Academy Lead Scout

The New York Red Bulls are one of 30 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). RBNY, one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, have competed in the league since its founding in 1996. The Red Bulls play home matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium (SIS) in Harrison, New Jersey. The three-time MLS Supporters' Shield Winners are owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull for which the team is named. The New York Red Bulls offer one of the nation's premier youth soccer development programs, from local soccer partnerships across New York and New Jersey to Regional Development Schools and the Red Bulls Academy teams.

The Academy Lead Scout is responsible for leading and managing all scouting and player identification for the club’s Academy. This role is instrumental in identifying high-potential players who fit the club’s developmental model and competitive goals. The Academy Lead Scout will lead a structured, data-informed local, regional, and national scouting strategy aligned with the club’s long-term vision and elite standards of youth development.

You will support recruitment efforts by researching key markets, coordinating trial logistics, and managing communication among scouts and leadership while ensuring that a database of top talents is maintained through the input of accurate and insightful reports in the internal scouting system.

You will work closely with the Head of Pro Player Pathway, Academy Director, Academy Phase Lead, and Head of Scouting to ensure that there is alignment in player identification, reporting, and recruitment.

Due to the cyclical nature of the entertainment industry, the employee may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the company.

Areas that play to your strengths

All the responsibilities we'll trust you with:

• • Lead all scouting operations for the club’s Academy.
  • Design and implement a year-round scouting strategy focused on local, regional, and national talent pools in collaboration with the NYRB Head of Scouting.
  • Identify and evaluate prospective players across multiple competition platforms including MLS NEXT, ECNL, USL Academy, ODP, high school, and unaffiliated youth clubs.
  • Maintain a detailed database of scouted players with comprehensive reports, tracking progression over time using the organizational database Scoutastic.

• • Recruit, train, and manage a regional network of part-time & per-diem scouts and talent identifiers.
  • Organize scouting assignments for domestic tournaments, showcases, and league matches.
  • Serve as the main point of contact between the scouting department and coaching staff for player recommendations and evaluations

• • Liaise with Technical Leadership of Affiliate Club Partners to assist in Identification and Recruitment initiatives.
  • Coordinate Talent ID Centers to filter players being invited into full academy training sessions.
  • Coordinate with the Head of Pro Player Pathway, Academy Director, Phase Lead, head coaches, and academy operations staff on trial invitations and player onboarding processes.
  • Ensure prospective players align with the club’s playing philosophy, culture, and developmental objectives.
  • Support the transition of players from grassroots identification to full-time academy integration, including pre-academy initiatives.

• • Work cross-functionally with coaching staff, performance analysts, player care teams, and education liaisons, and Head of Scouting to provide holistic insight into player potential.
  • Maintain relationships with local clubs, schools, community programs, and regional soccer leaders to promote scouting access and visibility.

• • Ensure all scouting and recruitment activities comply with MLS NEXT rules, USSF regulations, and internal club policies.
  • Manage scouting event calendars.

EXPERIENCE

Your areas of knowledge and expertise

that matter most for this role:

• 5+ years of experience in youth talent identification within a U.S.-based academy or professional club.
• Strong knowledge of the U.S. soccer landscape, particularly MLS NEXT, ECNL, and ODP.
• Experience evaluating players in U13–U19 age groups, with a proven ability to project long-term potential.
• Excellent understanding of positional profiles, player development benchmarks, and academy pathways.
• Familiarity with scouting software and platforms (e.g., Wyscout, Hudl, Instat, SportsCode).
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel frequently and work weekends/evenings as required.

• Travel 50-60%
• Permanent
• Benefits eligible