Sports Fields Manager, Academy Grounds

IMG Academy; Bradenton (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vis

401k with an Employer Match

Gym Discount Program

Wellbeing Program

Job summary

IMG Academy is seeking a Sports Fields Manager to lead and coordinate the grounds teams across the campus, including sports fields and golf academy grounds. You will direct daily operations, ensure high-quality turf maintenance, and support irrigation and equipment needs.

Responsibilities include staff development, scheduling, safety compliance, and collaboration with events staff. A strong leadership mindset and outdoor work readiness are essential for success at IMG Academy in Bradenton,

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED; Turf/irrigation knowledge preferred.
• Leadership experience and ability to supervise field staff.
• Strong communication and organizational skills for scheduling and training.
• Willingness to work outdoors year-round and in all weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, mentor and supervise sports fields and golf academy grounds staff.
• Plan and review daily mowing, edging, trimming, and maintenance tasks.
• Assist in annual cultural practices like aerification and topdressing.
• Coordinate with program managers for scheduling workouts and events.
• Operate and schedule irrigation using Toro Lynx and related controllers.
• Inventory and stock parts and tools; maintain clean, organized spaces.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Outdoor work

Detail-oriented

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Turf Management Certificate

Tools

Toro irrigation systems

Lynx central control

Rain Bird irrigation

Pumping systems

Job description

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future while preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy has been nationally recognized by organizations including Sports Business Journal, USA Today, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for its workplace culture, innovation, and commitment to developing people both on and off the field.

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future while preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy has been nationally recognized by organizations including Sports Business Journal, USA Today, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for its workplace culture, innovation, and commitment to developing people both on and off the field.

IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for student-athletes and partners through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:

• Boarding school and camps, delivered on a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Florida
• Online coaching through IMG Academy+, focused on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting through NCSA College Recruiting and SportsRecruits, providing industry-leading recruiting education, tools, and access to a network of more than 40,000 college coaches for student-athletes, families, club coaches, and event operators
• Elevate by IMG Academy, a performance and personal development solution that delivers mindset, leadership, and wellbeing programming to schools, colleges, and organizations through a combination of digital content and immersive experiences

Job Title: Sports Fields Manager

Department: Grounds

Position Summary: Responsible for training, leading, organizing, supervising, and working with sports fields and academy golf grounds teams on the IMG Academy campus. As an active member of the grounds team, this person will direct the activities of the staff while having functional and operational knowledge of various equipment, athletic fields, and turf/grass maintenance.

Position Responsibilities

• Assist in hiring, training, developing, mentoring, supervising, and providing feedback to sports fields and golf academy grounds staff
• Plan, assign, and review daily work activities such as mowing, edging, trimming, blowing, pruning etc.
• Assist Academy Grounds Superintendent in planning, scheduling, and performing annual cultural practices including aerification, verticutting, topdressing, etc.
• Communicate with program managers and event staff to gain knowledge of upcoming practices and events for scheduling purposes
• Frequent use of a computer for weekly timesheets, performance reviews, emails, and eLearning requirements
• Assist in irrigation related repairs, chemical/fertilizer applications, and lining of sports fields in the absence of the respective staff members, or when additional personnel are needed to complete a task
• Operate irrigation system and schedule watering using Toro Lynx central control, Lynx Mobile, and push-button radio controllers
• Properly inventory and stock all parts, products, and tools used by the sports field staff
• Keeps related tools and spaces clean and organized
• Incorporate safe work practices in job related activities
• Operation of mowing equipment, utility vehicles, rollers, tractors, spray equipment, skid steers, rotary spreaders, hand paint machines, and power hand tools is expected
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Academy Grounds Superintendent which may include daily preparation and set up of sports fields and/or golf academy

Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• High school diploma or GED
• 2+ years of progressive experience in sports field maintenance
• Some leadership experience
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Must be a detail-oriented self-starter
• Ability to perform responsibilities with limited supervision
• Ability to work outdoors 365 days a year in all conditions
• Ability to be flexible and maintain organization in a changing environment
• General knowledge of field dimensions for all levels of various sports
• Computer literacy
• Ability to work weekends, evenings and holidays as needed

Preferred Skills

• AS/BS degree or Turf Management Certificate
• Bilingual
• Have or obtain FL pesticide license within 90 days of employment
• Weed identification and management
• Unit of measure knowledge and conversions
• Knowledge of Toro/RainBird/Hunter irrigation systems, equipment, and repairs
• Knowledge of 2-wire irrigation systems, Lynx central control, and pumping systems

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to lift, move, push and pull equipment or boxes in excess of 50 lbs.
• Ability to work on various indoor and outdoor surfaces including grass, turf, courts, etc. in all weather
• Bending, pushing, pulling and twisting throughout their regular work duties
• The team member will be working on mechanical equipment throughout their regular work duties
• The team member will be working with chemicals including herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers
• Hand digging may be required for sports field repairs

Background Requirements

• Requires a background check upon offer
• Requires a drug test upon offer

This position requires a Florida Level 2 Background Screening. Learn more about the screening process and requirements by visiting the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Education & Awareness website: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options
• 401k with an Employer Match
• Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Group and Supplemental Life & AD&D
• Gym Discount Program
• Pet Insurance
• Wellbeing Program
• and more!

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Get To Know Us Better

www.imgacademy.com

www.imgacademy.com/careers

IMG Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.