Head of Talent Management and Insight

WRU - Welsh Rugby Union; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance scheme

Pension plan

Ticket allocation

Birthday leave

Employee assistance programme

Hybrid working arrangements

Parking and gym

Store discounts

Job summary

WRU - Welsh Rugby Union is seeking a visionary leader to headline Talent Insight and Management across Welsh rugby, establishing a uniquely Welsh DNA for identifying, understanding and developing players from pathways to international level.

You will design and drive an integrated national player pipeline, connect scouts, data science, AI and human factors, and lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver evidence-led insights and strategic talent decisions for coaches and executives.

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in elite sport or high-performance environments.
• Experience designing strategy across complex performance systems.
• Deep understanding of talent identification and development.
• Strong grasp of data science, predictive modelling and longitudinal analysis.
• Knowledge of AI, automation and agentic systems in performance workflows.
• Ability to translate qualitative and quantitative evidence into insight.

Responsibilities

• Define and embed Talent Insight and Management strategy across Wales’ rugby performance systems.
• Lead integrated national player pipeline from pathway to senior international level.
• Head a multidisciplinary team combining AI, data science and human factors.
• Contribute to What It Takes to Win and Welsh Rugby DNA in talent decisions.
• Collaborate across departments to create a cross-disciplinary view of players.
• Develop national/international talent intelligence networks.
• Establish and evolve world-class scouting and Talent ID capabilities.
• Lead trajectory modelling and predictive analysis for player development.
• Provide coaches with clear, decision-ready intelligence on depth and potential.
• Build learning systems and agentic AI to improve talent development.

Skills

Talent insight

Data science

AI/ML

Strategy development

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Performance analytics

Job description

• Life assurance scheme

To lead the strategic delivery of Talent Insight and Management across Welsh rugby, establishing and embedding a clear and uniquely Welsh DNA for how players are unearthed, understood, connected and developed across the men’s and women’s performance systems.

The role is accountable for defining and delivering an integrated Player Intelligence System and national player pipeline, bringing together expert judgement, scouting, data science, AI and human factors to build a holistic and longitudinal understanding of player performance, potential and progression.

Through modern player trajectory modelling, agentic workflows and evidence-led decision-making, the role will continually improve Welsh rugby’s ability to identify, retain, develop and accelerate future international players, providing coaches and executive leaders with the intelligence to make better player and talent decisions.

Salary:

Competitive

Closing Date:

29th October 2026

The Person

• Significant senior experience within elite sport, talent, performance intelligence, data science, player development or another relevant high-performance environment.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing strategy across complex, multidisciplinary performance systems.
• Deep understanding of talent identification, talent development and player progression, including the complexity, uncertainty and non-linear nature of predicting future performance.
• Strong understanding of modern data science, predictive modelling and longitudinal player analysis, with the ability to translate technical approaches into meaningful performance questions and decisions.
• Strong understanding of artificial intelligence, automation and agentic systems, with the ability to identify where these technologies can transform scouting, intelligence and performance workflows.
• Excellent understanding of scouting, player assessment and expert judgement, and the ability to integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence rather than privileging either in isolation.
• Demonstrable ability to turn complex information into clear, decision-ready insight for coaches, performance leaders and senior executives.
• Strong understanding of evidence-led decision-making, including uncertainty, bias, validation, calibration and the limitations of predictive information.
• Experience of designing or improving player intelligence, talent management, data or performance systems that connect information across multiple environments

