National Emerging Talent Manager

Location: Knighthead Performance Centre
Contract: Full-Time | 37.5 hours per week
Reports to: Academy Technical Director

To lead the national identification and recruitment of emerging elite-level talent outside of the Club’s local recruitment area, ensuring alignment with the Academy\’s vision, values, and long-term player development strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and expand the Club’s national scouting network, ensuring a robust pipeline of high-potential players who meet the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological benchmarks of a Category One Academy.
• Lead the Club’s national recruitment strategy for emerging talent across the United Kingdom.
• Identify and assess high-potential players at the academy level of football beyond the local catchment area.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive network of scouts, contacts, and trusted sources nationwide.
• Ensure recruitment aligns with the Club’s player profiling criteria, philosophy, and EPPP audit standards.
• Recruit, develop, and manage a team of full-time regional scouts to cover key geographic regions effectively.
• Provide continuous CPD and mentoring to scouting staff to ensure consistency in player assessments and reporting.
• Implement and monitor Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators for regional scouts to drive accountability and performance.
• Attend matches and tournaments to assess emerging talent at a national level.
• Oversee the use of internal reporting systems to log player reports and monitor emerging talent over time.
• Work collaboratively with the data department to integrate qualitative and quantitative data into recruitment decisions.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with clubs, academies, schools, County FAs, and the national governing body (e.g., The FA).
• Act as the main point of contact for nationally recruited players and families during the scouting and trial process.
• Liaise regularly with the Academy Technical Director and Phase Leads to align recruitment with squad needs and development objectives.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to internal audits and regulatory inspections.
• Oversee the national programme and ensure full management of all club, country, and position-specific responsibilities of National Scouts.
• Analyse player performance data using advanced statistical tools and software (e.g., Wyscout, Instat, StatsBomb, Sportscode, etc).
• Work closely with other Birmingham City FC staff to align recruitment profiles with tactical and strategic needs.
• Monitor domestic and international leagues for emerging talent and potential signings.
• Manage and contribute to regular recruitment meetings with visual presentations and insights.
• Evaluate current squad metrics to identify positional strengths, weaknesses, and depth needs.
• Support due diligence processes for player signings, including injury history, background checks, playing style, financial compatibility, and the creation of player dossiers.
• Line manage the National Scouts and the National Emerging Talent Analyst and Coordinator.
• Attend all Continued Professional Development (CPD) events.
• Actively engage in the Club appraisal process.
• Ensure compliance with all Club Policies and Procedures as outlined in the Staff Handbook, including Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and falling within the scope of the post, as requested by the Academy Technical Director.

Key Relationships

• National Scouts
• Academy Technical Director
• Local Emerging Talent Manager
• Head of Coaching and Phase Leads
• First Team Scouting Department
• Emerging Talent Team

What we’re looking for in you:

Qualifications

• FA Level 3 Talent ID or above
• Valid Driving Licence

Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of various playing styles and tactical systems
• Good IT skills and ability to interpret data and prepare reports
• Experience using football analytics platforms
• Ability to use CPD and personal development positively and effectively
• Excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workload
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills
• Ability to drive and understand change and influence service delivery
• Degree in Sports Science, Data Analytics, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• UEFA C Licence or higher
• Proficiency in data visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and statistical programming (e.g., Python, R)
• Experience working in an elite sporting environment or professional football club
• Experience of academy operations and EPPP requirements
• Understanding of player valuation and transfer market dynamics
• Demonstrates complex self-awareness, professionalism, and emotional regulation under pressure

Personal Attributes

• Dynamic and forward-thinking, with a growth mindset
• Builds strong relationships and values collaboration
• Takes ownership, delivers consistently to high standards
• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment

Equality, Diversity & Safeguarding

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 training in safeguarding as part of the recruitment process.

Birmingham City FC is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer. We welcome applications from all sectors of the community and assess candidates solely on merit, regardless of gender, race, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, political or religious belief, background, or family circumstances. We promote a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage all individuals to apply. If you need any adjustments to our recruitment or interview process, please inform us when applying.

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