Head of Academy Recruitment

Birmingham City FC; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading football club is seeking a Head of Academy Recruitment to strategize and lead the national and international talent acquisition efforts. This pivotal role involves overseeing the academy recruitment process, managing scouting operations, and ensuring alignment with the club's long-term development goals. Candidates should possess strong leadership, analytical skills, and a comprehensive understanding of scouting within elite sports environments.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing scouting teams in an elite sporting or football environment.
• Valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationwide.
• Ability to interpret and apply performance data within a recruitment context.

Responsibilities

• Lead academy recruitment and emerging talent strategy from Pre-Academy to U21s.
• Manage the Club’s national scouting strategy and oversee scouting network.
• Develop links with clubs, academies, schools, and act as primary contact for recruited players.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Education

Degree in Sports Science, Data Analytics, or related discipline

FA Level 3 Talent ID (or higher)

UEFA C Licence or higher

Tools

Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Python, R)

Football Analytics Platforms

Job description

Head of Academy Recruitment

Location: Knighthead Performance Centre

Department: Emerging Talent

Reports to: Academy Technical Director

Birmingham City Football Club is seeking a highly experienced and forward-thinking Head of Academy Talent Identification to lead the Club’s national and international academy recruitment strategy. This role is key to identifying and acquiring elite-level players aligned with our Academy vision, values, and long-term player development goals.

Based at the Knighthead Performance Centre, you will oversee the full Emerging Talent function—from player identification through to recruitment operations. Working closely with the Academy Technical Director, coaching staff, and player support teams, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Club continues to attract, assess, and sign players who meet the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological demands of a Category One Academy.

Since the Club’s transformation under Knighthead’s leadership, Birmingham City FC has built a strong foundation for future success. This includes a renewed focus on youth development and talent acquisition as we build towards a long-term, sustainable pipeline of high-potential players.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the Club’s academy recruitment and emerging talent strategy from Pre-Academy to U21s
• Ensure alignment with Academy philosophy, EPPP standards, and positional/squad requirements
• Manage the Club’s national scouting strategy, including the development and oversight of a comprehensive scouting network
• Lie manage the Local Emerging Talent Manager, National Scouts, and Emerging Talent Analyst and Coordinator

Scouting & Recruitment Operations

• Build and maintain a robust player target list aligned with recruitment objectives
• Attend matches, tournaments, and scouting events to assess high-potential players
• Oversee use of scouting systems and data platforms to monitor and log player assessments
• Work closely with the Data and Analysis teams to integrate performance and statistical insights into recruitment decisions

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong links with clubs, academies, schools, County FAs, and The FA
• Act as the primary contact for nationally recruited players and families during the trial and onboarding process
• Collaborate regularly with the Academy Technical Director, Head of Coaching, and Phase Leads to ensure recruitment activity supports technical planning

Staff Development & Performance Monitoring

• Recruit, mentor, and manage regional scouts to ensure national coverage
• Deliver CPD opportunities and mentoring to ensure quality and consistency in scouting reports
• Implement performance KPIs and success factors to track and enhance scouting output

Data Analysis & Innovation

• Analyse squad composition and positional needs to inform future recruitment
• Evaluate player performance using tools such as Wyscout, Instat, StatsBomb, Sportscode
• Present insights at regular recruitment meetings and contribute to the due diligence process for signings

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure accurate record keeping in line with Club and EPPP audit requirements
• Support safeguarding, medical, and administrative teams with compliance processes
• Attend CPD events and actively engage in Club appraisal and development cycles

What we’re Looking For in You

• FA Level 3 Talent ID (or higher)Strong
• knowledge of playing styles, tactical systems, and elite player profiles
• Proven experience managing scouting teams in an elite sporting or football environment
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to interpret and apply performance data within a recruitment context
• Valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationwide

Desirable

• Degree in Sports Science, Data Analytics, or related discipline
• UEFA C Licence or higher
• Proficiency in data tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Python, R)
• Experience using football analytics platforms
• Previous experience working within a professional academy environment
• Understanding of transfer market dynamics and player valuation processes

Personal Attributes

• Innovative thinker with a forward-looking approach to recruitment
• Values collaboration, team culture, and individual development
• High levels of professionalism, resilience, and personal accountability
• Maintains emotional control and integrity in high-pressure settings

Birmingham City FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

The Safety and well-being of our players is our top priority, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to undergo a thorough background check and safeguarding training as part of the recruitment process.

We are a proud to be an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employerWe wel

come applications from all sectors of the community and assess candidates solely on merit. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment or interview process, please let us know when applying.