Sports Turf Operative

University of Leicester; Leicester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Senior Sports Turf Operative to take charge of the maintenance of sports grounds. The ideal candidate will have experience in turf care, team leadership skills, and a relevant qualification, with a focus on creating high-quality playing surfaces. This role involves supervisory responsibilities and ensuring compliance with safety standards, contributing to the university's excellent facilities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Excellent pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experienced in maintaining high-quality playing surfaces.
• Supervisory experience with sports turf operatives.
• Strong working knowledge of health & safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance of sports grounds and pitches.
• Supervise and guide the sports turf team.
• Ensure compliance and safety standards are met.

Skills

Turf care

Machinery use and maintenance

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Recognised qualification in sports turf or horticulture

PA1/PA2/PA6 spraying licence

Job description

Job Overview

As a Senior Sports Turf Operative at the University of Leicester, you will take a leading role in maintaining and developing our high-quality sports grounds across Stoughton Road and Manor Road. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day planning and delivery of maintenance programmes for grass and astro-turf pitches, cricket facilities, and wider grounds, ensuring they are safe, compliant, and ready for student sport, training and community use.

Key Responsibilities

This is a hands‑on role where you'll combine your technical expertise with team leadership. You'll supervise and guide sports turf operatives, ensuring work is completed to a high standard, while fostering a positive, collaborative culture. From mowing, fertilising and line marking to astro‑turf care, planting and winter maintenance, you'll be involved in the full range of sports turf and grounds management tasks.

With responsibility for compliance, machinery upkeep, and health & safety, your work will directly support the student experience and contribute to the University's reputation for excellent facilities.

Qualifications & Experience

You will be an experienced sports turf or grounds professional with a passion for delivering high-quality playing surfaces and amenity spaces. You'll bring a recognised qualification in sports turf, horticulture or a related field (e.g. NVQ Level 2 or equivalent), alongside a PA1/PA2/PA6 spraying licence and a full driving licence.

With proven hands‑on skills in turf care, machinery use and maintenance, and grounds upkeep, you'll be confident in preparing and maintaining pitches for a range of sports. Supervisory experience is important, as you'll be guiding and supporting colleagues, setting work schedules, and ensuring high standards are achieved.

You'll have a good working knowledge of health & safety and risk assessment requirements, with the ability to maintain compliance at all times. Strong communication and organisational skills will help you liaise effectively with colleagues, contractors, and sports users.

Candidate Profile

Most of all, you'll be someone who takes pride in your work, thrives in a team environment, and embodies the University's values of being Inclusive, Inspiring and Impactful.

About the University

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people's lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you'll become part of a community of , which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward‑thinking employer, we embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

Compensation & Benefits

We're committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.