Local Recruitment Officer/Talent ID Centre Lead

Organisation: Derby County Football Club
Salary: Competitive
Location: DE21 4TB
Contract type: (Full time)
Closing date: 26 April 2026
Job Description: Derby County are seeking to recruit a Local Recruitment Officer/Talent ID Centre Lead to join the Academy Recruitment Department at Moor Farm Training Centre.

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. With a proud legacy, a dedicated fan base, and an exciting vision for the future, Derby County offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment both on and off the pitch. Whether you're joining the team in coaching, administration, marketing, or operations, you'll be contributing to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional development.

The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing an industry-leading program of Talent Identification across the pre-academy and foundation phase age groups. You will be the figurehead of the Talent ID program, which our academy established in the 2023/2024 season.
An excellent knowledge of grassroots football in Derby and the surrounding areas is required, and you will be expected to create and uphold strong relationships with local grassroots managers and community groups, whilst also providing excellent communication with parents, fellow academy staff members, and young players is an essential part of this role.

Key Role Responsibilities:
• Good working knowledge of grassroots football in and around Derby.
• Liaise regularly with all recruitment staff about local footballers and identify talented players to attend an academy trial or be invited to the 12-week Talent ID Centre program.
• Run appropriate trials to identify potential new players.
• Adapt and improve the current games program for the Talent ID Centre players, ensuring we regularly see local grassroots teams of interest.
• Regularly attend Talent ID Centre training sessions to ensure the Derby County Academy curriculum is delivered appropriately.
• Arrange and coordinate regular recruitment festivals at Moor Farm Training Centre.
• Carrying out the Induction Process for Academy Trialists.
• Preparing Trialist Documents to present at MDT Meetings.
• Attendance and Reporting on Local Grassroots Fixtures.
• Reviewing weekly match reports from Academy Scouts.

General
• To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of customers and colleagues, complying with health and safety guidance and policy.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed and improve the club’s safeguarding provision, ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and also including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the organisation.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

Personal characteristics and experience:
• Experience working with players who have progressed through the Academy system (Desirable)
• Experience of football coaching in a professional environment (Desirable)
• Experience in implementing policies and procedures and reviewing practices to ensure continuous improvement
• Confident, Resilient and Self Motivated
• Excellent Communications skills both verbal and written
• Excellent Presentation skills (Desirable)
• Ability to work in a fast paced, target driven environment
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Work using own initiative and as part of a team
• Passion, desire and understanding of Youth Development
• Awareness of the EPPP and audit process

Qualifications:
Essential
• FA Safeguarding and First Aid Qualifications
• FA Talent ID Level 2
• A Full UK Driving License

Desirable
• FA Advanced Youth Award

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

This is a full-time role, and due to the demands of professional football, there is a requirement for weekend and evening work, as well as regular national travel.

Who are Derby County…

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships, subject to availability
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’ and Staff Events!
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

How to apply…

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.

To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE.

Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser.

More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers

The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday, 26 April 2026. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Strictly no agencies please.

Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.
How to apply: How to apply… Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check. Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity. To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE. Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser. More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday, 26 April 2026. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Strictly no agencies please. Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.