NZ Rugby

NZR Executive Vacancies

Check out our current Executive roles below

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

 

  • Shape rugby's global future while honouring its heritage
  • Champion Te Ara Rangatira values across every level of the game
  • Apply your global leadership expertise to rugby's premier stage

 

 

Inspire and Unify through Rugby

New Zealand Rugby is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as Chief Executive Officer through a period of significant transformation and growth. Following some change within New Zealand Rugby, including the integration of commercial and rugby operations at the executive level, NZR is entering a new chapter requiring outstanding leadership on the national and global stages.

 

 

About New Zealand Rugby

Rugby is a key part of New Zealand's identity and global reputation, fostering pride, unity and cultural expression. As one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, NZR leads, supports, grows and promotes the game at all levels - from community rugby through to Teams in Black.

 

 

The Opportunity

This position requires someone with exceptional leadership skills, character and values that reflect rugby's unique place in New Zealand's cultural identity, while driving sustainable commercial and brand growth. The role will operate on the world stage while remaining deeply connected to grassroots rugby.

 

“Lead a global business and foster a thriving community game.” - David Kirk, Chair, NZR

 

The CEO must navigate complex stakeholder relationships, drive commercial innovation and maintain rugby's position as New Zealand's national game. We are seeking a visionary leader who can honour rugby's rich heritage while positioning the sport for global success, and who understands that rugby's strength comes from its community foundations.

 

 

Key responsibilities include:

 

  • Leading organisational integration and transformation
  • Driving strategic execution and operational excellence
  • Building stakeholder relationships across diverse communities
  • Ensuring financial sustainability and commercial growth
  • Championing The Rugby Way values and cultural authenticity
  • Supporting Teams in Black to maintain world-leading performance

 

 

What Candidates Will Bring

  • Exceptional commercial success in revenue optimization, media rights and sponsorship
  • Executive leadership across complex, multi-stakeholder organizations with proven results
  • Transformational change delivery in large-scale organizational environments
  • Board-level governance expertise with sophisticated financial management capabilities
  • Sports, membership or not-for-profit sector experience preferred

 

The position is likely to be located in Auckland.

 

A competitive package will be offered to attract exceptional leadership talent capable of delivering on both global commercial objectives and community rugby development across New Zealand's largest sports organisation.

 

New Zealand Rugby is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

 

 

To Apply

 

This recruitment process is being run by Sheffield Search. To apply in confidence, please apply here

 

Applications close 5 September 2025.

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY - CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

 

 

  • Lead Corporate Services including Group Strategy and Planning functions
  • Drive commercial innovation through global rugby partnerships
  • Apply your sophisticated finance expertise to rugby's premier stage
     

 

Inspire and Unify through Rugby

 

New Zealand Rugby is seeking an exceptional financial leader to serve as Chief Finance Officer during a period of unprecedented transformation and growth. After significant change within New Zealand Rugby, including the integration of commercial and rugby operations at the executive level, NZR is entering a new chapter requiring transformational financial leadership.

 

 

About New Zealand Rugby

Rugby is a key part of New Zealand's identity and global reputation, fostering pride, unity and cultural expression. As one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, we lead, support, grow and promote the game at all levels - from community rugby through to our Teams in Black.

 

 

The Opportunity

This is a sophisticated financial leadership position that demands someone with exceptional skills, character and values who can deliver on rugby's unique place in New Zealand's cultural identity while driving sustainable commercial growth. You'll operate on the world stage whilst staying deeply connected to Kiwi grassroots rugby.

 

“Lead a global business and foster a thriving community game.” - David Kirk, Chair, NZR

 

This is not a traditional CFO role. The position is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and strategic advisor to the CEO, Board and Risk, Investment and Audit Committee. The appointee will lead Corporate Services including Group Strategy and Planning & Performance, while performing an enterprise leadership role implementing the NZR strategic business plan. NZR is seeking a strategic financial leader who can honour rugby's rich heritage while positioning the sport for global commercial success, and who understands rugby's grassroots nature.

 

 

Key responsibilities include

  • Strategic financial leadership and commercial acumen across the New Zealand Rugby Group
  • Leading Corporate Services including Group Strategy and Planning & Performance functions
  • Key strategic, risk and financial advisor to CEO, Executive, Board and Risk, Investment and Audit Committee
  • Overseeing joint ventures and commercial investments to maximise returns and protect NZR's brand and reputation
  • Driving strategic programmes for long-term financial sustainability and growth
  • Leading enterprise risk management and business continuity frameworks

 

 

What You'll Bring

 

  • Significant experience (typically 15+ years) in executive level finance leadership, preferably in large, complex organisations
  • CA/CPA qualified or equivalent, with strong understanding of NZ accounting standards and regulatory frameworks
  • Proven experience in complex, transformative environments and working with Boards and Board Committees
  • Strong commercial and strategic approach with proven track record in delivering transformation programmes
  • Experience in organisations with multiple funding streams (commercial, government, philanthropic) preferred

 

The position is likely to be located in either Auckland or Wellington.

 

A remuneration package will be offered to attract exceptional financial leadership talent.

 

New Zealand Rugby is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

 

 

To Apply

 

This recruitment process is being run by Sheffield Search. To apply in confidence, please apply here

 

Applications close 3 October 2025.

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY - CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER

 


The strategic goal

  • New Zealand Rugby is home to the leading teams and brands in the global rugby world: The All Blacks, Black Ferns, and the leading Southern Hemisphere rugby clubs including the Crusaders, Blues, etc., amongst others.
  • The role of the Chief Commercial Officer is to replicate the unrivalled success on the field, of the field – through creating better experiences for our fans and commercial partners – which results in growing revenue that fuels the grassroots and high-performance game to build a lasting flywheel of sporting performance and commercial success.
  • The core of our commercial strategy is to increase the scale, provability, and quality of our fan base, by utilizing a mix of digital and traditional channels.
     

 

 

The opportunity

 

  • The Chief Commercial Officer is a direct report of the CEO of New Zealand Rugby, with heavy direct interaction with the New Zealand Rugby Board of Directors.
  • In that role, the CCO will be responsible for all commercial activities spanning sponsorship, broadcasting, licensing, digital marketing, and the underlying technology and fan asset stack, but most importantly: New Zealand Rugby’s end-to-end fan engagement strategy.
  • This will include building on New Zealand Rugby’s strong growth in digital fan engagement and followership that started over the last years, negotiating sponsorship and partnership deals with the biggest companies in the world, and working with other rugby unions to increase the fan and commercial success of the game globally.
  • The CCO works closely with the New Zealand Rugby Commercial board including the Silver Lake team, which is supporting the commercial strategy of New Zealand Rugby. The CCO has the opportunity to access Silver Lake’s global network and relationships in sports, media and technology.
     

 

The candidate profile

 

  • The ideal candidate will be an accomplished executive with 10+ years in commercial leadership roles – explicitly not limited to sports.
  • We require strong analytical and interpersonal skills, and the right mana to represent New Zealand Rugby on the global commercial stage.
  • Given our focus on growing and engaging our fanbase domestically and abroad, a deep understanding of brand building, audience engagement, and digital marketing will be essential.
  • The role is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

 

 

To Apply

 

This recruitment process is being run by external recruitment company, Odgers. To apply in confidence, please apply here

 

Applications close 15 September 2025