Deputy Head of Grounds and Amenities
Employer: Swansea City AFC
Location: Swansea
Salary: £36,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Hours: 40 hours per week, flexible working pattern including evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Department: Grounds Maintenance
Reports to: Head of Grounds
Swansea City AFC is looking for an experienced sports turf professional to join the Club as Deputy Head of Grounds and Amenities.
This is a senior, hands-on role supporting elite-level pitch standards across the Club's stadium and training ground sites, with a particular focus on Fairwood Training Ground and 1st Team pitch requirements.
About Swansea City AFC:
Swansea City AFC is a professional football club with a proud history, strong roots in the city of Swansea, and a clear commitment to maintaining high standards across every part of the Club.
Behind every training session, matchday and player performance is a team of people working to create the right environment. Across the Club's stadium and training ground sites, the quality, safety and presentation of the playing surfaces play an important part in supporting players, coaches, staff and supporters.
This is an opportunity to join a Club where the work of the Grounds team has a visible impact every day, helping to prepare and maintain the surfaces and facilities that support professional football at Swansea City AFC.
The Role:
As Deputy Head of Grounds and Amenities, you will support the Head of Grounds with the planning, delivery and presentation of high-quality natural, synthetic, hybrid and fibre sand playing surfaces across Swansea City AFC's sites.
You will help lead day-to-day grounds and amenities works at Fairwood Training Ground, support 1st Team pitch and training requirements, and deputise for the Head of Grounds and Amenities when required.
Working closely with the Head of Grounds, Stadium and Academy leads, coaching staff and management staff, you will help ensure pitches, amenities and working areas are prepared, maintained and presented to the required standard.
This role may suit candidates currently working as a Senior Groundsperson, Deputy Head Groundsperson, Assistant Grounds Manager, Sports Turf Manager or experienced Greenkeeper within football, sportsturf or elite grounds environments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading day-to-day grounds and amenities works at Fairwood Training Ground, including daily briefings, task allocation and team supervision
- Acting as a key contact for 1st Team pitch and training requirements, including preparation for training sessions and fixtures
- Preparing, maintaining and repairing natural, synthetic, hybrid and fibre sand playing surfaces to the required standard
- Carrying out and supporting pitch maintenance tasks including mowing, aeration, line marking, divoting, spraying, fertilising and renovations
- Deputising for the Head of Grounds and Amenities when required, supporting staff rotas, planning, procurement, fuel, fleet and resource management
- Liaising with coaching, management, Stadium and Academy staff to ensure operational requirements are met across Club sites
- Maintaining machinery, irrigation systems and equipment, ensuring they are cleaned, serviced and kept to a high standard
- Completing daily records, paperwork and compliance checks, while promoting safe working practices and supporting health and safety standards
- Supporting winter protection, pitch protection and EFL pitch protection policy requirements
- Contributing to future planning around renovations, landscaping, biodiversity, sustainability and pitch programming
- Encouraging an inclusive team environment where ideas and contributions are welcomed
Essential Requirements:
- Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Sportsturf Management
- PA1 spraying licence
- Full UK driving licence
- Minimum of 5 years' industry experience
- Previous experience working with hybrid and fibre sand pitches
- Sound understanding of lighting rigs and undersoil heating
- Developed awareness of health and safety regulations within grounds operations
- Sound understanding of legislation relating to chemicals and dangerous substances
- Experience preparing, maintaining and repairing high-quality natural and synthetic playing surfaces
- Experience with mowing, aeration, line marking, divoting, spraying and fertilising
- Ability to lead daily works and support a grounds team effectively
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to liaise with coaching and management staff
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required
Desirable Requirements:
- PA2 & PA6 spraying licences
- Previous experience in a professional football club, stadium, training ground or elite sports environment
- Experience supporting renovations, pitch programming, sustainability or biodiversity initiatives
- Experience with irrigation maintenance and repairs
- Experience supporting machinery, fleet, fuel or procurement processes
Swansea City AFC offers the following benefits:
- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Private Medical Insurance and Health Cash Plan
- 2 complimentary home match tickets
- Discounted club merchandise
- Enhanced family leave payments
Safeguarding:
Swansea City AFC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people involved in Club activities and events.
As part of the recruitment and selection process, any offer of employment involving regulated activity with children may be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and barred list check, depending on the level of supervision, frequency and nature of contact with children.
The Club may also conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates as part of its safer recruitment procedures. Appropriate references will be required.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Swansea City AFC is committed to providing an environment where everyone's rights, dignity and individual worth are respected. The Club takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and welcomes applications from individuals who meet the core requirements of the role.
The Club particularly encourages applications from women, disabled people and individuals from diverse ethnic communities who are currently under-represented within the organisation.
All appointments will be made on merit, skill and experience relevant to the position.
Apply Now:
If you have the sports turf qualifications, technical experience and leadership ability to support high-quality pitch standards at Swansea City AFC, we would like to hear from you.
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