Skilled Sports Turf Operative

Leicester City FC; Leicester; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Free onsite parking

Staff restaurants

33 days annual leave

Job summary

Leicester City Football Club is seeking a Skilled Sports Turf Operative to join our Grounds team at the King Power Stadium and training facilities. You will maintain world-class playing surfaces for first-team training, matchdays, and academy football.

Reporting to the Pitch Manager, you will operate professional grounds machinery, support turf improvement projects, and ensure high standards while adhering to health and safety.

Qualifications

• Experience within sports turf maintenance or groundskeeping.
• Experience operating grounds maintenance machinery/equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and pride in high-quality work.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Able to work independently when required.

Responsibilities

• Pitch maintenance: mowing, line marking, edging and presentation.
• Operate and maintain professional groundskeeping equipment.
• Support pitch preparation for matches, training and events.
• Follow health and safety procedures and use PPE.
• Contribute to pitch improvement projects and development.

Skills

Experience with grounds maintenance

Operate grounds machinery

Attention to detail

Team player

Proactive/independent work

Education

Sports Turf Management qualification

Horticulture qualification

Job description

Leicester City Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Skilled Sports Turf Operative

Location: Leicester City Football Club Training Ground, Seagrave

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Department: Grounds

Working Pattern: Includes evenings, weekends and matchdays as required

Turn your passion for elite sports surfaces into a career at one of football's most iconic clubs.

Leicester City Football Club is looking for a Skilled Sports Turf Operative to join our Grounds team and play a key role in maintaining world-class playing surfaces at the King Power Stadium and our training facilities.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced grounds professional to work within a high-performance environment, helping to deliver exceptional pitches for first-team training, matchdays, academy football and club events. If you take pride in producing outstanding playing surfaces and enjoy working as part of a dedicated team, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

Reporting to the Pitch Manager, you will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day maintenance and presentation of our pitches, ensuring they meet the highest professional standards throughout the season.

No two days are the same. From preparing pitches for matchdays and training sessions to operating specialist grounds machinery and supporting turf improvement projects, you'll play an important role in delivering surfaces that perform at the very highest level.

What You'll Be Doing

Pitch Maintenance

• Carry out daily pitch maintenance including mowing, line marking, edging and presentation work.
• Support seasonal turf management programmes, including aeration, scarification and topdressing.
• Assist with the application of fertilisers and plant protection products.
• Monitor pitch condition and identify any issues relating to wear, disease or drainage.

Equipment & Machinery

• Safely operate a range of professional groundskeeping equipment and machinery.
• Conduct routine equipment checks, maintenance and minor repairs.
• Maintain a clean, organised and safe working environment.

Matchday & Training Support

• Assist with pitch preparation for matches, training sessions and Club events.
• Work closely with the Grounds team to deliver consistently high standards across all playing surfaces.
• Support ongoing pitch improvement projects and maintenance programmes.

Health & Safety

• Follow all health and safety procedures and best practice guidance.
• Use PPE appropriately and maintain a safe working environment.
• Report any hazards or concerns promptly.

Continuous Development

• Stay up to date with the latest developments in sports turf management.
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities.
• Contribute ideas and innovations to improve pitch quality and operational efficiency.

What We’re Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience within sports turf maintenance, groundskeeping or a similar environment.
• Experience operating grounds maintenance machinery and equipment.
• Excellent attention to detail and pride in delivering high-quality work.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team.
• A proactive approach with the ability to work independently when required.

Desirable

• Qualification or certification in Sports Turf Management, Horticulture or a related discipline.
• Experience working within a professional sports environment.
• Knowledge of both natural and synthetic pitch maintenance.

Who You Are

You’re passionate about sports turf, take pride in your work and enjoy seeing the results of your efforts on some of the most visible surfaces in professional sport. You’re reliable, hardworking and willing to go the extra mile to help the team deliver excellence every day.

Working with Leicester City Football Club

This role is primarily outdoors and will involve working in a variety of weather conditions. Due to the nature of elite sport, flexibility is essential, including the ability to work evenings, weekends and around matchday schedules.

In return, you’ll have the opportunity to work within a professional football environment, develop your skills alongside experienced industry professionals and contribute directly to the success of Leicester City Football Club.

About The Club

Leicester City Football Club has a rich and proud history – we’re more than just a football club; we’re a community. Formed in 1884, we’ve achieved incredible milestones, including becoming Premier League champions in 2016 and winning the FA Cup in 2021.

Our commitment to the local community, fans, and world‑class experiences extends beyond the pitch. With the opening of our new state‑of‑the‑art training ground in 2021, we continue to invest in our growth and success. Our team at Leicester City is more than just colleagues – we invite you to join our Club and experience the exciting opportunities of a life in the football industry!

Benefits Package

Our people are the lifeblood of the Club, and we feel should be rewarded as such – we offer a competitive salary, pension scheme and life assurance for all permanent employees. You’ll enjoy free onsite parking, access to our subsidised staff restaurants and up to 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) amongst a host of other great employee benefits!

One City. One Club. One Leicester.

Leicester City Football Club believes that football is for all, and we are committed to Diversity and Inclusion, where valuing the individual is our highest priority. We are working to see equality across all areas of the Club and welcome applications from all areas of the community.

If you have any requirements in regard to the recruitment process, please let us know; we are happy to support your needs.