Person Specification
Essential
• Proven experience in football recruitment and talent identification.
• Strong understanding of academy football and player development pathways.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to lead and manage scouting personnel.
• Strong knowledge of modern recruitment practices, including live scouting, video and data analysis
• Ability to interpret youth team video and performance data to support player development, feedback and recruitment decisions.
Desirable
• Experience within an EFL or professional academy environment.
• Existing recruitment network within youth football.
• Experience implementing recruitment systems and processes.
• Understanding of player trading and long-term squad planning.
Qualifications and Certifications
Essential
- FA Talent ID Level 2, or equivalent experience/qualification in football recruitment and talent identification.
- FA Safeguarding Children qualification.
- Enhanced DBS clearance, or willingness to complete prior to appointment.
- FA Emergency First Aid in Football, or equivalent first aid qualification.
- Evidence of continued professional development relevant to academy recruitment, talent identification, safeguarding or player development.
- Full UK driving licence and access to transport.
Desirable
- FA Talent ID Level 3 or above.
- UEFA C Licence, FA Level 2 Coaching qualification, or equivalent.
- Experience using recruitment platforms, video analysis tools or player databases.
- Training in data-led recruitment, performance analysis or player profiling.
- Experience using video analysis workflows to support youth team performance reviews, individual development plans and talent identification.
- Knowledge of EFL Youth Development rules, FA regulations and academy registration processes.