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After finishing up at Hawthorn, football administrator Graham Wright has returned to Collingwood to become the AFL club's general manager of football.

Former Hawthorn football boss Graham Wright has officially joined Collingwood as the AFL club's general manager of football.

Hawthorn announced Wright's resignation on Saturday and the experienced football administrator returns to the club where he played 201 games between 1988 and 1998 - including the 1990 premiership.

"Graham's record speaks for itself, he has a well-rounded resume and demonstrated success in recruiting and operations roles across the league and was involved in a highly successful period at Hawthorn Football Club, most recently leading the football department," Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson said.

"Following a thorough recruitment process, we look forward to welcoming Graham back to the club and watching our football department develop further under his leadership."

Wright, who was involved in four AFL premierships at Hawthorn, faces a big first season at the Magpies, where he fills the role of Geoff Walsh, who retired late last year.

Collingwood had an off-season of change personnel-wise, while coach Nathan Buckley is out of contract at season's end.

"I am very excited to take on the general manager of football position at Collingwood, and look forward to the opportunity to work with Nathan Buckley, the players and staff at the club," Wright said.

"Following a strong 2020 campaign and with a fresh crop of talent from last year's draft, I am clearly stepping into a program with a strong foundation and a desire for even greater success."