Head of Women's Coaching and Development in Cardiff

The Role

To lead the implementation and delivery of an aligned women’s coaching and development system across the whole women’s performance pathway (14-24 years), ensuring that coaching practice, environments and programmes consistently reflect the Welsh Rugby DNA. The role will lead and manage pathway coaches, ensuring high quality coaching, alignment of approach and continuous improvement across all environments. It will play a central role in embedding the principles of “How We Coach”, “How We Play” and “The Future Welsh Player”, ensuring that these are translated into effective day‑to‑day coaching practice and player development experiences across the pathway.

The Person

• Essential
• Extensive experience in elite coaching and player development environments
• Proven experience in leading and managing coaches and staff within a performance system
• Strong understanding of best practice in coaching, learning and high‑performance environments
• Experience of implementing coaching frameworks and philosophies across multiple teams or programmes
• Ability to build alignment across complex systems including national teams, pathways and clubs
• Outstanding leadership, communication and relationship‑building capability
• Strong understanding of the demands of international rugby and player development
• Experience of working within or alongside talent identification and development systems
• A growth mindset and commitment to continuous professional development
• Outstanding interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Desirable
• Experience in international rugby or comparable elite sport
• Experience working within national governing body or system‑wide roles
• Understanding of Welsh rugby system and landscape
• 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. 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.

How to Apply

Please click Apply Now to begin your application.