Director of Scouting and Recruitment

The Utah Royals FC, Real Salt Lake (RSL), and RSL Training Academy are dedicated to the growth and success of soccer in Utah. The Utah Royals FC is committed to empowerment, while RSL represents the state with pride and fosters a winning culture. The RSL Training Academy nurtures young athletes and instills values of discipline and teamwork. Together, they are committed to inspiring the soccer culture of Utah and creating lasting impressions one winning experience at a time.

SUMMARY

The Head of Recruitment is responsible for ensuring the quality assurance of all activities within the Scouting, Recruitment, and Analytics Department. Collaborating closely with the Sporting Director, they oversee the development and implementation of the club's scouting processes, targeting strategies, scheduling, and logistical operations. Additionally, they hold responsibility for the individual development of the club's scouting staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Develops and implements a 3-year player recruitment and succession plan aligned with club vision.
• Establishes and oversees scouting networks across global markets with strategic resource allocation.
• Builds and Maintain Key Relationships: Foster strong ties with NWSL clubs, international clubs, agents, and governing bodies.
• Creates and manages comprehensive evaluation systems with KPIs and positional profiles.
• Oversee Salary Cap & Contract Planning: Collaborate on annual player budget and ensure alignment with roster strategy.
• Lead regional scout hiring, training, and deployment across domestic and international regions.
• Creates and maintains an extensive database of player evaluations and maintains actionable shortlists.
• Present well-researched player options aligned with technical staff needs and club playing style.
• Work with video and data analysts to produce detailed scouting reports and summaries.
• Guide interactions with agents, players, and families to ensure proper procedures and experience.
• Organizes scouting operations by scheduling scouting meetings, aligns scouting objectives, and ensures consistent reporting formats.
• Provide timely, data-backed insights and materials to enable informed player recruitment decisions.
• Other duties as assigned by the Sporting Director 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Soccer A License (or UEFA A License).
• Five years of experience as a scout or equivalent in a professional club or international.
• Previous experience with scouting & recruitment tools and methods.
• Experience as a leader in a club or federation.
• Experience as a scout and coach.
• Proven working experience in recruiting.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of current talent identification and development theories and practices, meeting international and domestic standards.
• Understanding of the domestic and international soccer landscape/pathway (youth/pro) and trends.
• Ability to think critically and problem solve.
• Must be able to travel internationally. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to large internal and external audiences.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships and maintain regular communication with key leaders and stakeholders in the soccer community.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Exceptional time management skills and ability to prioritize workflow.
• Knowledge of NWSL and the American Soccer landscape.
• Demonstrated administrative and organizational abilities to manage multiple individuals, programs, and priorities, including short-term (event) and long-term planning.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate thoughts and ideas to staff and colleagues effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage and communicate with a network of agents and contacts within various levels of soccer, both domestic and abroad.
• Excellent knowledge of the area of expertise, including market status, trends, and best practices.
• Strong relationship-building skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Soccer Talent Scout License/International Scout Course.
• Proficiency with data, video editing, and scout technology platforms (i.e., Statsbomb, Hudl, Sportscode, Wyscout, etc.).
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) helpful.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The job requires frequent domestic and international travel, including long-haul flights and extended periods of sitting. The job involves working irregular hours, crossing multiple time zones, and navigating varied environments such as stadiums, training grounds, and remote scouting locations.

The Club provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.

Note: The need may arise to revise, supplement, or rescind portions of this job description, and RSL reserves the right to do so at any time. Employees shall be required to meet the qualifications and perform the duties of any revised job description.