Josh Mahoney is Melbourne's new football operations boss

JOSH Mahoney has won the race for Melbourne's vacant manager of football operations job.

Josh Mahoney

JOSH Mahoney has won the race for Melbourne's vacant manager of football operations job.

Mahoney, 35, will oversee list management, recruiting, player welfare, medical and football administration -- reporting directly to chief executive Peter Jackson.

He has filled the position on an interim basis since Jackson embarked on a dramatic rebuild of the club in May.

Former Collingwood football operations chief Geoff Walsh had been linked to the Demons and has also been approached by North Melbourne and Essendon.

"Josh Mahoney is a rising star of football administration," Jackson confirmed today.

"While in the acting role he has done a outstanding job, particularly in recent weeks, designing and implementing the significant changes in football structure and staffing.

"He is a highly skilled individual and has proven he deserves this opportunity.

“When I started at the club, I spoke of the need to have a senior and experienced general manager of football operations to lead the football department and develop the culture.

"That plan did not anticipate Paul Roos becoming our coach, and we have adjusted the structure accordingly, taking into account Paul’s experience and capabilities in leadership and culture along with the engagement of Leading Teams."

Roos will also report to Jackson and be responsible for the coaching panel and player development.

Mahoney, a member of Port Adelaide's 2004 premiership side, was on the five-man coaching selection panel that lured Roos to the club last month.