and administration staff
- Appraising properties
- Obtaining listings of properties for sale
- Marketing the property
- Seeking out and introducing buyers
- Offering advice on current market conditions
- Arranging and overseeing inspections
- Negotiating the sale
- Liaising with legal representatives
- My primary focus with iThink property was to help expand the business and oversee the opening of Gold Coast franchise
- IThink property Gold Coast is now profitable business with great team culture
Golf Business Development Executive South East QLD
Coca Cola Amatil
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Golf Business Development Executive South East QLD (2012 –2014)
- Business Development Executive Coca Cola Licensed Division (2010 –2012)
- Business Development Executive Independent Immediate consumption (2009 –2010)
- The key accountability for these roles was to grow the volume (physical case / unit case) & net contribution $$ targets for my designated territories which spanned across various South East Queensland precincts, encouraging repeat business through excellent customer service, strategy development & re-signing accounts
- I achieved results through: delivering excellent customer service & encouraging repeat business, the development of strong Daily, Weekly Monthly strategic & tactical execution plans, Fact based selling led me to winning viable new business, all these were critical to deliver strong year on year growth targets (including Non-Alcoholic, Spirits & RTD, Beer & Cider)
- Strengths that I brought to this role were:
- Strong sales & negotiation abilities
- Enthusiasm to learn and contribute to a high performing team environment
- Honest two way communication with my customers & management team
- Problem decision making skills, business acumen, computer literacy across Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- Key achievements
- Successfully signed6 new businesses from our direct competitors to long term, mutually beneficial agreements, gaining an incremental net contribution growth of $200,000 pa to Coca Cola
- Increased the profit from my top10 customers by10% or more for2013
- Achieved Sales rep of the month amongst Brisbane market team3 times in2013
Business Development Executive
Immediate consumption
01.2009 - 01.2010
- The key accountability for these roles was to grow the volume (physical case / unit case) & net contribution $$ targets for my designated territories which spanned across various South East Queensland precincts, encouraging repeat business through excellent customer service, strategy development & re-signing accounts
- I achieved results through: delivering excellent customer service & encouraging repeat business, the development of strong Daily, Weekly Monthly strategic & tactical execution plans, Fact based selling led me to winning viable new business, all these were critical to deliver strong year on year grow targets (including Non-Alcoholic, Spirits &
- RTD, Beer & Cider)
- Strengths that I brought to this role were:
- Strong sales & negotiation abilities
- Enthusiasm to learn and contribute to a high performing team environment
- Honest two way communication with my customers & management team
- Problem decision making skills, business acumen, computer literacy across Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- Key achievements
- Successfully signed 6 new businesses from our direct competitors to long term, mutually beneficial agreements, gaining an incremental net contribution growth of $200,000 pa to Coca Cola
- Increased the profit from my top 10 customers by 10% or more for 2013
- Achieved Sales rep of the month amongst Brisbane market team 3 times in 2013
Professional Footballer
Cronulla Sharks NRL Club - 12 NRL Games
01.2007 - 11.2008
- Selected as a member of the Leadership Group
- Mentor younger and less experienced players
- Provide leadership in personal and professional behaviours
- Liaise with Head Coach, Ricky Stuart, on behalf of the players
- Attend networking functions with sponsors at promotional events
- Attend sponsor arranged promotional events to represent the Cronulla Sharks
- Further develop existing relationship with key stakeholders to provide mutually beneficial outcomes
- Represent the Cronulla Sharks at Fan Days and other public relation events
- Actively participate in fan days to promote the Cronulla Sharks
- Visit special needs and sick children in conjunction with Ronald McDonald House.
Professional Footballer
Manly Sea Eagles - 45 NRL Games
01.2004 - 11.2006
- Strict disciplinary codes and guidelines; - Ensure compliance with team ethics and behavioural standards requirements
- Contribute to the team dynamics to ensure a successful outcome was achieved
- Self-management of motivation and drive; - Be self-driven to complete both supervised and unsupervised training and development requirements - As a senior player, provide leadership to all new and younger players in the club
- Provide feedback to coaching staff and fellow players; - Open and honest communication with the above mentioned to identify development opportunities within the playing roster
- This behaviour provides opportunity to address issues that may prevent the team performing as an effective team.
Education
Bachelor of Business - Sports Management
Torrens University
Elite Athlete Wellbeing -
Wellbeing Science Institute
Certificate III - Business Management
Certificate II - Sports and Recreation
High School Certificate - undefined
QLD Real Estate Sales License certificate IV - undefined
Skills
- 2024 Australian Kangaroos Prime Ministers 13 Team Manager
- 2023 - 24 Queensland U/19s State of Origin Team Manager
Timeline
Manager Stakeholder Engagement and Pathways
Gold Coast Titans
10.2023 - Current
NRL Football Operations Manager
Gold Coast Titans
11.2021 - 10.2023
State Manager of Match Officials
Queensland Rugby league
02.2020 - 11.2021
Chief Executive Officer
Tweed Heads Seagulls R.L.F.C
01.2018 - 02.2020
Sponsorship and Player Wellbeing Manager
Tweed Heads Seagulls R.L.F.C
01.2017 - 01.2018
Acquisitions Manager – Investor Developer Program
Positive Advisory
01.2016 - 01.2017
Licensed Real Estate Agent and Principal of iThink Property Gold Coast
iThink Property Pty Ltd
01.2014 - 01.2016
Golf Business Development Executive South East QLD
Coca Cola Amatil
01.2012 - 01.2014
Business Development Executive
Immediate consumption
01.2009 - 01.2010
Professional Footballer
Cronulla Sharks NRL Club - 12 NRL Games
01.2007 - 11.2008
Professional Footballer
Manly Sea Eagles - 45 NRL Games
01.2004 - 11.2006
Certificate III - Business Management
Certificate II - Sports and Recreation
High School Certificate - undefined
QLD Real Estate Sales License certificate IV - undefined
Bachelor of Business - Sports Management
Torrens University
Elite Athlete Wellbeing -
Wellbeing Science Institute
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