Sports Turf Specialist

Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness; Sydney; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness in Camperdown NSW is seeking an experienced Sports Turf Specialist to manage and develop high-quality natural turf surfaces across the University of Sydney precinct and other Sydney locations.

You will lead hands-on turf operations, supervise staff and apprentices, operate turf machinery, and coordinate with clubs and stakeholders to maintain safe, high-performing playing surfaces while upholding WHS standards.

Qualifications

• Certificate III or IV in Sports Turf Management or equivalent.
• Experience maintaining natural sports turf surfaces.
• Experience safely operating turf maintenance machinery.
• Understanding of turf health and playing-surface preparation.
• WHS requirements within grounds operations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain high-quality natural turf sporting surfaces across sports.
• Deliver turf maintenance, renovation, recovery and seasonal programs.
• Monitor turf health, irrigation, soil conditions, nutrition and pest management.
• Conduct soil testing and use results to inform maintenance programs.
• Prepare wickets, field markings and sport-specific playing surfaces.
• Monitor playing surfaces for safety, quality and performance.
• Supervise apprentices, trainees and casual grounds staff.
• Coordinate daily works with the Head Groundsman.
• Collaborate with sporting clubs and University stakeholders on field usage and scheduling.
• Support sustainable turf practices, including water and chemical management.
• Contribute to seasonal planning and future improvements.

Skills

Turf maintenance

Machinery operation

Staff supervision

Irrigation systems

WHS compliance

Soil health

Education

Certificate III/IV in Sports Turf Management

Job description

Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness - Camperdown NSW

Work on some of Sydney’s most iconic university sporting grounds

Sydney Uni Sport is looking for an experienced Sports Turf Specialist to join our Grounds team and help maintain and develop high-quality natural turf sporting surfaces across the University of Sydney precinct and other locations across Sydney.

Reporting to the Head Groundsman, this is a hands-on role for an experienced turf professional who takes pride in producing safe, high-performing and professionally presented sporting surfaces.

You’ll work across a diverse range of sports and facilities, combining specialist turf management with day-to-day operations, machinery use, surface preparation and the supervision and development of grounds staff.

About the role

As our Sports Turf Specialist, you will:

• Prepare and maintain high-quality natural turf sporting surfaces across a range of sports
• Deliver turf maintenance, renovation, recovery and seasonal preparation programs
• Monitor turf health, irrigation, soil conditions, nutrition and pest management
• Conduct soil testing and use results to inform turf maintenance programs
• Prepare wickets, field markings and sport-specific playing surfaces
• Monitor playing surfaces for safety, quality and performance
• Implement turf protection and recovery strategies across high-use facilities
• Operate specialist turf machinery and support preventative maintenance programs
• Supervise and mentor apprentices, trainees and casual grounds staff
• Allocate and coordinate daily works in consultation with the Head Groundsman
• Work with sporting clubs and University stakeholders regarding field conditions, usage and scheduling
• Support sustainable turf practices, including responsible water and chemical management
• Contribute to seasonal planning, renovations and future improvements to our sporting grounds
• Maintain a strong focus on WHS, hazard management and safe work practices

About you

You’ll be a practical and knowledgeable turf professional who enjoys being hands-on while also taking responsibility for the quality and performance of the surfaces under your care.

You will need:

• Certificate III or IV in Sports Turf Management, or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience maintaining natural sports turf surfaces
• Experience safely operating turf maintenance machinery
• Strong knowledge of turf health, maintenance and playing-surface preparation
• A sound understanding of WHS requirements within grounds operations
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with staff, sporting clubs and other stakeholders

Experience supervising or mentoring grounds staff, managing high-use multi-sport facilities, working with irrigation systems or implementing sustainable turf practices will be highly regarded.

A Diploma in Sports Turf Management or experience within university, elite or community sport environments would also be advantageous.

Why join Sydney Uni Sport?

This is an opportunity to take on a key turf role within a diverse sporting environment where the quality of our playing surfaces genuinely matters.

You’ll work alongside an experienced Grounds team across a broad range of sports, with exposure to varied turf challenges, high-use facilities and an extensive sporting precinct.

If you’re an experienced turf professional who takes pride in producing outstanding sporting surfaces and wants to bring your technical expertise to a varied, hands-on role, we’d like to hear from you.