The Role

• Define, own and embed a world leading Talent Insight and Management strategy, creating a single longitudinal understanding of Welsh-qualified players and their development from initial identification through the pathway, professional rugby and senior international performance.
• Design and lead an integrated national player pipeline, connecting how Welsh rugby unearths, identifies, understands, tracks and accelerates the development of players from the pathway through to senior international rugby.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, incorporating rugby AI, data/talent science and human factors expertise to create a more complete understanding of player performance, potential and development.
• Lead the talent contribution to What It Takes to Win and Welsh Rugby DNA, ensuring the characteristics and capabilities of the Future Welsh Player inform identification, development, selection/recruitment and succession planning.
• Work collaboratively across departments to create a genuinely trans-disciplinary view of the player by combining expert observation, coaching judgement, performance data, physical development, behavioural insight, maturation, opportunity and other relevant evidence.
• Develop a strategy and operational plan for a national and international talent intelligence and scouting network, connecting scouts, coaches, clubs and trusted talent contacts to systematically gather, challenge and share intelligence on current and emerging Welsh-qualified players.
• Establish and continually develop a world-leading scouting and Talent ID capability, creating consistent approaches to player observation, assessment, profiling and intelligence gathering, while ensuring the system actively searches for emerging talent, alternative perspectives and players who may otherwise remain unseen.
• Lead the development of modern player trajectory and potential modelling, using data science, longitudinal analysis and predictive techniques to understand development pathways, changing trajectories and probability of progression.
• Provide coaches and senior leaders with clear, decision-ready intelligence on player depth, future potential, development priorities, emerging opportunities and strategic risks across the national player population.
• Build a continuous learning system and agentic AI capability, automating key workflows while connecting evidence, decisions, interventions and outcomes to understand what genuinely predicts and accelerates future international performance and continually improves talent development.
• Maintain a future focus across talent science, AI and data, applying emerging approaches to accelerate the accuracy and depth of player insight and creates a sustainable competitive advantage for Welsh rugby
• Support WRU coach development activities through agreed workshops, mentoring and educational programmes.
• Act as an outstanding ambassador for Welsh Rugby, representing the organisation with integrity, collaboration and professionalism.
• Carry out duties in support of the WRU Strategic Mission, Purpose and Values.

WRU Requirements require that individuals are proficient in IT skills, specifically Microsoft packages. Excellent written and verbal communications are essential, along with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh and a Valid UK Driver's License is desirable. This role is subject to a basic/enhanced DBS check.

The Perks

As a permanent member of the WRU Group, you will have access to our full range of employee benefits, including:

• Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee contribution, matched by WRU)
• Life assurance scheme
• WRU Group Ticket Allocation (in line with ticketing policy)
• One additional paid day off (birthday leave)
• Employee assistance programme
• Team Tactics – hybrid working arrangements
• Free stadium parking and gym
• WRU Group store and tour discounts
• WRU Group partnership offers
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our Values

The WRU Group are committed to developing a culture whereby all employees are equally valued and respected. Our aims, together with our vision and mission, are underpinned by our core values and beliefs which embrace: Integrity, Excellence, Success, Courage, Family & Humour.

Inclusion At The WRU

The WRU Group are committed to building diverse, high-performing and engaged teams across Welsh Rugby. We are ambitious about providing a people first culture where everyone can belong, be heard and respected. We are happy to talk to you about our Crys I Bawb EDI Strategy (2024-2029) and you can also read more about our commitment in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Diversity monitoring

We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve.

To continue to do this we need your help in filling out a short monitoring form.

None of the information you provide will be visible as part of your application. It will only be used anonymously to monitor the inclusivity of our selection processes.

You can select 'prefer not to say’ if you would rather not answer any question.

Pennaeth Rheoli Talent a Dealltwriaeth

Arwain wrth gyflenwi'n strategol Dealltwriaeth a Rheoli Talent ar draws rygbi Cymru, gan sefydlu a gwreiddio DNA cwbl Gymreig ac unigryw ar gyfer dod hyd i chwaraewyr, eu deall, eu cysylltu a'u datblygu ar draws system perfformiad dynion a menywod.

Mae'r rôl yn gyfrifol am ddiffinio a chyflenwi System Deallusrwydd Chwaraewr integredig a llwybr cenednational o chwaraewyr, gan ddwyn ynghyd barn arbenigol, sgowtio, gwyddor data, AI a ffactorau dynol i adeiladu dealltwriaeth gyfannol a hirdymor o berfformiad, potensial a dilyniant chwaraewyr.

Trwy fodelu trywydd modern i chwaraewyr, llifoedd gwaith agentig a gwneud penderfyniadau ar sail tystiolaeth, bydd y rôl yn gwella gallu rygbi Cymru i adnabod, cadw, datblygu a chyflymu chwaraewyr rhyngwladol y dyfodol, gan roi'r deallusrwydd i hyfforddwyr ac arweinwyr gweithredol wneud penderfyniadau gwell am chwaraewyr a thalent.

