Head of Youth Recruitment (Girls Academy) Aston Villa Football Club

Department: Girls Academy Department

Hours of Work: Full Time (flexibility to work matchday, evenings and weekends is required for this post)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum dependent upon experience

Location: Bodymoor Heath Training Ground

Closing Date: Sunday 14 September 2025

The Head of Youth Recruitment is a new role for the Girls Academy who will lead our talent identification and recruitment strategy, aiming to identify, assess and recruit players with a clear pathway for talented players who have the potential to progress and ultimately reach our First Team.

This is a real opportunity to apply knowledge and experience to build and shape this role, devising and implementing a season recruitment strategy in line with our Academy High Performance Plan. Responsibilities and accountabilities include:

• Organising and managing development centres, player trials and talent identification events
• Implementing structured trialist management processes
• Monitoring player development post recruitment
• Producing reports on all related player recruitment activity
• Staying at the forefront of girls youth football trends, competitor activity and emerging talent nationally and internationally

A key responsibility is to recruit, build and lead a local and national network of scouts to deliver the recruitment strategy and support succession planning.

For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

This is an amazing opportunity to build and shape a role with a real chance to make a huge impact on our players and their development.

• FA Level 3 in Talent Management, Strategy and Leadership in Football, with proven experience in talent identification and recruitment or a professional football environment
• Proven track record of recruiting players who have played at PGA Category 1 or 2 academies with the ability to assess technical, tactical, physical and psychological attributes, and understanding of player pathways and long-term development needs
• Existing network of contacts across grassroots, academy and professional football
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with players, parents, coaches and external clubs
• Organised with strong leadership and planning skills; ability to create and present recruitment reports and analysis in a clear, evidence-based manner
• Available to work flexibly with a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, with the ability to travel regularly across the UK and occasional international travel as required

Why join us?

Aston Villa Football Club is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. We celebrate diversity and embrace equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

As part of your application, you will be asked to:

1. Upload your CV
2. Answer the following question: Please outline your key skills, qualities and experience which make you the ideal candidate for this role (400 words maximum)

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early

The Club reserves the right to close any advertised vacancies earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications have been received.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embraces equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. We adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club The official club website AVFC - Safeguarding

Tagged as: Full Time, Permanent, women's football