Player Recruitment Lead

About us

Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire.

Founded in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham, the Club was renamed Grimsby Town a year later and went on to become Lincolnshire’s leading football club, spending many years in the top two divisions and twice reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup.

The Club is owned by 1878 Partners Ltd, and since their takeover in 2021, they have made it their mission for there to be a real tangible connection between fans and the Club.

Along with a long-established Men’s First Team who play in the EFL Sky Bet League Two, the Club also has an Academy known for developing talent, a Women’s First Team who compete in Division One North and the Grimsby Town Foundation, which last year delivered a charitable spend of over £4m.

The next chapter of Grimsby Town Football Club is in our hands. Together, we can achieve greater things. And to achieve greater things we need a great team.

Who we are

We don’t just work for Grimsby Town Football Club — we are Grimsby Town Football Club. It’s a remarkable story that began in 1878 and has continued uninterrupted ever since.

There is nothing bigger and nothing more powerful in uniting so many people — through purpose, passion and pride — than a football club. It’s people’s identity. It’s their family; their heritage. It’s where they belong. This is something that cannot be undone. The bond, ties and loyalty are forever. And by being here, we are part of the story.

This is no ordinary job. This is an extraordinary opportunity. We are more than staff, players, managers, coaches, analysts, physios, stewards and volunteers. We are friends, supporters, promoters, entertainers, role models and, in some cases, idols and legends. But we cannot be any of these things without each other.

None of us is bigger than all of us. Every day, we strive for better. We are a football club, but we’re at the heart of something much bigger. A club formed from its community now has the power to define its community. We are today’s authors of this black and white story.

This moment has been 146 years in the making. And the next chapter is in our hands. Together, we can achieve greater things. And to achieve greater things we need a great team, and this is where you come in.

What the role is

Join a forward-thinking club with bold ambitions. At Grimsby Town FC, you’ll be part of a tight-knit team driving a modern, data-led approach to recruitment.

You’ll also benefit from working closely with James Town Analytics (JTA) – a cutting-edge football intelligence partner with a track record of success. They support our decision-making with advanced data and performance insight.

This is a rare opportunity to shape recruitment strategy in a Club that values innovation, collaboration, and continual improvement.

Job purpose

To support the recruitment, retention, and release of players for the men’s first team by aligning squad needs with JTA data; to actively promote the club to prospective players, agents, and clubs; and to lead negotiations regarding player and club terms.

Main roles and responsibilities

• To use data to continually squad plan and identify possible targets – including those within the Club’s Academy
• To champion the use of data lead player recruitment
• To discuss recruitment requirements and options with the Head Coach and technical staff
• To develop dossiers on target players for board approval
• To understand and articulate the appeal of GTFC to all stakeholders i.e. through the development of promotional assets
• To develop negotiation strategies and execute them with target players and clubs
• To regularly maintain a database of current and target players with JTA
• To liaise with the Head Coach and technical staff to occasionally attend live games in the UK and internationally to verify pre-identified players
• To monitor and periodically update a scouting report template to establish consistency when watching and reporting on players
• To offer insights from stakeholders in the game to support recruitment decisions e.g. agents and other clubs
• To provide line-management responsibility should staff be appointed to cover scouting positions
• To comply with industry regulations
• To adhere to Club policies and procedures i.e. safeguarding, safety and security
• All other duties that may arise from time to time and fall within the scope of this position.

Knowledge and experience

To be able to deliver this role, there are skills and experiences we are looking for. We’d want you as a minimum to have:

Essential:

• Talent ID: FA Level 2 and 3 qualifications
• Experience successfully negotiating playing contracts
• Excellent knowledge and experience of the football environment in relation to the recruitment of players and the regulations that govern player recruitment
• Good knowledge and network of contacts within mainly British football
• A dynamic, hardworking, and enthusiastic individual with a ‘can-do’ attitude that will help the Club attract its top choices
• Excellent communication skills
• Displays a high level of confidentiality in relation to the club and its personnel
• FA Safeguarding Certificate
• Full UK driving licence and access to a car

Desirable:

• A degree in sport/psychology (or equivalent)
• Experience of EPPP regulations
• Previous experience of managing and leading interdisciplinary teams and departments
• Excellent IT skills and a clear understanding of different recruitment software resource
• This role will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Club visions and values

• All employees, workers, students and volunteers are expected to operate within and always demonstrate a commitment to the Club’s values:
• Proud to be GTFC: it is a privilege to wear the badge and we do it with pride
• Trust in Town: we rely and depend on each other to do our best
• Stand up for the Mariners: we show courage and positivity in the face of new challenges
• One of Our Own: we treat each other like family
• Always Improving: we raise the standards in everything we do

B Corp Certification

Grimsby Town Football Club is currently working towards B Corp Certification. B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. To achieve certification, a company must:

• Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80
• Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status
• Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website

B Corp Certification is holistic, not exclusively focused on a single social or environmental issue. And the process to achieve and maintain certification is rigorous and requires engaging teams and departments across the whole organisation. All employees, workers, students and volunteers are expected to commit to the journey of achieving B Corporation Status.

Safeguarding statement

Grimsby Town Football Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees, workers, students and volunteers to endorse this commitment.

This post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) as such it is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Therefore, all convictions including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS should be declared. Relevant information and / or documents will be distributed as part of the recruitment process.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Grimsby Town Football Club’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership, race, nationality, ethnicity (race), religion or belief, ability or disability, pregnancy or maternity and to encourage equal opportunities (Protected Characteristics, Equality Act 2010).

Employees, workers, students and volunteers at Grimsby Town Football Club must ensure a positive commitment towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders.

What you'll get in return

• Salary: £40,000 (gross) per annum
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Company pension scheme
• Staff social activities
• Holidays: 28 days annual leave, inclusive of Bank/ Public Holidays
• Support for health and wellbeing, including access to Mental Health First Aiders and confidential counselling
• Inclusive and welcoming environment – equality, diversity, and inclusion priorities are embedded throughout the Club
• Opportunity to work for an EFL League Club
• Discount in the Grimsby Town Football Club shop
• 2 x complimentary tickets to home games

How to apply

Interested? To apply, please submit your application through the EFL iRecruit portal by clicking HERE

Please visit GTFC Vacancies for more information.

Please note we are unable to accept CVs for this position. All applications must be submitted through the EFL iRecruit portal in order to be considered.

Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than scheduled if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Grimsby Town is an equal opportunities employer and aims to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and equitably regardless of gender, race, colour, ethnicity, age, disability, social economic background, religious or political believes, marital status, maternity or paternity or sexual orientation.