Cyflog: Cystadleuol

Dyddiad Cau: 29 Hydref 2026

Y PERSON

• Profiad uwch sylweddol o fewn chwaraeon elit, talent, deallusrwydd perfformiad, gwyddor data, datblygiad chwaraewyr neu amgylchedd perfformiad uchel arall.
• Profiad amlwg o ddatblygu a gweithredu strategaeth ar draws systemau perfformiad cymhleth ac amlddisgyblaeth.
• Dealltwriaeth ddofn o adnabod talent, datblygu talent a dilyniant chwaraewyr, gan gynnwys cymhlethdod, ansicrwydd a natur aflinol rhagweld perfformiad yn y dyfodol.
• Dealltwriaeth gadarn o wyddor data modern, modelu rhagfynegol a dadansoddiad hirdymor chwaraewyr, gyda'r gallu i drawsnewid dulliau technegol yn gwestiynau a phenderfyniadau perfformiad ystyrlon.
• Dealltwriaeth gref o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial, awtomatiaeth a systemau agentig, gyda'r gallu i nodi ble gall y technolegau hyn drawsnewid llifoedd gwaith sgowtio, deallusrwydd a pherfformiad.
• Dealltwriaeth ragorol o sgowtio, asesu chwaraewyr a barn arbenigol, a'r gallu i integreiddio tystiolaeth ansoddol a meintiol yn hytrach na breintio'r naill neu'r llall ar ei pen ei hun.
• Gallu amlwg i droi gwybodaeth gymhleth yn ddealltwriaeth glir, barod am benderfyniadau ar gyfer hyfforddwyr, arweinwyr perfformiad ac uwch gweithredwyr.
• Dealltwriaeth gref o benderfyniadau wedi'u harwain gan dystiolaeth, gan gynnwys ansicrwydd, rhagfarn, dilysu, graddnodi a chyfyngiadau gwybodaeth ragfynegi.
• Profiad o gynllunio neu wella dealltwriaeth chwaraewyr, rheoli talent, systemau data neu berfformiad sy'n cysylltu gwybodaeth ar draws amgylcheddau lluosog

Y RÔL

• Diffinio, arddel a gwreiddio strategaeth Dealltwriaeth a Rheoli Talent flaenllaw, gan greu dealltwriaeth hir-dymor unigol o chwaraewyr sy'n gymwys i chwarae i Gymru a'u datblygiad o'u hadnabod yn y lle cyntaf ar hyd y llwybr, rygbi proffesiynol a pherfformiad rhyngwladol hŷn.
• Cynllunio ac arwain llwybr chwaraewyr cenednational integredig, gan gysylltu sut mae rygbi Cymru yn darganfod, yn adnabod, yn deall, yn olrhain ac yn cyflymu datblygiad chwaraewyr o'r llwybr hyd at rygbi rhyngwladol hŷn.
• Arwain a datblygu tîm aml-ddisgyblaethol, gan wreiddio AI rygbi, gwyddor data/talent ac arbenigedd am ffactorau dynol i greu dealltwriaeth fwy cyflawn o berfformiad chwaraewyr, eu potensial a'u datblygiad.
• Arwain cyfraniad talent i What It Takes to Win a DNA Rygbi Cymru, gan sicrhau bod nodweddion a galluoedd Chwaraewyr Cymru'r Dyfodol yn hysbysu adnabod, datblygu, dethol/recriwtio a chynllunio olyniaeth.
• Gweithio'n gydweithredol ar draws adrannau i greu golwg cwbl draws-ddisgyblaethol o'r chwaraewyr trwy gyfuno arsylwi arbenigol, barn hyfforddi, data perfformiad, datblygiad corfforol, mewnwelediad ymddygiadol, aeddfedu, cyfle a thystiolaeth berthnasol arall.
• Datblygu strategaeth a chynllun gweithredol ar gyfer rhwydwaith deallusrwydd a sgowtiaid talent cenednational a rhyngwladol, gan gysylltu sgowtwyr, hyfforddwyr, clybiau a chysylltiadau talent dibynadwy er mwyn casglu, herio a rhannu gwybodaeth yn systematig am chwaraewyr sy'n gymwys i chwarae i Gymru ar hyn o bryd neu sy'n dod i'r amlwg.
• Sefydlu a datblygu'n gyson gallu sgowtio a Chanfod Talent blaenllaw, gan greu dulliau cyson i arsylwi ar chwaraewyr, eu hasesu, eu proffilio a chasglu gwybodaeth amdanynt, wrth sicrhau bod y sistem yn ymroi i chwilio am dalent newydd, safbwyntiau amgen a chwaraewyr a allai barhau'n anweledig.
• Arwain datblygu llwybr chwaraewr modern a modelu potensial, gan ddefnyddio gwyddor data, dadansoddiad hir-dymor a thechnegau rhagfynegi i ddeall llwybrau datblygu, trywydd sy'n newid a'r siawns o ddilyniant.
• Rhoi deallusrwydd clir, er mwyn gallu gwneud penderfyniadau i hyfforddwyr ac uwch arweinwyr am ddyfnder chwaraewyr, potensial yn y dyfodol, blaenoriaethau datblygu, cyfleoedd sy'n codi a risgiau strategol ledled y boblogaeth chwaraewyr cenednational.
• Adeiladu system ddysgu barhaus a gallu AI agentig, gan awtomeiddio llifoedd gwaith allweddol wrth gysylltu tystiolaeth, penderfyniadau, ymyriadau a chanlyniadau i ddeall beth sy'n rhagweld ac yn cyflymu perfformiad rhyngwladol go iawn yn y dyfodol ac yn gwella datblygu talent yn gyson.
• Cadw ffocws ar y dyfodol ar draws gwyddor talent, AI a data, gan gymhwyso dulliau newydd o gyflymu cywirdeb a dyfnder mewnwelediad chwaraewyr ac yn creu manteision cystadleuol cynaliadwy ar gyfer rygbi Cymru
• Cefnogi gweithgareddau datblygu hyfforddwr URC trwy weithdai y cytunwyd arnynt, mentora a rhaglenni addysgol.
• Gweithredu fel llysgennad rhagorol i Rygbi Cymru, gan gynrychioli'r sefydliad gyda gonestrwydd, cydweithrediad a phroffesiynoldeb.
• Ymgymryd â dyletswyddau i gefnogi Cenhadaeth Strategol, Pwrpas a Gwerthoedd URC.

