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