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.

Salary: Competitive

Closing Date: 5pm 31 July 2026

We are utilising the support of Elite Performance Partners to manage this recruitment process. You can find out more about them here: https://eppglobal.com/

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. 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.

Pennaeth Perfformiad Ymddygiadol

Ein huchelgais yw sefydlu Rygbi Cymru fel system perfformiad uchel sy'n arwain y byd ar draws gemau'r dynion a'r menywod. Mae'r rôl yn ganolog i greu ac ymgorffori DNA Cymreig unedig ar gyfer diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth, effeithlonrwydd timau a datblygiad seicolegol perfformiad uchel, gan sicrhau aliniad, eglurder a mantais gystadleuol ar draws yr holl dimau a llwybrau cenedlaethol. Bydd y rôl yn arwain rhaglen ddysgu, datblygu a chefnogi flaengar ar draws y system sy'n meithrin gallu seicogymdeithasol chwaraewyr, hyfforddwyr a staff I greu a ffynnu mewn timau Cymru buddugol – ar y cae ac oddi arno.

Cyflog : Cystadleuol

Dyddiad Cau: 31 Gorfennaf 2026

Rydym yn defnyddio cymorth Elite Performance Partners i reoli’r broses recriwtio hon. Gallwch ddysgu mwy amdanynt yma: https://eppglobal.com/

Diben y Rôl

Arwain cyflwyniad gweithredol a strategol diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth, effeithlonrwydd timau a datblygiad seicolegol perfformiad uchel ar draws gemau'r dynion a'r menywod. Mae'r rôl yn atebol am ddiffinio, creu ac ymgorffori DNA Cymreig clir ar gyfer perfformiad ymddygiadol — gan sefydlu'r egwyddorion, y safonau, yr iaith a'r arferion sy'n tanseilio amgylcheddau perfformiad o'r radd flaenaf ar draws yr holl dimau a llwybrau cenedlaethol, gan sicrhau bod chwaraewyr, hyfforddwyr a staff yn datblygu'n gyson ac yn arddangos y meddylfryd, yr ymddygiadau a'r galluoedd sydd eu hangen i ennill ar y lefel uchaf.

Cyfrifoldebau, Tasgau a Gweithgareddau Allweddol

• Diffinio, bod yn berchen ar ac ymgorffori DNA Cymreig clir ar gyfer diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth, effeithlonrwydd timau a datblygiad seicolegol perfformiad uchel ar draws pob tîm a llwybr

• Arwain perfformiad ymddygiadol ar draws URC, gan sefydlu'r fframweithiau, y safonau, yr iaith a'r arferion sy'n tanseilio ymddygiadau sy'n ennill yn gyson

• Arwain datblygiad strategaeth o'r radd flaenaf ar gyfer diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth, effeithiolrwydd timau a datblygiad seicolegol perfformiad uchel ar draws gemau'r dynion a'r menywod

• Sefydlu egwyddorion, safonau a ffyrdd o weithio ar draws y system sy'n cyd-fynd â "beth sydd ei angen i ennill" mewn rygbi rhyngwladol

• Dylunio a gweithredu system perfformiad ymddygiadol integredig, flaengar sy'n datblygu chwaraewyr, hyfforddwyr a staff i berfformio'n gyson ar y lefel uchaf

• Datblygu a defnyddio pecynnau cymorth, fframweithiau ac adnoddau ymarferol ar gyfer hyfforddwyr, chwaraewyr a staff i alluogi cymhwyso diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth, effeithiolrwydd tîm a datblygiad seicolegol perfformiad uchel yn gyson ar draws pob amgylchedd

• Arwain cyflwyniad gweithredol gwasanaethau perfformiad ymddygiadol ac effeithiolrwydd timau ar draws pob tîm a llwybr cenedlaethol

• Datblygu a chyflwyno rhaglen datblygu hyfforddwyr a staff gynhwysfawr sy'n canolbwyntio ar arweinyddiaeth, hunaniaeth, ymddygiadau, cyfathrebu, hwyluso, dylunio amgylchedd ac effeithiolrwydd timau

• Darparu cefnogaeth uniongyrchol i dîm uwch y Dynion a thimau cenedlaethol dethol eraill, yn ôl yr angen, i optimeiddio amgylcheddau ac ymddygiadau perfformiad

• Datblygu a chynnal perthnasau cryf â chlybiau proffesiynol i sicrhau aliniad datblygiad diwylliannol, arweinyddiaeth ac ymddygiadol chwaraewyr sy'n gymwys i chwarae dros Gymru

• Recriwtio, arwain, rheoli a datblygu tîm perfformiad uchel o ymarferwyr ac ymgynghorwyr allanol

• Ysgogi arloesedd ac ymchwil gymhwysol mewn perfformiad ymddygiadol, arweinyddiaeth ac effeithiolrwydd timau i greu mantais gystadleuol

• Sefydlu a gweithredu fframweithiau mesur i asesu perfformiad ymddygiadol, diwylliannol ac arweinyddiaeth ar draws timau a rhaglenni

• Rheoli adnoddau adrannol a sicrhau defnydd effeithiol o arbenigedd ar draws y system

• Gweithredu fel uwch arweinydd a model rôl ar gyfer diwylliant perfformiad uchel o fewn URC

• Darparu ymgysylltiad gweladwy mewn gweithgareddau hyfforddi, dethol a datblygu ar draws y llwybr rhyngwladol i sicrhau aliniad ymddygiadau a safonau

