1st Team Lead Recruitment Specialist (Ref: 196527)

Position: 1st Team Lead Recruitment Specialist

Location: London, England

Industry: Football

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 + Bonus (30%) + Benefits

Contact: james.gershfield@forsythbarnes.com

An ambitious professional football club competing in the EFL is seeking to appoint a 1st Team Lead Recruitment Specialist to play a key role in shaping its short- and long-term squad strategy.

This is a senior, high-impact position working closely with the club’s football leadership to identify, evaluate, and secure talent aligned with the club’s playing philosophy and financial framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the identification and recruitment of first-team player targets across domestic and international markets
• Build and maintain a robust scouting network, combining live, video, and data-led insights
• Deliver detailed player assessments, including technical, tactical, physical, and psychological profiling
• Work collaboratively with senior football staff to align recruitment with the club’s playing style and squad needs
• Support transfer negotiations through market intelligence, benchmarking, and due diligence
• Drive continuous improvement in recruitment processes, tools, and reporting standards
• Monitor emerging markets and trends to maintain competitive advantage

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in football recruitment, scouting, or player trading at professional level
• Strong understanding of the UK and international player markets – specifically The English Championship and League One.
• Ability to integrate data analytics with traditional scouting methodologies
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strategic thinker with strong decision-making capability under pressure
• High level of discretion and professionalism
• Deep relationships with agents

…