YDP Recruitment and Retention Manager

Nottingham Forest Football Club; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent sports club is seeking a YDP Recruitment & Retention Manager to lead player recruitment strategies across youth development. This role involves leading the recruitment team and managing partnerships in the community while ensuring high standards in player identification. Ideal candidates will be experienced in sports management and have a passion for developing young talents. This full-time position is based on-site in Nottingham and offers a competitive package with a variety of perks.

Benefits

Opportunity to access tickets for events

Employee Assistance Programme

High street and gym discounts

Discount in Club shop

Free on-site parking

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading recruitment strategies.
• Ability to manage staff effectively.
• Knowledge of youth development principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment and retention for Youth Development Phase.
• Manage scouting activities locally and nationally.
• Build positive relationships within the Academy.

Skills

Strong leadership and management experience

Proficient in technology for communication

Ability to maintain quality service

Strong relationship-building skills

Appropriate representation of club values

Job description

Salary

Please state your expectations within your application

Contract

Full Time, 42 hours a week

Location

The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR

Working Arrangements

On site

Closing Date For Applications

19th December 2025

The Perks of the Job

• Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to high street and gym discounts.
• Discount within our Club shop.
• Free on-site parking.

Role Overview

The role of the YDP Recruitment & Retention Manager is to lead on the strategy for player recruitmentacross Youth Development Phase allowing Nottingham Forest to recruit and retain the highestpotential talents locally and nationally.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Youth Development Phase recruitment strategy, inclusive of local andnational player identification.
• Lead and manage the full-time, part-time, and voluntary staff within the FP & YDP Recruitmentspace.
• Carry out scouting activities primarily within the YDP age groups, through a mixture of local,national, and international games.
• Lead on the identification and recruitment of player acquisitions for the YDP age groups.
• Carry out other scouting activities as and when required.
• Oversee the Talent ID process for programmes such as, but not limited to, Magic Hubs,Goalkeeper Development Centre, Academy, Full-Time School Model.
• Collaborate with the Head of PDP & Emerging Talent Recruitment & Retention to ensurethorough handover of identified players from U15 to U16.
• Support the Head of PDP & Emerging Talent Recruitment & Retention with EPPP Auditpreparations.
• Develop personal and professional connections that foster positive relationships within theAcademy Recruitment Department, as well as wider Academy Departments.
• Collaborate with the Academy Recruitment Team to ensure that high standards are consistentlymet and that the Department continues to strive for improvement.
• Collaborate with all Academy Departments, in particular the Operations Department, to ensure professional and timely communication around trialists, as well as abiding by all Youth Development rules in the Talent ID & Recruitment space.
• Embed and evolve an excellent Trial Process which displays Nottingham Forest’s warm values and enables informed decision-making.
• Push the boundaries in identifying, attracting, recruiting and retaining the most exciting young talents through a diverse range of strategies.
• Develop a reputation in the football community, with players, parents and other stakeholdersfor doing things differently and become market leaders in this space.
• Collaborate with the U7-U12 Recruitment & Retention Manager to lead, manage, and develop ateam of scouts who will identify young talents in line with the Nottingham Forest profile andfootball philosophy.
• Maintain clear databases, in line with Forest responding procedures, of all young talent andcreate dashboards and reports on the progress of the young talent.
• Work closely with the Head of FP & YDP Player Development to generate an innovative andmodern curriculum in line with Forest methodology.
• Create outstanding relationships with the grassroots community in Nottingham and beyond toextend the intel we obtain on young players in Nottingham and beyond.
• Deliver CPD for all scouts ensuring they understand our philosophy and behave andcommunicate in line with the clubs’ beliefs.
• Be proactive and bring new ideas and concepts to leadership on a regular basis to continuallymove the programme on.
• Other duties as reasonably requested by a member of the senior management team.
• To work with colleagues throughout Nottingham Forest Football Club to extend knowledge andskills to identify and develop best practice.
• To undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required,and which are consistent with the general responsibility of this job.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

• Display strong leadership and management experience and capabilities
• Utilise technology to ensure that staff and parents alike are well informed of important details ina timely and professional manner
• To maintain the quality-of-service provision, regularly evaluating work and seeking to makeimprovements.
• Present a professional image when dealing with both internal and external contacts andpartners, acting in a professional manner always.
• To create successful and professional relationships with players and staff
• To act, always, in a manner appropriate to a representative of Nottingham Forest FC
• All staff are responsible for the wellbeing and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults onall Club sites. If you have a concern or witness a Safeguarding matter, you must report it to thedepartment’s Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) or the Club’s Lead DSO or SeniorSafeguarding Manager. If It’s an emergency, you are to call the relevant emergency service suchas Police or CAMHS.

Leadership and Management

• Leadership - Describe aims, encouraging people to meet them and showing a real belief in people by trusting them to deliver
• Communication - Communication of key issues to a wide audience, listening to suggestions,asking probing questions to ensure full understanding of messages
• Teamwork - Develop relationships with people quickly; work to build longer term individual,team and department relationships, creating trust and credibility
• Commercial acumen - Show a sound understanding of the financial and relationshipmanagement of your own area
• Customer focus - Ensure that internal and external customer satisfaction is always a high priority
• Planning and prioritising – Ensure tasks are completed by you and your team, always achievinghigh standard and results
• Commitment - Bounces back from setbacks maintaining enthusiasm even when obstacles arebeyond personal control
• Managing change - Decide how best to implement changes for yourself and others, whilstachieving key tasks
• Persuading and influencing - persuades others through a well-structured and well-reasoned case

Management of Employees

• Manage, motivate and develop employees within the team to ensure that they are able todeliver their responsibilities
• Identify development areas and where appropriate provide mentorship, coaching and agreetraining plans as appropriate
• Record and manage absence procedures in accordance with company procedures as required, highlighting any concerns that need to be addressed.
• Participate in disciplinary, grievance and performance management processes in accordance with company procedures as required.
• Consider and report welfare and safety matters, taking into account instructions and guidelinesissued. Ensure your team is trusted and works efficiently with other departments to guarantee the successful operation of the Club, attending

Forest For Everyone

At Nottingham Forest Football Club we are committed to creating an environment where differences are respected, individuality is celebrated, everyone feels valued, supported, and included. Our goal is to ensure every member of our team can be themselves, contribute fully, and reach their potential without barriers.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Mental Wellbeing

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from talented people of all backgrounds regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We continue to develop policies and practices that promote equality, diversity, inclusion and mental wellbeing across our workforce. To help us measure progress and hold ourselves accountable, we ask all applicants to provide accurate diversity information during the recruitment process.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer, taking positive steps to attract, recruit, and support disabled people. As part of this commitment, we work hard to ensure our recruitment processes are fair, inclusive, and accessible to everyone. We are committed to offering interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role and provide reasonable adjustments at every stage from the application process through to ongoing support in the workplace.

If you are likely to meet the definition of being a "disabled person" according to the Equality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme. Please indicate this in your application form. The information you share with us about your health or disability will not be used in recruitment selections.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.

An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions or reprimands, warnings or bind-overs that may have been incurred. The Club reserves the right to carry out risk assessments where content has been disclosed on a DBS disclosure if it feels that it is relevant to the job requirements. Failure to satisfy the Club and the PL's safeguarding requirements may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or, if they have already started employment, summary termination of the employment.

Health and Safety

At Nottingham Forest Football Club, we are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all employees. In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, you must take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions or omissions at work. You must also cooperate with the Club's health and safety policies and procedures. Should you identify any health and safety concerns, please report them promptly to your manager or a member of the Health and Safety/Facilities team.