JOB DESCRIPTION – GROUNDSMANJob Title
Groundsman
Reports To
Club Management
Role Overview
The Groundsman is responsible for the maintenance, presentation, safety and functionality of the sports pitches, grounds, buildings and associated equipment across the site.
The primary focus of the role is the effective maintenance and preparation of all playing surfaces and surrounding grounds, ensuring pitches are safe, well presented and maintained to an appropriate standard for training, fixtures and events.
The Groundsman will also support general site operations and maintenance where required, while ensuring that pitch and grounds maintenance remains the priority.
Key Duties and Responsibilities1. Grounds & Pitch Maintenance
- Maintain all grass and artificial playing surfaces to a high standard.
- Carry out regular mowing, cutting, strimming and general grounds maintenance.
- Undertake levelling, watering, turf repair and selective seeding where required.
- Carry out weed control and maintain grassed areas, verges and surrounding grounds.
- Undertake vertidraining and other appropriate pitch maintenance operations.
- Operate the Quadraplay and other specialist pitch maintenance equipment.
- Monitor pitch condition and identify areas requiring repair, treatment or additional maintenance.
- Plan and schedule routine pitch maintenance to minimise disruption to fixtures and training.
- Carry out pitch renovation and preparation works as required throughout the season.
- Maintain common areas and external grounds to ensure the site remains clean, safe and presentable.
2. Pitch Preparation & Matchday Support
- Line mark the main pitch, all-weather pitches and other playing areas as required.
- Ensure pitches are correctly prepared ahead of matches, training and events.
- Erect and remove rugby posts when required.
- Complete pitch set-up prior to fixtures, including relevant equipment and pitchside requirements.
- Check playing surfaces and surrounding areas before fixtures and report any safety concerns.
- Ensure pitchside areas and equipment are left secure following use.
3. Grounds Equipment & Machinery
- Operate groundskeeping machinery including mowers, tractors, Quadraplay, vertidrain and other relevant equipment.
- Carry out routine checks and basic maintenance of machinery and tools.
- Ensure all equipment is used safely and appropriately.
- Report machinery faults, starting issues, damage or maintenance requirements promptly.
- Maintain equipment in a clean, safe and operational condition.
- Identify future machinery and equipment requirements and provide recommendations to management.
- Assist with planning for replacement or investment in grounds equipment where necessary.
4. Weed Control, Seeding & Pitch Supplies
- Undertake weed control across the grounds in accordance with appropriate safety procedures.
- Carry out seeding and turf repair programmes as required.
- Monitor areas of high wear and identify appropriate remedial action.
- Maintain adequate stocks of essential pitch and grounds supplies.
- Order supplies such as line-marking paint, seed, fertiliser and other approved grounds materials as required.
- Maintain appropriate records of treatments, materials and pitch maintenance activities.
5. Pitchside & Site Infrastructure
- Regularly inspect pitchside barriers and associated equipment.
- Maintain, repair where appropriate, and report damage or safety issues relating to pitchside barriers.
- Report any hazards, defects or maintenance requirements affecting the grounds or playing areas.
- Support the wider site team with general external maintenance and operational requirements where appropriate.
6. Health, Safety & Compliance
- Work in accordance with the Club's health and safety procedures and relevant legislation.
- Ensure machinery and equipment are operated safely and responsibly.
- Use chemicals, pesticides, fertilisers and other grounds products in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and legal requirements.
- Maintain appropriate records relating to pesticide and chemical applications.
- Report any health and safety concerns, hazards or incidents immediately to management.
- Ensure appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used when required.
- Maintain secure storage of machinery, chemicals, tools and other grounds equipment.
Skills & Experience Required
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Practical experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, sports turf or pitch maintenance.
- Experience maintaining grass and/or artificial sports surfaces.
- Ability to operate and maintain groundskeeping machinery.
- Experience with mowing, line marking, seeding, weed control and turf repair.
- Basic mechanical maintenance and DIY skills.
- Ability to identify pitch and grounds maintenance requirements.
- Ability to work independently and manage workload effectively.
- Good organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to respond appropriately to urgent site and pitch requirements.
- Good communication skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with Club staff, contractors, players and management.
- A strong understanding of health and safety requirements.
Required Qualification
The role requires appropriate competency in the safe handling and application of pesticides.
Required qualification:
Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides
The postholder must hold, or obtain where required, the appropriate qualification/certification for the safe and legal use of pesticides relevant to the duties undertaken.
Operational Responsibilities & Resource Considerations
The Groundsman may occasionally be required to support wider operational activities across the site. However, the primary responsibility of the role is grounds and pitch maintenance.
The postholder should work with management to ensure that additional operational duties do not unnecessarily impact the maintenance, preparation and safety of the playing surfaces.
Where the scale of the grounds, fixture schedule or maintenance programme requires it, additional staff, specialist contractors or external ground maintenance support may be utilised.
Key Performance Expectations
The Groundsman will be expected to:
- Maintain pitches and grounds to a consistently high standard.
- Ensure pitches are safe and appropriately prepared for fixtures and training.
- Complete planned maintenance within agreed timescales.
- Identify and report maintenance issues before they become significant problems.
- Maintain machinery and equipment in a safe and operational condition.
- Maintain appropriate records of grounds maintenance and treatments.
- Ensure all pesticide and chemical use complies with relevant legislation and Club procedures.
- Communicate effectively with management regarding pitch condition, equipment requirements and future maintenance needs.
- Contribute to maintaining the Club site as a safe, professional and welcoming environment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £13.71 per hour
Work Location: In person
