Job Opportunity: IRPA Chief of Rugby Operations

An exciting new opportunity has come up at International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) in the form of a full time ‘Chief of Rugby Operations’ role.  The organisation has its offices based in Dublin, Ireland, however applicants can apply from and be based remotely  so long as they have a flexible mindset and availability for travel.

About International Rugby Players Association:

International Rugby Players Association is the global representative body for professional rugby players on international issues of importance. The organisation works alongside international, national and competition governing bodies to ensure comprehensive player representation and involvement in the key decision-making processes for the game.

National rugby players’ associations worldwide are members of International Rugby Players, with coverage extending across all the major rugby competitions, countries and markets and over 4,000 professional rugby players worldwide.

About the Role:

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief of Rugby Operations will be part of a small team that is extremely passionate and connected to their work. The successful applicant will be responsible for managing a diverse range of areas relating to rugby operations, including numerous player welfare and player rights matters.  These are outlined as follows:

Operationally:

• Lead role in promoting the player position at both the Men’s and Women’s global calendar discussions/ negotiations. Working alongside the IRPA Heads of Men’s and Women’s Rugby respectively.
• Oversight of IRPA’s extensive involvement in the Sevens game globally, including tournament structuring, commercialisation and all related welfare matters.
• Dealing with regulatory issues in the global professional game, including player movement, player release and player eligibility.
• Central role in the development and evolution of the game’s laws, including participation on global law review and calibration groups, liaising with member bodies, players and World Rugby.
• Working with the IRPA Head of Global Research on major research and educational initiatives, primarily in the space of injury management, player load management, concussion and head injury protocols.
• Supporting IRPA General Counsel on player data and player commercial rights matters.
• Supporting the IRPA General Counsel in the Working Agreement between IRPA and World Rugby, as well as Rugby World Cup and other competitions’ Terms of Participation.

Internal Relations:

• Responsible for overseeing a small team of four in the Rugby Operations Department, providing support and general direction to the IRPA Heads of Men’s and Women’s Rugby; and the IRPA Head of Global Research.
• Working closely with the IRPA CEO and IRPA General Counsel on the strategic direction of the business.
• Direct liaison with IRPA’s thirteen member bodies (our General Executive) to gather views and draft submissions as required.
• Available to attend IRPA Board meetings, as authorised by the IRPA CEO.
• Coordination of IRPA’s approach to key rugby forums, including Shape of the Game, Rugby Athletes Commission and other welfare related forums.
• Assisting in individual player matters where national players’ associations are not in place.

External Relations:

• Ongoing relationship management with World Rugby in conjunction with the CEO and General Counsel, including monthly Management Team’s meetings.
• Wide-ranging stakeholder relations across researchers, medical personnel, legal personnel, high performance managers, professional coaches, professional referees and others.
• Representation on the World Rugby Men’s High Performance Committee.
• Representation on the global Concussion Working group, along with other global welfare groups.
• Interacting with various tournament groups, including Nations Championship/ Cup, SANZAAR/ 6 Nations, national unions and club competitions.
• Interacting with new franchise competitions in both the XVs and 7s space. Includes gathering player feedback on legal framework, welfare provisions and all aspects of competition development.
• Ongoing engagement with the World Players Association, in a multi-sport, player representative environment.

What you’ll bring

• A keen interest and understanding of rugby operational matters. Ideally a former Player, Coach or High Performance Manager.
• A good cross-section of understanding across medical/ welfare related topics, and ideally some prior interaction with researchers in the field.
• A strategic mindset and an ability to lead on different initiatives and projects. Equally, an ability to work with the IRPA CEO and General Counsel on strategic direction.
• An ability to build rapport and understanding with players / member representatives.
• An ability to manage external relations with senior World Rugby representatives and other key rugby stakeholders.
• Availability to travel as required
• Advanced communication, negotiation, influencing and drafting skills.
• Strong administrative and presentation skills, coupled with an ability to communicate concepts clearly and effectively.

• A strong team player attitude with the ability to work closely with different colleagues but also autonomously as required.
• A relevant educational background that ideally supports the workload of the role.

What you’ll get

As a member of the International Rugby Players Association team, you’ll not only be instrumental in reshaping the landscape for professional rugby players globally but you’ll also enjoy various rewards and benefits, including:

• A remote or hybrid working model that offers flexibility and promotes work-life balance.
• A competitive salary package.
• An opportunity to work as part of a small tight-knit team, including travel opportunities and rugby matchday opportunities.
• An opportunity to make genuine impact across professional rugby, and in particularly the lives of rugby players worldwide.

Next Steps:

Applications close on 5pm (UK Time) on Monday, 21st September.

Applicants should send a cover letter and CV to the CEO of IRPA Omar Hassanein: omar@rugbyplayers.org