Grounds Person (Sports Turf / Grounds Maintenance)
Northwood, Middlesex | £27,334–£31,634 per year | Full Time | Permanent | Driving Licence Required
At A Glance
• Job Title: Grounds Person (Sports Turf / Grounds Maintenance)
• Location: Northwood, Middlesex
• Salary: £27,334–£31,634 per year (DOE)
• Job Type: Full Time, Permanent
• Start Date: April 2026
• Sector: Sports Turf / Grounds Maintenance / Horticulture
• Key Requirements: Minimum 2 years' grounds experience, Full UK Driving Licence
• Environment: Independent school with extensive sports facilities
About Us
Merchant Taylors’ School is a leading independent boys’ school set within approximately 280 acres of parkland in Northwood, Middlesex. The school has a long-established reputation for academic excellence alongside a strong sporting tradition. The grounds team maintains a wide range of high-quality sports facilities including cricket squares, rugby and football pitches, tennis courts and hockey surfaces, supporting sport from grassroots school fixtures through to high-level representative matches.
The Role
Merchant Taylors’ School is recruiting a Grounds Person to support the maintenance of high-quality sports pitches and landscaped grounds across our extensive campus. This role is ideal for candidates with sports turf, grounds maintenance, greenkeeping, landscaping or horticulture experience seeking a stable, long-term position with excellent benefits and professional development opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
• Sports turf maintenance including cricket squares, football pitches, rugby pitches, hockey pitches and tennis courts
• Grass cutting, line marking, aeration, renovations and seasonal pitch preparation
• General grounds maintenance, landscaping and minor construction tasks
• Safe operation of tractors, ride-on mowers and grounds maintenance machinery
• Equipment checks, maintenance and reporting faults
• Safe pesticide handling and spraying (if qualified – PA1/PA6 desirable)
• Maintaining high health and safety standards across the estate
• Supporting school sporting fixtures and grounds presentation
Requirements
Essential:
• Minimum 2 years' grounds maintenance, sports turf, landscaping, horticulture or greenkeeping experience
• Experience operating grounds maintenance machinery or tractors
• Full UK driving licence
• Reliable, practical and comfortable working outdoors year-round
Desirable:
• Sports turf or horticulture qualification (NVQ, City & Guilds, IOG or similar)
• PA1 / PA6 spraying certificates
• Cricket wicket preparation experience
• Knowledge of pest, disease and turf management practices
Working Hours
Term Time:
• Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 5:00pm
• One in four Saturday mornings (Autumn & Spring Terms)
• Alternate Saturday mornings during Summer Term
School Holidays:
• Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:00pm
Average 40 hours per week across the year. Additional hours may be required during peak summer cricket season.
Salary & Benefits
• £27,334–£31,634 per annum depending on experience
• 15% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus school holiday flexibility
• Free lunch during term time
• Free on-site parking and EV charging access
• Use of gym, pool and leisure facilities
• Life assurance and income protection
• Professional development support and training opportunities
• Cycle to Work scheme, EV scheme and retail discount benefits
Safeguarding Commitment
Merchant Taylors' School is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.
