Position: Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager
Location: Loughborough
Salary: £29,179.00 - £34,132.00
Hours: Seasonalised hours -
- 44 hour week April until September
- 30 hour week October until March
- Will included occasional weekends
Please note - A full UK Driving Licence is required for you to be considered for this position.
Are you a forward-thinking grounds professional with a passion for delivering elite cricket surfaces? Do you thrive in high-performance environments where your leadership and technical skills can shine? Chappell Enterprises UK is recruiting on behalf of our client, a prestigious university known for its excellence in sport-related disciplines. They are seeking a dedicated and proactive Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager to join their team.
About Our Client:
Our client, a top-performing UK university, is renowned for its world-class sporting facilities and strong global reputation in sport-related disciplines. The university hosts the UK's largest concentration of elite sporting facilities, supporting national and international fixtures, training camps, and televised events. The Grounds & Gardens team is responsible for maintaining and developing these exceptional outdoor sports facilities and landscaped areas.
About the Role:
As the Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager, you will lead and manage the delivery of world-class sports ground maintenance and development, focusing primarily on cricket surfaces. You will oversee the day-to-day operations of the cricket areas, manage a team of six staff, and ensure exceptional playing conditions across the ECB National Centre and wider university venues.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and supervise the cricket sports grounds team, setting clear standards and expectations.
• Plan, allocate, and monitor workloads, including fixture scheduling and resource coordination.
• Liaise with national teams, governing bodies, head coaches, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of natural and synthetic cricket surfaces.
• Manage the winter marquee and align activities with ECB team training requirements.
• Champion best practices, new technologies, and operational improvements.
Requirements:
Essential -
• Proven experience producing elite cricket pitches at first-class or high-performance environments.
• Proven track record in managing grounds teams, including planning and scheduling.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Competence in operating and maintaining specialist turf machinery.
• Ability to plan and deliver complex schedules under pressure.
Desirable -
• Experience of maintaining synthetic surfaces.
• Experience with environmental sustainability practices in turf management.
• Additional practical skills such as chainsaw operation and pesticide application.
Why Join our Client?
• Be part of sporting history with surfaces hosting national and international fixtures.
• Collaborate with coaches, athletes, and governing bodies to deliver elite playing conditions.
• Use advanced turf technologies and contribute to experimental pitch projects.
• Benefit from career progression through industry-recognised qualifications and ongoing training.
• Join a supportive, skilled team that values excellence, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
To Apply
If you are a proactive leader with a passion for delivering outstanding projects, we want to hear from you! Join Chappell Enterprises UK in supporting our client's mission to deliver exceptional outdoor environments!
Chappell Enterprises UK is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and are a Disability Confident Employer, offering interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.
