Groundsperson

Hull City FC; Hull and East Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

An attractive annual leave package

20% off at Tiger Leisure

2 x season cards for Hull City home/FC

Full staff uniform

Career progression and training

Job summary

Hull City FC is seeking a Groundsperson to join our stadium and training ground operations at the MKM Stadium and Cottingham Training Ground. The role focuses on preparing and maintaining pitches to elite sports standards and supporting rugby and football seasons.

You will work with agricultural machinery, ensure safety and records, and contribute to the quality of playing surfaces for Hull City and Hull FC fixtures, including evenings and weekend fixtures.

Qualifications

• Experience in the sports turf industry is essential.
• Pro-active approach and ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Frequent use of tractors or ride-on mowers; hold relevant licences where applicable.
• Familiarity with hand-tools (spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears, secateurs).
• General knowledge of fertilisers and pesticides; health and safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain pitches at the MKM Stadium and Cottingham Training Ground.
• Prepare pitch markings prior to Hull City and Hull FC fixtures.
• Post-match remediation of playing turf at the MKM Stadium and training facilities.
• Operate machinery safely and comply with Health & Safety legislation.
• Maintain daily records of pre-operations checks and machinery use.

Skills

Sports turf experience

Pro-active attitude

Independent/teamwork

Health & safety awareness

Time management

Vehicle operation knowledge

Education

Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture

Level 2 in Sports Turf Management

Tools

Pedestrian lawnmowers (cylinder & rotary)

Tractor-mounted sprayers

Job description

An amazing opportunity has arisen for a Groundsperson to join SMC Ltd at Hull City's home ground at the MKM Stadium. The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience within a sporting institution and be expected to assist in preparing and maintaining all pitches and playing surfaces at the MKM Stadium and Cottingham Training Ground in line with industry standards.

Location:MKM Stadium & Training Ground Cottingham

Contract Type:Full time, permanent

Hours:37.5 per week,with a requirement to work home matchdays, which typically fall on evenings and weekends.

We are looking for someone who has previous experience using a variety of agricultural machinery and tools, including cylindrical and rotary pedestrian lawnmowers, who may be qualified to Level 2 in Sports Turf Management, or working towards.

Applicants should be flexible and available to work various shift patterns, including evenings and weekends depending upon the fixture schedule of the Club's First Team. This role requires working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Covering both the football and rugby seasons, this is an exciting time to join us and gain valuable experience within an elite sports setting.

Your key responsibilities

• A team member who will help ensure our pitches are of the highest standard required for elite sport and safe for use during training and the playing of matches.

• Preparation and maintenance of sports pitches at the MKM Stadium and First Team Training Ground, including preparing pitch markings prior to all Hull City and Hull FC fixtures.

• Post-match remediation of the playing turf at the MKM Stadium and first team training facilities.

• Be capable of operating all machinery used onsite in a safe manner and in strict compliance with current Health & Safety legislation.

• General day to day maintenance of all machinery used at the site; ensure appropriate daily records relating to the pre-operations checks and machinery use are completed and maintained for inspection.

• Assist with maintaining adequate stock levels of fertilisers, seeds and other relevant materials, submitting requests for additional resources when necessary.

• Help identify new working practices and/or products to improve pitch quality, undertaking any relevant training when required.

What are we looking for?

Essential:

• Previous experience of working in the sports turf industry.

• Pro-active approach to work, able to work independently or as part of a team.

• Be a frequent user of driven vehicles such as tractors and ride-on mowers, holding relevant licences where applicable.

• Be a frequent user of hand-tools such as spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears and secateurs.

• General knowledge of fertilisers and pesticides.

• Setting height of cut on mowers and set cut accordingly.

• General knowledge of health and safety procedures with relevant training certificates where applicable.

• Demonstrate self-motivation, organisation, planning, prioritisation and good time management.

• Strong attention to detail.

Beneficial:

• Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture or Level 2 in Sports Turf Management or working towards.

• Experience in using pedestrian lawnmowers (cylinder and rotary).

• Knowledge of irrigation.

• Use of tractor mounted sprayers.

• Knowledge of pitch grow lights.

What can we offer you?

• An attractive annual leave package, which increases on service with the organisation.

• 20% off at Tiger Leisure.

• 2 x season cards for you and/or your family to attend Hull City home games (following probation).

• Full staff uniform for all seasons.

• Opportunity for career progression and training.