About the Role
Al-Qadsiah Saudi Club is seeking a Scouting Operations Manager to lead and coordinate the operational, administrative, and governance framework of the scouting department. This role is crucial in ensuring scouting activities are delivered efficiently, remain compliant with football regulations, operate within budget, and align with the club's overall recruitment strategy and objectives. You will play a key role in shaping the club's legacy, contributing to the nation's sports vision.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and standardize scouting operations across First Team, Emerging Talent, and Academy programmes.
- Translate recruitment priorities into operational plans covering scout deployment, travel, reporting, and system usage.
- Serve as the central operational link between recruitment, football strategy, finance, legal, and HR departments.
- Contribute to the Market Intelligence and Loans Working Group to support strategic decision-making.
- Ensure all scouting activity complies with Saudi Pro League, SAFF, FIFA, and club regulations.
- Oversee contract status, agent compliance, data protection, and conflict-of-interest processes.
- Maintain accurate and audit-ready records for scouting assignments, reporting, expenses, and approvals.
- Manage the scouting operations budget, including travel, accommodation, subscriptions, and external services.
- Act as the primary liaison with the Finance Department for budgeting, forecasting, approvals, and reconciliations.
- Monitor expenditure and identify potential risks, variances, and efficiencies.
- Coordinate domestic and international travel for scouts and trialists, managing logistics including flights, accommodation, visas, and local arrangements.
- Maintain the central scouting calendar covering matches, tournaments, showcases, and competitions.
- Provide operational support to the scouting team to enable focus on talent identification and evaluation.
- Act as a key point of contact for operational queries and problem-solving.
- Support the onboarding and development of new scouting staff.
- Oversee player care support for Emerging Talent players.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, compliance, communication, and cost control across scouting operations.
- Review and refine processes to ensure alignment with industry best practice.
- Stay informed on developments in scouting operations, regulations, and technology.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Experience in football operations, scouting operations, recruitment operations, or a similar role within professional football or elite sport.
- Experience managing complex logistics, travel programmes, and budgets in an international environment.
- Strong experience working across multiple stakeholder groups including recruitment, finance, legal, and HR.
- Excellent organizational and planning skills with strong attention to detail.
- Strong financial awareness and experience managing budgets and expenses.
- Ability to remain calm and structured under pressure, particularly during transfer windows.
- Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to take ownership of key processes.
- Fluency in English.
- A Degree in Sports Management, Business, Finance, or a related discipline is desirable.
- Professional development courses in football administration, governance, or compliance are desirable.
- A strong understanding of football recruitment structures and scouting workflows is desirable.
- Knowledge of scouting and recruitment platforms such as TransferRoom, Wyscout, and Instat is desirable.
- Familiarity with SAFF, SPL, and AFC regulations is desirable.
- Established networks across clubs in Europe and the Americas are desirable.
- Previous experience working in Saudi Arabia or the Middle East is desirable.
- Additional language skills including Spanish or Arabic are desirable.
Work Environment
This is a full-time position based in Al Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, with Al-Qadsiah Saudi Club. The club fosters a culture that values quality, accountability, diversity, synergy, innovation, and ambition, while embracing harmony.
