Director of Scouting - Columbus NWSL 2028

National Women’s Soccer League; Columbus (OH); Sur place; USD 150 000 - 210 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Columbus NWSL is seeking a Director of Scouting to lead nationwide player identification and assessment. You will unify live, video, and data scouting into an evidence-based process that informs roster planning and salary cap decisions for the club and its expansion phase.

The role requires extensive scouting leadership, deep NCAA knowledge, and strong relationships with agents, coaches, and clubs. Travel and international scouting will be part of the remit.

Qualifications

• Extensive scouting and recruitment experience at professional/youth levels.
• Strong knowledge of NCAA college soccer and US youth landscape.
• Evidence-based player assessment using data and video analysis.
• Ability to manage scouting networks and mentor staff.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsabilités

• Design and run proactive scouting processes across professional, college and youth levels.
• Develop and implement a club-wide player reporting and grading system.
• Oversee long and short lists, shadow squads, and depth charts.
• Support in player acquisitions, negotiations and roster planning.
• Manage annual scouting calendar and budget; coordinate travel and events.
• Partner with Data & Analytics to integrate AI and data-driven insights.

Connaissances

Scouting leadership

Data-driven decision making

NCAA college soccer knowledge

Talent identification

Relationship building

Travel willingness

AI adoption openness

Communication

Formation

Undergraduate degree in sport/related field

Outils

Wyscout

InStat

TransferRoom

Excel

PowerPoint

Description du poste

Overview:

The Director of Scouting leads all scouting and player identification for the club, at every level from professional to NCAA college and youth. The role sets the scouting vision, manages the scouting network, and gives provides expert, documented assessments of players worldwide.

Working closely with the Data Analytics department, the Director combines live, video and data scouting into one evidence-based process. The role provides critical and direct support to all player acquisition, roster planning and salary cap decisions and will be critical to the build of the Club's inaugural expansion roster

Key responsibilities

Scouting process and strategy

• Design and run a proactive scouting process to identify, assess and monitor players against the positional archetypes in the club's sporting identity.
• Develop and implement a club-specific player reporting and grading system that is implemented throughout the process
• Hold regular review meetings with scouts to keep grading consistent across the network.
• Oversee long lists and short lists built from a combination of data analysis and video scouting.
• Establish and maintain Shadow Squads across all markets (pro and amateur, domestic and international), with multiple options in every position, planned at least two transfer windows ahead.
• Create and maintain depth charts that show current squad depth alongside potential targets.

Player acquisition and movement

• Provide expert knowledge of each player's fit within the club's sporting identity.
• Recommend acquisition targets to the GM based on roster needs and the current and future salary cap position.
• Provide multiple player options in every position, each supported by subjective and objective scouting assessments
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of league trade values, global transfer fees and player salaries, brief leadership on attainability and likely financials
• Support the GM in player proposals, negotiations, trades and transfers
• Assist in the onboarding of new signings

Scouting schedule and budget

• Manage the annual scouting calendar and budget to give in-depth coverage of priority markets.
• Assign scouts to games and players, and recommend trips to specific tournaments, events and games each year.
• Attend games and events worldwide as needed

Data, technology and information management

• Partner with the Data & Analytics department to give long-term technical input on player profiles and scouting needs.
• Use data and video analysis so every target has an evidence-based assessment.
• Evaluate and consolidate internal and third-party data sources to assist in decision-making and presentation of target players
• Research scouting technology, software, data and consultancy services, and recommend solutions that keep the club at the forefront of innovation
• Integrate AI into workflows

Network, relationships and market intelligence

• Build strong relationships with player agents, clubs and coaches, acting as the point of contact for enquiries and interest.
• Provide market intelligence on trades and transfers based on roster needs (internal and external)

Scout management and development

• Lead the scouting staff and ensure continued alignment in player reporting and evaluations
• Document key processes (grading systems, information required at each stage) to drive consistency
• Organize and lead scouting meetings within the department and with other stakeholders.
• Act as a mentor to staff in the reporting line and manage annual performance reviews in line with Club policy

NCAA college soccer and youth landscape

NCAA college soccer and the youth game are core markets for this role. The Director strategizes and oversees a scouting process with a particular focus on college and youth prospects.

• Build and lead dedicated coverage of NCAA college soccer and the domestic youth landscape, alongside professional markets
• Maintain college and youth targets within the Shadow Squads
• Prioritize key college and youth tournaments, showcases and events in the annual scouting calendar, and attend them in person.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with college and youth coaches / staff
• Ensure bespoke grading systems to assess college and youth players

Essential experience and qualifications

• Extensive experience in professional soccer in scouting and recruitment, including leading or managing scouts.
• Strong knowledge of NCAA college soccer and the US youth landscape.
• Strong knowledge of domestic professional leagues, other American soccer leagues and leagues worldwide.
• Experience applying data to player identification and assessment.
• Working knowledge of scouting platforms such as Wyscout, Impect, SkillCorner, InStat and TransferRoom.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint, plus visualisation and database tools.
• Undergraduate degree in a sport-related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization, with the ability to prioritize and manage several projects at once.
• Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays, and to travel regularly, domestically and internationally
• Openness toanalytics and AI adoption, a non-negotiable cultural expectation at the club.

Desirable skills and attributes

Desirable qualifications

• Relevant coaching and/or player identification qualifications.
• Experience with Sportscode or Nacsport, and with video and telestration tools such as Final Cut, KlipDraw or CoachPaint.
• An established network of agents, clubs, and college and youth coaches.

Core competencies

• Leadership: inspires and motivates others, communicates vision and direction clearly, and makes balanced, timely decisions.
• Managing and developing others: empowers staff, delegates well, recognizes contributions and holds people to clear standards.
• Working with others: builds strong working relationships, respects others' views, and values diversity and equality.
• Communication: listens well and gives concise, accurate and constructive information in a timely way.
• Planning and decision making: works in a planned, organized way, sets goals for self and team, and solves problems with a solution-focused approach.
• Personal responsibility: owns the quality of the work, responds positively to feedback, and keeps technical knowledge current.
• Drive and integrity: passionate about scouting, works well with minimal guidance, and shows high personal values and integrity.

About Columbus NWSL 2028:

In April 2026, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced that Columbus will be home to the 18th club in the top global women's soccer league. The team will play home matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field when it officially debuts during the 2028 NWSL season. Columbus NWSL 2028 will train at their own dedicated world-class performance center.

Haslam Sports Group (HSG), in partnership with Nationwide and Dr. Chris and Dr. Pete Edwards, led the effort to bring an elite professional women's soccer club to Ohio. Motivated by sports' unique power to unify and uplift local communities, the collective was inspired by the city's and state's strong passion for soccer and sports and the opportunities created for women, men, boys and girls, based on their combined experience with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, within the sports industry and throughout the local community.

HSG embraces the positive impact of sports and its unique opportunity to unify communities. Dee and Jimmy Haslam, along with Whitney and JW Johnson, founded Haslam Sports Group in 2020. Through the Haslam and Johnson families' network of industry experience and relationships, their mission is to create world-class organizations that achieve sustainable success, provide a best-in-class fan experience, and give back to their region. HSG invests in strategic sports and entertainment opportunities, with a current portfolio including ownership of the Cleveland Browns, operating rights to the Columbus Crew and co-ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as investments in HSG Ventures, HSG Facilities, the WNBA, and other entities.