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Chief Executive Officer
Cardiff Rugby
Cardiff Rugby are one of four professional Welsh rugby teams. The team are based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales and compete in the United Rugby Championship and Heineken Champions Cup.
Job Posted- 20 Aug 2026
Status- Full Time
Location- Wales
Closing date- 1 Sep 2026
Cardiff Rugby is one of the most recognisable and historic clubs in world rugby, representing the capital city of Wales and playing a central role in the professional and community game in Wales.
Founded in 1876 and based at Cardiff Arms Park, the club has a proud history within domestic and international rugby and has produced generations of players who have represented Cardiff, Wales and the British & Irish Lions.
Following its acquisition by the Welsh Rugby Union in April 2025, Cardiff Rugby now has a stable platform from which to build its next phase of development. The club operates as a WRU-owned subsidiary with its own Board and is responsible for Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff RFC and rugby operations at Cardiff Arms Park.
This is an important period for the organisation, with a focus on strengthening organisational capability, growing commercial performance, deepening supporter engagement and building an ambitious and sustainable future for rugby in the capital.
As Chief Executive Officer, you will lead Cardiff Rugby’s overall strategic, operational and commercial performance. This is a broad, visible and hands-on leadership role, combining commercial ambition with strong financial judgement, clear decision-making and the ability to bring people together around a shared direction.
The Impact You’ll Make
- You will lead the development and delivery of Cardiff Rugby’s short- and long-term strategy, working with the Board and ownership to establish clear priorities and strengthen organisational capability, culture and performance.
- You will lead the club’s commercial strategy, driving revenue growth across sponsorship, partnerships, hospitality, ticketing, retail, events and other business opportunities while strengthening the Cardiff Rugby brand locally, nationally and internationally.
- You will oversee the club’s financial performance, budgets, forecasts and long-term financial planning, ensuring commercial and rugby decisions remain aligned with agreed financial and governance frameworks.
- You will provide visible, hands-on leadership across the organisation, balancing strategic priorities with the day-to-day decisions required to keep the club moving forward effectively.
- Working closely with the Head Coach, Head of Recruitment, WRU and Professional Rugby Board, you will help create a competitive and high-performing rugby environment while ensuring alignment between sporting ambition, operational priorities and available resources.
- You will act as the public face of Cardiff Rugby, building trusted relationships with supporters, commercial partners, governing bodies, government, media and the wider rugby community while representing the club with credibility across domestic and European rugby.
- You will strengthen supporter engagement and the matchday experience while maximising the commercial potential of Cardiff Rugby and Cardiff Arms Park.
- You will play a central role in the long-term future of Cardiff Arms Park, working with key stakeholders on the stadium lease while supporting the venue’s future development and commercial potential.
- You will lead continued improvement across the organisation, including digital transformation, ensuring data, technology and innovation support supporter experience, commercial performance and operational efficiency.
- You will lead and develop the club’s people and culture, creating clear accountability, strong collaboration and a working environment capable of supporting high performance across both rugby and business operations.
Your Skills and Experience
- Proven senior executive leadership experience with broad organisational accountability, whether as a Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director or in an equivalent leadership role.
- A strong track record of commercial growth, revenue generation and financial leadership, including responsibility for budgets, forecasts and long-term planning.
- Experience leading organisational change, operational improvement and the development of effective teams and cultures.
- The ability to combine strategic leadership with a hands-on approach, making clear decisions and managing competing priorities within a lean, high-profile organisation.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with experience working effectively with Boards, owners and complex stakeholder groups, and representing an organisation publicly.
- Experience within elite sport or a professional club environment would be advantageous, as would exposure to stadium or venue operations, property and lease matters, digital transformation, investment or ownership change.
How to Apply
Please click APPLY NOW to send your CV and Cover Letter to our team.