At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth and sustainability of women's rugby in Wales.
- Company: Join the WRU, a key player in Welsh sport.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension, hybrid working, and more perks.
- Why this job: Shape the future of women's sport and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in sport and strategic roles required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and excellence.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This is one of the most influential roles in Welsh sport. Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the WRU Executive Team, the Director of Women's Game holds Union-wide accountability for accelerating the growth, commercial strength and long-term sustainability of women's and girls' rugby in Wales. This is a system-shaping leadership role. Operating across a matrix, the Director aligns Executive colleagues, functional teams and external partners behind a bold "One Wales" vision — transforming women's rugby into a thriving, investable and nationally significant pillar of the game. The role is accountable for defining strategy, unlocking commercial growth, driving participation expansion and ensuring the women's game is positioned to win — commercially, culturally and competitively — for the long term. While working in close partnership with Rugby Performance leadership, the Director does not lead on-field performance delivery. Instead, the role ensures that women's rugby is strategically prioritised, properly resourced and structurally set up to enable sustained success at every level. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of women's sport in Wales.
The Person
- Senior leadership experience in a strategic or commercial role, ideally within elite sport or a comparable high-performance environment.
- Experience operating successfully within a matrix structure, influencing senior stakeholders without direct line control.
- Demonstrated ability to design and deliver national-level strategy with tangible impact.
- Strong understanding of the women's sporting landscape and its growth potential.
- Knowledge of elite women's sport and high-performance systems, with the judgement to work effectively alongside performance leadership without direct operational oversight.
Leadership & Influence
- Credibility and presence to operate at Board and Executive level.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation and relationship-building capability.
- Strong governance awareness and ability to operate within regulated environments.
- Data-driven mindset with a focus on impact and outcomes.
The Role
Strategic Leadership & National Growth
- Own and drive the long-term "One Wales" strategy for the women's and girls' game, setting clear ambition, direction and measurable outcomes.
- Embed women's rugby at the heart of WRU's strategic and investment decisions, ensuring it is fully integrated into the Union's future growth plans.
- Lead through influence across a matrix structure, aligning Executive peers and functional leaders to deliver shared outcomes.
- Define and track bold KPIs across revenue, participation, brand growth and system development.
- Position Wales at the forefront of the evolving global women's rugby landscape, anticipating change and seizing opportunity.
Commercial Growth & Market Impact
- Hold accountability for driving sustainable and diversified revenue growth across the women's and girls' game.
- Shape and articulate a compelling commercial proposition that attracts partners, investors and broadcasters.
- Unlock new sponsorship, partnership, matchday and media opportunities that accelerate financial sustainability.
- Ensure women's rugby is fully embedded within WRU's commercial, brand and marketing strategy — visible, valued and investable.
- Champion innovation in commercial models and fan engagement to grow audience reach and relevance.
Participation & Whole-of-Game Expansion
- Lead a national strategy to significantly grow participation of women and girls at every level of the game.
- Strengthen the connection between elite visibility and grassroots growth to create a sustainable pipeline of players, supporters and role models.
- Work in partnership with Community Game leadership to remove barriers to access and drive retention.
- Ensure the women's game reflects and serves the diversity of modern Wales.
Governance, Oversight & Sustainability
- Provide Executive oversight of the women's player contracting framework, ensuring financial sustainability, transparency and alignment with long-term strategy.
- Ensure robust governance, welfare and safeguarding standards are embedded across the system.
- Represent the women's game confidently at Board and governance forums, providing strategic insight and forward planning.
- Build constructive relationships with player representatives and key stakeholders to support stability and trust.
Financial & Organisational Leadership
- Shape and oversee the Women's Game budget, ensuring resources are aligned to strategic priorities and growth ambitions.
- Sponsor major initiatives and investment cases that drive structural advancement.
- Ensure effective risk management and performance reporting frameworks are in place.
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
- 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. 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.
Director of Women\'s Rugby in Pontyclun employer: WRU - Welsh Rugby Union
Contact Detail:
WRU - Welsh Rugby Union Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Women\'s Rugby in Pontyclun
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the rugby community. Attend events, join forums, and engage on social media. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your enthusiasm for women's rugby shine through. Share your ideas on how to grow the game and make it more inclusive. They’ll love your energy!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the WRU and its vision. Understand their goals for women's rugby and come armed with suggestions on how you can contribute. Tailor your pitch to align with their mission — it’ll set you apart!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in women’s rugby. So, what are you waiting for?
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Women\'s Rugby in Pontyclun
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your passion for women's rugby and how your experiences align with our vision. Don't be afraid to share personal stories that highlight your journey in the sport!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Director of Women's Rugby role. Highlight your senior leadership experience and how it relates to the strategic goals of the WRU. We love seeing candidates who understand our mission and can articulate how they can contribute.
Showcase Your Impact: Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to drive growth and influence stakeholders. We’re looking for tangible results, so don’t hold back on sharing your achievements in previous roles. Numbers and outcomes speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our values there!
How to prepare for a job interview at WRU - Welsh Rugby Union
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the current landscape of women's rugby, especially in Wales. Familiarise yourself with recent developments, key players, and the challenges facing the sport. This will not only show your passion but also your commitment to driving growth and sustainability.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your senior leadership experience and how you've successfully influenced stakeholders in a matrix structure. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented that led to tangible outcomes, particularly in high-performance environments.
✨Align with the 'One Wales' Vision
Understand the 'One Wales' vision thoroughly and think about how you can contribute to it. During the interview, articulate how you would embed women's rugby into WRU's strategic decisions and how you plan to drive participation and commercial growth.
✨Build Relationships
Demonstrate your exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. Think of ways to illustrate how you've built strong partnerships in the past, especially with external stakeholders. This role is all about collaboration, so showing you can foster these connections is key.