Black Ferns Head Coach

Company description:

New Zealand Rugby Union Incorporated leads, supports, grows and promotes New Zealand's game from the community game through to our representative Teams in Black.

Rugby holds a very special position in our country, giving us an incredible opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders.

We aspire to take a holistic approach to the welfare of our people - physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social, focusing on the power of rugby to assist them to improve their lives.

NZR aims to create an environment that is attractive and welcoming, a game for all.

Job description:

New Zealand Rugby is currently looking for a suitably qualified and experienced candidate for the position of Black Ferns Head Coach, to lead the Black Ferns programme through to the 2029 Rugby World Cup. This is a significant position at an incredibly exciting time for the professional women's game that involves leading the Black Ferns programme to a standard of excellence on and off the field.

Beyond discipline-specific expertise and experience, candidates will have outstanding leadership, organisational, communication and interpersonal skills. A strong empathy for the values which underpin the Black Ferns and New Zealand Rugby will need to be demonstrated, as will high levels of integrity, passion, and competitive drive.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and drive the coaching team to a standard of excellence that enhances the reputation of rugby and the team, enhancing the reputation of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Black Ferns team both within New Zealand and internationally
• Lead and drive the team's environment and culture, providing leadership to the Black Ferns and developing professional and constructive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders of the game
• Live and role-model NZR's organisational values and The Rugby Way.

The successful candidate for this position must also have the ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally with the team. Therefore, applicants must maintain a current passport and be eligible to travel overseas and back to New Zealand (including maintaining eligibility to obtain any necessary visas).

About Us

At NZR we love what we do, we work hard and have fun You'll be joining a team of awesome people who are passionate about the game and each other, and you'll be backed with support to thrive in your role. We know that life isn't all about work, so we are open to flexible working options.

We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to improving our cultural responsiveness. We embrace and respect each other's values and we are so proud to be Rainbow Tick certified. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life.

Apply Now

If you are looking to join a fantastic group of people and think you have what it takes, then don't delay, submit your CV and cover letter now Don't wait until the closing date to apply as we will be reviewing applications as we go.

Applications close Friday 28 November 2025 at 5:00pm.

Click here to view the Position Description.

To be considered for this position you must be legally entitled to work in Aotearoa New Zealand and obtain a clear MOJ check.

Studies have shown that people from under-represented backgrounds, including women, are less likely to apply for roles where they don't match the job description criteria exactly. If you're excited about this role and think you have what it takes, but your experience doesn't align 100%, we still want to hear from you and would encourage you to apply.

Our recruitment process is fair and inclusive and we encourage our applicants to let us know if we can make it more user-friendly for them. We value diverse perspectives and the contribution every one of our people makes to our culture. Put simply - you can be yourself here.