Head of Talent Insight & Development

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU); Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee,

Life assurance scheme

WRU Group Ticket Allocation

One additional paid day off (birthday)

Employee assistance programme

Team Tactics – hybrid working

Free stadium parking and gym

WRU Group store and tour discounts

WRU Group partnership offers

Eye Care Voucher Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) seeks a strategic leader to deliver Talent Insight and Management across Welsh rugby, embedding a unique Welsh DNA for identifying and developing players from pathway to international level.

The role unites data science, AI and expert judgement to provide coaches and executives with evidence-led insights, shaping decision-making and long-term performance trajectories.

Qualifications

• Experience in elite sport, talent, performance intelligence or related high-performance environments.
• Strategy development across complex performance systems.
• Deep understanding of talent identification, development and progression including non-linear trajectories.
• Knowledge of data science, predictive modelling and longitudinal analysis; translate into decisions.
• Understanding of AI, automation and agentic systems for scouting and performance workflows.
• Excellent scouting, player assessment and expert judgement; integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence.
• Ability to turn complex information into clear, decision-ready insights for coaches and executives.
• Experience designing or improving talent systems that connect information across environments.

Responsibilities

• Define, own and embed a world-leading Talent Insight and Management strategy for Welsh-qualified players.
• Lead an integrated national player pipeline from pathway to senior international rugby.
• Develop a multidisciplinary team across rugby AI, data science and human factors.
• Contribute to What It Takes to Win and Welsh Rugby DNA influencing selection and development.
• Collaborate across departments to create a trans-disciplinary view of the player.
• Develop a strategy for a national and international talent intelligence and scouting network.
• Establish a world-leading scouting and Talent ID capability for ongoing talent discovery.
• Lead modern player trajectory modeling using data science and longitudinal analysis.
• Provide coaches with clear, decision-ready intelligence on depth and potential.
• Build a continuous learning system and agentic AI to automate workflows and outcomes.
• Maintain a future focus on talent science, AI, and data for competitive advantage.
• Support coach development through workshops and mentoring.
• Act as ambassador for Welsh Rugby with integrity and collaboration.
• Carry out duties aligned with WRU Strategic Mission and Values.

Skills

Senior experience in elite sport

Strategy development across complex >=

Talent identification & development

Data science & predictive modelling

AI, automation & agentic systems

Scouting & expert judgement

Insight translation for coaches/execut

Evidence-based decision making

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Job description

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) seeks a strategic leader to deliver Talent Insight and Management across Welsh rugby, embedding a unique Welsh DNA for identifying and developing players from pathway to international level.

The role unites data science, AI and expert judgement to provide coaches and executives with evidence-led insights, shaping decision-making and long-term performance trajectories.