Are you a forward-thinking grounds professional with a passion for delivering elite cricket surfaces? Do you thrive in high-performance environments where your leadership and technical skills can shine? Chappell Enterprises UK is recruiting on behalf of our client, a prestigious university known for its excellence in sport-related disciplines. They are seeking a dedicated and proactive Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager to join their team.
About Our Client:
Our client, a top-performing UK university, is renowned for its world-class sporting facilities and strong global reputation in sport-related disciplines. The university hosts the UK's largest concentration of elite sporting facilities, supporting national and international fixtures, training camps, and televised events. The Grounds & Gardens team is responsible for maintaining and developing these exceptional outdoor sports facilities and landscaped areas.
About the Role:
As the Cricket Grounds Team Leader, you will lead and manage the delivery of world-class sports ground maintenance and development, focusing primarily on cricket surfaces. You will oversee the day-to-day operations of the cricket areas, manage a team of six staff, and ensure exceptional playing conditions across the ECB National Centre and wider university venues.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and supervise the cricket sports grounds team, setting clear standards and expectations.
- Plan, allocate, and monitor workloads, including fixture scheduling and resource coordination.
- Liaise with national teams, governing bodies, head coaches, and other stakeholders.
- Oversee the preparation and maintenance of natural and synthetic cricket surfaces.
- Manage the winter marquee and align activities with ECB team training requirements.
- Champion best practices, new technologies, and operational improvements.
Requirements:
Essential -
- Proven experience producing elite cricket pitches at first-class or high-performance environments.
- Proven track record in managing grounds teams, including planning and scheduling.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
- Competence in operating and maintaining specialist turf machinery.
- Ability to plan and deliver complex schedules under pressure.
Desirable -
- Experience of maintaining synthetic surfaces.
- Experience with environmental sustainability practices in turf management.
- Additional practical skills such as chainsaw operation and pesticide application.
Why Join our Client?
- Be part of sporting history with surfaces hosting national and international fixtures.
- Collaborate with coaches, athletes, and governing bodies to deliver elite playing conditions.
- Use advanced turf technologies and contribute to experimental pitch projects.
- Benefit from career progression through industry-recognised qualifications and ongoing training.
- Join a supportive, skilled team that values excellence, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
To Apply
If you are a proactive leader with a passion for delivering outstanding projects, we want to hear from you! Join Chappell Enterprises UK in supporting our client's mission to deliver exceptional outdoor environments!
