Sheffield United Football Club are looking for 2 Head Groundskeepers to join our training ground facilities department. The successful candidates should be experienced managers with strong interpersonal skills and a detailed knowledge of training ground management. As the Head Groundskeeper, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the maintenance and development of our premium sports facilities. Your expertise will ensure that athletes have the ideal playing surface to train and perform at their best.

Role Responsibilities:

• Take overall responsibility for the maintenance of all pitches, landscaping, cleanliness and general appearance of the allocated site.
• Responsible for the general maintenance of plant and equipment used, ensuring statutory standards are met and all equipment is correctly maintained and serviced.
• Responsible for the line management and supervision of staff allocated permanently and temporarily to work at the site within your remit.
• Stand in for the Head Groundskeeper and Grounds Manager at other sites to cover annual leave and lieu time when required.
• Attend and work Match days when required.
• Obtain supplier surveys and quotations, as well as raising purchase orders and reviewing invoices.
• Prioritise safety and act with due regard for the well-being of all staff and the public.
• Observe and report any items of equipment or work situation which is considered to be of an unsafe nature.
• Attend training courses as required and in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Observe and report on occasions of abuse, or the need for repairs and additional maintenance of any area of work.
• Train, develop, and motivate staff to continuously develop their technical skills and user relations.
• Supervise staff, especially trainees and apprentices to ensure standards of work and safety are achieved and maintained.

Club Wide Responsibilities:

• Any other tasks as deemed reasonable by management.
• To adhere to all Sheffield United Football Club’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures to foster an environment which protects from harm those defined as children and adults at risk.
• To report any concerns of a Safeguarding nature to the relevant parties and remain fully compliant with any applicable Safeguarding checks and due diligence and recognise your responsibility to the Club’s Safeguarding agenda.
• To report any concerns of discrimination to the relevant parties and promote a welcoming and inclusive club environment for all.
• To adhere to the Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies, supporting the Club to create an environment which is inclusive and all-encompassing.

Essential Criteria for the Role:

• Full Driving Licence
• Experience in the management and execution of Mowing, Divoting, Mowing, Marking out, Fertilizing, Aeration of the pitches.
• Proven track record of maintenance of stadium pitches, staff management experience
• Experience daily machinery checking and logging
• Experience of operating irrigation systems
• Experience in managing and maintaining grass hybrid pitches as well as 3G & 4G pitches
• Good understanding of Pitch grow light safe deployment and operation
• Understanding of FA, Premier league and EFL Pitch and matchday requirements and operations
• Good communication and management skills

Desirable Criteria for the Role:

• Spraying certification
• NVQ level 3 in sports turf or equivalent

Application Process
Please download and save the application form before inputting information. If you require a paper copy please contact the HR department careers@sufc.co.uk or call 0114 253 7200.

Completed application forms must be submitted via email to careers@sufc.co.uk stating the vacancy title in the subject or posted to HR, Sheffield United Football Club, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4SU.

Closing date for applications is Friday 27th September 2024.

Please note that in the instance of high volumes of applications we may close this vacancy earlier than the closing date noted above. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis due to the extended duration the position is live, and the advertisement will close upon successful candidate selection.

Eligibility for Employment in the UK
In accordance with current legislative requirements the successful applicant must produce documentary verification of their eligibility to work in the UK and will not be allowed to start work until this has been received.

Equality and Diversity
Sheffield United FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.

Sheffield United FC are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you would like further information regarding the scheme and how we are able to support disabled persons within the workplace, then please contact our HR team at careers@sufc.co.uk

Safer Recruitment
Sheffield United FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks as well as providing proof of right to work in the UK. For further information on the Club’s Safeguarding Statement please access the following link:
sufc.co.uk/club/policies/safeguarding-policy