Head of Behavioural Performance in Pontyclun

Our ambition is to establish Welsh Rugby as a world-leading high performance system across both the men’s and women’s game. This role is central to creating and embedding a unified Welsh DNA for high performance culture, leadership, team effectiveness and psychological development, ensuring alignment, clarity and competitive advantage across all national teams and pathways. The role will lead a progressive, system-wide programme of learning, development and support that builds the psycho-social capability of players, coaches and staff to create and thrive in winning Welsh teams — both on and off the field.

The role:

• To lead the strategic and operational delivery of high performance culture, leadership, team effectiveness and psychological development across the men’s and women’s game.
• The role is accountable for defining, creating and embedding a clear Welsh DNA for behavioural performance — establishing the principles, standards, language and practices that underpin world-class performance environments across all national teams and pathways, ensuring that players, coaches and staff consistently develop and demonstrate the mindset, behaviours and capabilities required to win at the highest level.

Key Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities:

• Define, own and embed a clear Welsh DNA for high performance culture, leadership, team effectiveness and psychological development across all teams and pathways.
• Lead behavioural performance across WRU, establishing the frameworks, standards, language and practices that underpin consistent winning behaviours.
• Lead the development of a world-class strategy for high performance culture, leadership, team effectiveness and psychological development across both the men’s and women’s game.
• Establish system-wide principles, standards and ways of working aligned to “what it takes to win” in international rugby.
• Design and implement an integrated, progressive behavioural performance system that develops players, coaches and staff to consistently perform at the highest level.
• Develop and deploy practical toolkits, frameworks and resources for coaches, players and staff to enable consistent application of high performance culture, leadership, team effectiveness and psychological development across all environments.
• Lead the operational delivery of behavioural performance and team effectiveness services across all national teams and pathways.
• Develop and deliver a comprehensive coach and staff development programme focused on leadership, identity, behaviours, communication, facilitation, environment design and team effectiveness.
• Provide direct support to the Men’s senior team and other selected national teams, as required, to optimise performance environments and behaviours.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with professional clubs to ensure alignment of cultural, leadership and behavioural development of Welsh-qualified players.
• Recruit, lead, manage and develop a high-performing team of practitioners and external consultants.
• Drive innovation and applied research in behavioural performance, leadership and team effectiveness to create competitive advantage.
• Establish and implement measurement frameworks to assess behavioural, cultural and leadership performance across teams and programmes.
• Manage departmental resources and ensure effective deployment of expertise across the system.
• Act as a senior leader and role model for high performance culture within WRU.
• Provide visible engagement in coaching, selection and development activities across the international pathway to ensure alignment of behaviours and standards.
• Provide support to WRU coach development activities on an agreed number of occasions per year.
• Maintain excellent levels of personal development to ensure knowledge and practice remains at the highest level.
• Act as an outstanding ambassador for the WRU and the game in Wales.
• Participation in marketing and sponsorship activities according to the needs of the WRU and partners.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Essential: Degree in psychology, behavioural science, social science, sport science or related discipline.
• Professional accreditation (e.g. HCPC, BPS or equivalent) as appropriate.
• Extensive experience in elite sport or high performance learning and development environments.
• Proven track record of leading high performance culture, leadership and team development programmes.
• Deep expertise in leadership, culture, psychological performance and team dynamics.
• Experience of designing and implementing system-wide development frameworks or programmes.
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary high performance environments.
• Strong understanding of performance under pressure and psychological preparation for competition.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• Exceptional relationship building capability across players, coaches and stakeholders.
• Outstanding design and delivery capability in individual, group and team environments.
• A growth mindset and strong evidence of continued professional development.
• A commitment to live in Wales and be fully engaged in the role.

Desirable:

• Experience in international sport.
• Welsh language capability.

WRU Requirements:

• The WRU 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.

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.