Head of Behavioural Performance

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.
• 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.

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.