Senior Grounds Manager

Tranmere Rovers Football Club is seeking an enthusiastic and proficient Senior Grounds Manager to join our team.

This role offers a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of our playing surfaces at both Prenton Park and The Campus. As the Senior Grounds Manager and working with the maintenance team, you will lead a dedicated grounds team, advise the club, and actively contribute to the delivery of pitch maintenance programs. Due to the nature of the industry, this role requires the employee to work weekends and evenings throughout the year.

Duties and responsibilities

Operational Excellence:

• Ensure the impeccable presentation of all pitches for matches and training sessions at both Prenton Park and The Campus.
• Direct general grounds duties, including grass cutting, pitch watering, marking, and match preparations, fostering a team effort across all sites.
• Develop comprehensive work and fertiliser programs to maintain pitches at the highest standards, emphasizing consistency across training and match pitches.
• Oversee the maintenance and servicing of machinery, ensuring it meets the required standards for all locations.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key suppliers, coordinating efforts to benefit both Prenton Park and The Campus.
• Spearhead end-of-season pitch renovation programs, coordinating with suppliers for optimal results across all sites.
• Manage general grounds maintenance, such as weeding, watering, and landscaping, ensuring a cohesive approach to groundskeeping.
• Tailor the facilities to meet the specific needs of various users, whether it be the first team, women's team, or other stakeholders, maintaining flexibility for potential changes in requirements

Financial Management:

• Adhere to budgets for all aspects of grounds-related work across both locations.
• Collaborate with suppliers to order products and services as needed, seeking cost-effective solutions that benefit both sites.
• Provide valuable insights to develop an external "grounds maintenance" business, with an understanding of the needs of multiple locations.

Staff Management and Training:

• Lead and upskill the maintenance and grounds team, ensuring efficient and high-quality performance on all pitches.
• Provide support and training to apprentices and less-experienced staff, emphasising a standardised approach to groundskeeping across all sites.
• Participate in required training as prescribed by the football club.
• Undertake any reasonable duties as directed by the Line Manager or Senior Management.

Skills and knowledge required:

• Proven experience in working on professional sports pitches with a minimum of 3 years working with professional sports pitches.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and lead a team effectively.
• Demonstrated capability to work independently with initiative.
• Excellent physical fitness including the ability to cover up to 6 miles independently while operating machinery.
• Ability to lift goods of up to 25kg without the use of manual handling equipment.

Qualifications required:

• NVQ Level 3 in Sports Turf Management or equivalent qualification.
• GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent
• PA1, 2a, and 6 Spraying certificates (desirable).
• Full, valid, UK Driving License

DBS check required: Yes

Application Information

Due to high-levels of interest, this post may close early so early application is advised, otherwise the closing date for this role is 9.00am on Monday 29th January 2024.

Equality and Diversity

Tranmere Rovers FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.

Safer Recruitment

Tranmere Rovers FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks as well as providing proof of right to work in the UK.