Strategy & Insights Officer

Working at the RFU means being part of the ‘bigger picture’ at England Rugby: to be rooted in our purpose, which is to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union & develop the sport for future generations. If our purpose resonates with you, and you recognise the value that sport can bring to people’s lives, we’d love to work with you. An opportunity has arisen for a Strategy & Insights Officer to join our Strategy and Operations team.

Job Title : Strategy & Insights Officer
Department : Strategy and Operations
Reports to : Senior Strategy & Planning Manager (dotted line to Senior Strategic Insights Manager)
Salary Banding : c. £40,000
Job Level : Implement
Location : This role is contractually based at Allianz Stadium, offering some flexibility to work from home
Travel Requirements: Occasional national travel likely required
Employment Type : Permanent
Working Hours : Full Time role, covering 35 hrs per week

Application Information:

• Please submit an anonymised CV (i.e. please exclude personal details). You do not need to submit a cover letter. 
• The closing date for applications 5th October 2026 at 12:00 noon
• Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Role:

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for grassroots and elite rugby in England. Its purpose is to Enrich Lives and Grow the Sport for Future Generations. The Strategy & Operations Team sits at the heart of the RFU, delivering business critical projects to improve the outcomes delivered at all levels of the game. This is an exciting time to join the RFU as we work to deliver our new strategy, Plan 2030: More than a game.

The role will have accountability for managing some of the RFU’s projects, along with acting as Assistant Project Manager on some of the highest value, most important projects. It will also support in developing actionable insights, manage the RFU’s Project Management Office and  produce reports on business performance for different parts of the organisation.

Responsibilities:

Day-to-day responsibilities will include:

Retail and Licensing Management:

• Drive delivery of strategy and insights projects through the RFU’s project lifecycle
• Support the Insights Team with research projects, data analysis and the translation of data into dashboards and presentations
• Supporting internal and external working groups with the planning and delivery of their accountabilities (for example strategy development, options analysis, change management and delivery system and governance design)
• Programme management support to a small number of transformation programmes – ensuring high level reporting to the executive team on risks, issues and dependencies and the tracking of critical path milestones
• Manage the RFU’s Project Management Office through Smartsheet
• Edit and reflect updates to the RFU’s Delivery Plan
• Developing and executing thorough stakeholder management processes
• Support and manage senior stakeholders in order to develop and deliver the project specific and organisational objectives
• Communicate internally with key members of the project team and senior leaders working on the project
• Managing and analysing information, drawing conclusions and presenting in an easily understood manner
• Act as an ambassador for, and promote the best interests of the RFU at all times, including the promotion of the RFU Core Values
• Undertake such other duties as maybe required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the RFU.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

Skills and qualifications:

• Degree level desirable.
• Understanding of governance and the development of governance models (including responsibility assignment processes)
• Experience in conducting research projects and presenting insights from complex data sets
• Experience managing and analysing complex data sets
• Project planning experience and ability to manage effectively within scope, timelines, budget and quality
• Experience using BI tooling (preferably Tableau) desirable
• Experience of working collaboratively with senior members of staff
• Advanced Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and proficiency with Smartsheet
• Rounded business knowledge and a detailed understanding of the RFU is desirable

Personal attributes and experience:

• Committed to driving forward inclusion in your role and day-to-day behaviours or Committed to actively contributing and building an inclusive BACK culture in your role and day to day behaviours
• Good analytical skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work on several projects at once, prioritise and communicate priorities
• Influencing, consensus building, and sustaining relationships – with the ability to work collaboratively
• Enjoys working to tight deadlines or with short turnaround times
• Ability to inspire confidence and create trust
• Excellent judgment and ability to think creatively to reach  desired goals
• Excellent organisational skills, with an emphasis on managing priorities, forward planning and adopting a flexible approach

Additional Information:

• All role holders must maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality. Any disclosures of confidential information (including personal information kept on computer or other media) made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence.
• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your interviews, including assistance or adjustment, please reach out to recruitment@rfu.com. 
• During your application, we will ask questions about your identity. This information is considered highly confidential and will not be seen by hiring managers. You can find out more about why we ask these questions here.