Rugby AI & Data Science Lead (Hybrid)

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU); Cardiff; Presencial; GBP 70 000 - 100 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Salary Sacrifice Pension

Life assurance

Ticket Allocation

Birthday leave

Employee assistance programme

Hybrid working

Free stadium parking

Discounts

Eye Care Voucher

Cycle to Work

Resumo da oferta

WRU is seeking a lead data scientist to drive AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management. You will develop longitudinal player intelligence, build trajectory and potential models, and create predictive indicators of future performance to support coaching and talent decisions.

You will lead AI-enabled workflows, integrate diverse data sources, and establish rigorous data standards while working cross-functionally with rugby experts and performance scientists.

Qualificações

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, AI, ML, or quantitative discipline.
• Experience applying data science, statistical modelling and ML to complex problems.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL and modern data-analysis environments.
• Demonstrable experience developing predictive models with feature engineering and monitoring.
• Strong understanding of statistical inference, uncertainty and hypothesis testing.
• Experience with longitudinal/time-series data and modelling progression over time.
• Practical understanding of modern generative AI and large language models and their applications.
• Understanding AI architectures, agents, retrieval, orchestration and human-in-the-loop approaches.
• Ability to prototype and productionise AI-enabled workflows.
• Experience with cloud-based data/AI environments and integrating models into analytics products.
• Strong data wrangling, integration, QA and handling imperfect datasets.
• Ability to translate technical analysis into actionable intelligence for non-technical decision-makers.
• Curiosity and experimentation mindset; ability to evaluate emerging technologies.
• Ability to work across disciplines, combining quantitative evidence with expert judgement.
• Strong understanding of responsible AI, privacy, security, explainability, bias and governance.
• Growth mindset and continuous learning.
• Welsh-language communication is desirable.

Responsabilidades

• Lead AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management, translating rugby and talent questions into models and decision-support tools.
• Develop longitudinal player intelligence across identification, pathway, professional and international rugby.
• Build trajectory and potential models using statistical modelling, ML, time-series to understand progression and potential.
• Develop predictive indicators of future performance considering technical, tactical, physical and contextual factors.
• Create AI workflows for data gathering, research, monitoring, scouting, player tracking and reporting.
• Develop human-in-the-loop AI-enabled player intelligence systems with profiles, visualisations and alerts.
• Integrate structured and unstructured data to enrich understanding of each player.
• Develop and productionise advanced models with validation and monitoring.
• Translate complex analysis into decision-ready intelligence with intuitive visualisations.
• Establish rigorous AI/data standards: quality, explainability, privacy, security, bias and auditability.
• Collaborate across rugby experts, coaching judgement, scouting and performance science.
• Lead experimentation and applied research, testing AI/ML approaches against real rugby problems.
• Maintain forward-looking tech horizon and build relationships with researchers and practitioners.

Conhecimentos

Python

R

SQL

Data modelling

Time-series analysis

AI & ML

Data engineering

Statistical inference

Formação académica

Degree in data science / CS / statistics / maths / AI/ML or equivalent

Postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional expertise

Ferramentas

Python

R

SQL

Descrição da oferta de emprego

WRU is seeking a lead data scientist to drive AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management. You will develop longitudinal player intelligence, build trajectory and potential models, and create predictive indicators of future performance to support coaching and talent decisions.

You will lead AI-enabled workflows, integrate diverse data sources, and establish rigorous data standards while working cross-functionally with rugby experts and performance scientists.