Academy Technical Scout in Nottingham

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

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 Academy Technical Scout will play a key part in delivering the Academy & Emerging Talent Recruitment Strategy from a technical viewpoint. This includes, but is not limited to, scouting player targets via video, preparing video dossiers of player targets and trialists, interpreting data trends and providing data insights. A key component of the role will be managing all of our information, intel and data flows ensuring clean inputs to allow an agile and quick approach to leadership decision‑making. In addition, there may from time‑to‑time be elements of live scouting involved. All with the purpose of identifying and recruiting Premier League potential players for Nottingham Forest.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Conduct extensive video scouting and analysis to support the player identification and assessment process.
• Ensure that the internal database of identified players is managed accordingly and contribute to the training and development of our scouting team on inputs, outputs and database management.
• Ensure that scouting targets are logged appropriately on internal lists and can be used to facilitate quick and dynamic decision making.
• Generate scouting reports on players assessed via video or live observations.
• Create and maintain video databases of players identified as potential targets, as well as YDP / PDP trialists.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary staff to pull together vital information to help inform decision‑making and present this data in a management friendly way.
• Create detailed dossiers to support the decision‑making process on potential new signings, which will be viewed by the Head of Academy, Head of Football Development & Talent Management, Chief Football Officer & Club Board.
• Collaborate with relevant staff to ensure that vital information is available and displayed through internal sources and dashboards.
• Collaborate with relevant staff to carry out research into trends and provide insights to support innovative ways for the Academy & Emerging Talent Recruitment Team to identify & recruit players with the potential for the highest echelons of the game.
• Using data ensure that the lists of players highlighted for live viewings are regularly refreshed and updated.
• Support the Head of PDP & Emerging Talent Recruitment with the planning of efficient scouting coverage, as well as the monitoring of scouting reports and player lists.
• Support the Head of PDP & Emerging Talent Recruitment with the management of the Talent ID Coordinator.
• Support the PDP & Emerging Talent trialist process by being a point of contact at the Training Ground during the trial period.

Essential Person Specification:

• Experience of live/video scouting.
• Experience of creating video packages of elite footballers/sports people.
• Competent with the use of different recruitment and analysis software, such as WyScout, Hudl, Stats Bomb, Opta.
• Excellent video editing and presentation skills.
• Experience of applying data to support the identification and recruitment process of elite footballers/sports people.
• Demonstrable Technical and Tactical knowledge and understanding of football.
• Knowledge of the domestic and international youth football market.
• Able to work at a fast pace to deadlines in a changeable environment.
• Open‑minded and willing to share innovative ideas to enhance the growth of the department and recruitment strategy.
• Driven and optimistic with a can‑do approach.
• Talent ID qualifications desirable.
• A sports analysis‑related Degree desirable but not essential.

Working Relationships:

• Head of Football Development & Talent Management
• Head of Academy
• Head of PDP & Emerging Talent Recruitment
• Youth Development Phase Recruitment & Retention Manager
• Talent ID Coordinator
• Recruitment Analyst
• Multidisciplinary PDP & YDP Staff
• Part‑Time Scouts

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 in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain the quality‑of‑service provision, regularly evaluating work and seeking to make improvements.
• Present a professional image when dealing with both internal and external contacts and partners, acting in a professional manner always.
• Create successful and professional relationships with players and staff.
• 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 on all Club sites.

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 relationship management 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 achieving high standard and results.
• Commitment – Bounce back from setbacks maintaining enthusiasm even when obstacles are beyond personal control.
• Managing change – Decide how best to implement changes for yourself and others, whilst achieving 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 to deliver their responsibilities.
• Identify development areas and where appropriate provide mentorship, coaching and agree training 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 guidelines issued.
• Ensure your team is trusted and works efficiently with other departments to guarantee the successful operation of the Club.

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.

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.

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.

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 are required to 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.