GOFYNION URC

Mae URC yn mynnu bod gan unigolion sgiliau TG, yn benodol pecynnau Microsoft. Mae sgiliau cyfathrebu ysgrifenedig a llafar rhagorol yn hanfodol, ynghyd â'r gallu i feithrin perthnasoedd cryf gyda rhanddeiliaid mewnol ac allanol.

Mae'r gallu i gyfathrebu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a Thrwydded Yrru Ddilys y DU yn ddymunol. Mae'r rôl hon yn amodol ar wiriad DBS sylfaenol/manwl.

Y MANTEISION

Fel aelod parhaol o Grŵp URC, bydd gennych fynediad at ein hystod lawn o fuddion cyflogeion, gan gynnwys:

• Pensiwn Aberth Cyflog (cyfraniad cyflogai o 5%,cyfraniad cyfatebol gan URC)
• Cynllun yswiriant bywyd
• Dyraniad Tocyn Grŵp URC (yn unol â Pholisi Tocynnau)
• Un diwrnod ychwanegol o wyliau tâl (gwyliau pen-blwydd)
• Rhaglen cymorth i weithwyr
• Tactegau Tîm – trefniadau gweithio hybrid
• Parcio stadiwm a champfa am
• Gostyngiadau siop a theithiau Grŵp URC
• Cynigion partneriaeth Grŵp URC
• Cynllun Talebau Gofal Llygaid
• Cynllun Beicio i'r Gwaith
• Gostyngiadau Gwestai'r Celtic Collection

Ein Gwerthoedd

Mae Grŵp URC wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu diwylliant lle mae pob gweithiwr yn cael ei werthfawrogi a'i barchu'n gyfartal. Mae ein nodau, ynghyd â’n gweledigaeth a’n cenhadaeth, wedi’u tanategu gan ein gwerthoedd a’n credoau craidd sy’n croesawu: Uniondeb, Rhagoriaeth, Llwyddiant, Dewrder, Teulu a Hiwmor.

Cynhwysiant yn URC

Mae Grŵp URC wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu Jyrsi i Bawb. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y bobl sy'n gweithio i ni a gyda ni. Rydym yn uchelgeisiol ynglŷn â darparu diwylliant sy'n rhoi pobl yn gyntaf, lle gall pawb fod yn perthyn a chael eu clywed a’u parchu. Rydym yn hapus i siarad â chi am ein Cynllun Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant (2023-2028) a gallwch hefyd ddarllen rhagor am ein hymrwymiad yn ein Polisi Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant.

Monitro amrywiaeth

Gwyddom ein bod yn darparu gwasanaethau gwell pan fo ein gweithlu’n adlewyrchu’r ystod lawn o gefndiroedd a phrofiadau yn y gymdeithas a wasanaethwn. Er mwyn parhau i wneud hyn mae angen eich help arnom i lenwi ffurflen fonitro fer. Ni fydd unrhyw wybodaeth y byddwch yn ei rhannu yn weladwy fel rhan o'ch cais. Dim ond i fonitro cynwysoldeb ein prosesau dethol yn ddienw y caiff ei defnyddio. Gallwch ddewis ‘gwell gennyf beidio â dweud’ os byddai’n well gennych beidio ag ateb unrhyw gwestiwn.