Jorg Schmadtke is likely to sign a short-term deal to become Liverpool's next sporting director.
The 59-year-old German administrator, who has extensive experience working in the Bundesliga, will officially take over from outgoing Julian Ward on June 1.
Schmadtke's appointment ends a six-month search that began when Ward notified the club's owners in November that he intended to resign after only one full season in charge.
Ward, who has been with Liverpool for 11 years in various roles, turned down an offer from Ajax in March and will take a break from football.
Liverpool moved to sign Schmadtke after weighing the credentials of several candidates, including Monaco's Paul Mitchell and Eintracht Frankfurt's Markus Krosche.
The process was led by Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon and the club's CEO Billy Hogan, with manager Jurgen Klopp also contributing.
They believe Schmadtke has the connections as well as the personality to succeed in the position.
The former Fortuna Dusseldorf and Freiburg goalkeeper proclaimed his retirement when he left Wolfsburg in January, but this unexpected opportunity proved too good to pass up.