• Darparu cymorth i weithgareddau datblygu hyfforddwyr Undeb Rygbi Cymru ar nifer gytunedig o achlysuron y flwyddyn

• Cynnal lefelau rhagorol o ddatblygiad personol i sicrhau bod gwybodaeth ac ymarfer yn parhau i fod ar y lefel uchaf

• Gweithredu fel llysgennad rhagorol i URC a'r gêm yng Nghymru

• Cyfranogiad mewn gweithgareddau marchnata a nawdd yn unol ag anghenion Undeb Rygbi Cymru a phartneriaid
  

Gwybodaeth, Sgiliau a Phrofiad Hanfodol

• Gradd mewn seicoleg, gwyddor ymddygiadol, gwyddor gymdeithasol, gwyddor chwaraeon neu ddisgyblaeth gysylltiedig

• Achrediad proffesiynol (e.e HCPC, BPS neu gyfwerth) fel sy'n briodol

• Profiad helaeth mewn chwaraeon elît neu amgylcheddau dysgu a datblygu perfformiad uchel

• Hanes profedig o arwain rhaglenni diwylliant, arweinyddiaeth a datblygiad timau perfformiad uchel

• Arbenigedd dwfn mewn arweinyddiaeth, diwylliant, perfformiad seicolegol a deinameg timau

• Profiad o ddylunio a gweithredu fframweithiau neu raglenni datblygu system gyfan

• Profiad o weithio mewn amgylcheddau perfformiad uchel amlddisgyblaethol

• Dealltwriaeth gref o berfformio dan bwysau a pharatoi seicolegol ar gyfer cystadleuaeth

• Sgiliau arweinyddiaeth, cyfathrebu a dylanwadu cryf

• Gallu rhagorol i feithrin perthnasau ar draws chwaraewyr, hyfforddwyr a rhanddeiliaid

• Gallu dylunio a chyflwyno rhagorol mewn amgylcheddau unigol, grŵp a thîm

• Meddylfryd twf a thystiolaeth gref o ddatblygiad proffesiynol parhaus

• Ymrwymiad i fyw yng Nghymru ac ymgysylltu'n llawn â'r rôl Dymunol

• Profiad mewn chwaraeon rhyngwladol

• Gallu yn y Gymraeg

GOFYNION URC

Mae URC yn mynnu bod gan unigolion sgiliau TG, yn benodol pecynnau Microsoft. Mae sgiliau cyfathrebu ysgrifenedig a llafar rhagorol yn hanfodol, ynghyd â'r gallu i feithrin perthnasoedd cryf gyda rhanddeiliaid mewnol ac allanol.

Mae'r gallu i gyfathrebu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a Thrwydded Yrru Ddilys y DU yn ddymunol. Mae'r rôl hon yn amodol ar wiriad DBS sylfaenol/manwl.

Y MANTEISION

Fel aelod parhaol o Grŵp URC, bydd gennych fynediad at ein hystod lawn o fuddion cyflogeion, gan gynnwys:

• Pensiwn Aberth Cyflog (cyfraniad cyflogai o 5%,cyfraniad cyfatebol gan URC)

• Cynllun yswiriant bywyd

• Dyraniad Tocyn Grŵp URC (yn unol â Pholisi Tocynnau)

• Un diwrnod ychwanegol o wyliau tâl (gwyliau pen-blwydd)

• Rhaglen cymorth i weithwyr

• Tactegau Tîm – trefniadau gweithio hybrid

• Parcio stadiwm a champfa am

• Gostyngiadau siop a theithiau Grŵp URC

• Cynigion partneriaeth Grŵp URC

• Cynllun Talebau Gofal Llygaid

• Cynllun Beicio i'r Gwaith

• Gostyngiadau Gwestai'r Celtic Collection

Ein Gwerthoedd

Mae Grŵp URC wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu diwylliant lle mae pob gweithiwr yn cael ei werthfawrogi a'i barchu'n gyfartal. Mae ein nodau, ynghyd â’n gweledigaeth a’n cenhadaeth, wedi’u tanategu gan ein gwerthoedd a’n credoau craidd sy’n croesawu: Uniondeb, Rhagoriaeth, Llwyddiant, Dewrder, Teulu a Hiwmor.

Cynhwysiant yn URC

Mae Grŵp URC wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu Jyrsi i Bawb. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y bobl sy'n gweithio i ni a gyda ni. Rydym yn uchelgeisiol ynglŷn â darparu diwylliant sy'n rhoi pobl yn gyntaf, lle gall pawb fod yn perthyn a chael eu clywed a’u parchu. Rydym yn hapus i siarad â chi am ein Cynllun Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant (2023-2028) a gallwch hefyd ddarllen rhagor am ein hymrwymiad yn ein Polisi Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant.

Monitro amrywiaeth

Gwyddom ein bod yn darparu gwasanaethau gwell pan fo ein gweithlu’n adlewyrchu’r ystod lawn o gefndiroedd a phrofiadau yn y gymdeithas a wasanaethwn. Er mwyn parhau i wneud hyn mae angen eich help arnom i lenwi ffurflen fonitro fer. Ni fydd unrhyw wybodaeth y byddwch yn ei rhannu yn weladwy fel rhan o'ch cais. Dim ond i fonitro cynwysoldeb ein prosesau dethol yn ddienw y caiff ei defnyddio. Gallwch ddewis ‘gwell gennyf beidio â dweud’ os byddai’n well gennych beidio ag ateb unrhyw gwestiwn.