Assistant Groundsperson

We are looking for an Assistant Groundsperson to join our team, providing their skills to maintain and prepare both natural and artificial sport surfaces and associated areas.

You will undertake all preparation and cultivation to a complete range of sports facilities and other surfaces to ensure safe quality playing surfaces, setting out all sports pitches or other surfaces as required by the demands of the sports programme.

We are seeking someone who is keen to work as part of a multi-skilled team and continue learning new skills to improve our Grounds services.

As an Assistant Groundsperson you will:

• Maintain and prepare the University's Sports fields and associated areas to a high standard using appropriate methods and machinery
• Ensure the playing surfaces (natural and artificial) are safe at all times
• Drive and operate University owned plant equipment, vehicles and equipment to carry out maintenance/preparation tasks for the Sports team, working in a safe and compliant manner
• Maintain continuous liaison with designated members of the University's Sport Centre to ensure that requirements for sports facilities are known
• Carry out regular maintenance of all plant and vehicles used for sports field maintenance

To be successful in this role you will have:

• NVQ 2 or equivalent qualification/experience in related areas e.g. Sports Turf or Maintenance of Outdoor Sports Facilities
• Full UK manual Driving Licence
• Proven experience of sports turf preparation and maintenance in a medium to large organisation
• Knowledge of maintenance techniques and processes inherent in the upkeep of artificial and natural playing surfaces

Rewarding your contribution

You will enjoy a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing, along with a range of great staff benefits including:

• A beautiful landscape and diverse habitats.
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Full training and full uniform provided
• Study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts
• On-site parking
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)

For further information on our staff benefits please go to

Meet your team

The Commercial Services and Estates Department provides essential services at both the Canterbury and Medway campuses that are critical to the staff and student experience at the University of Kent. Commercial Services delivers a range of value-added services including catering, conferencing, residential accommodation, reception services, sport and recreation. The residential accommodation houses approximately 6,500 students during term-time across Canterbury and Medway campuses. The Canterbury campus is a successful conference, events and holiday location during the summer months.

Estates are responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure, buildings and extensive grounds at Kent. The department also has responsibility for the security of students, staff and visitors, transport, parking and travel; customer and postal services and the Design & Print Centre

If you require further assistance regarding the online application process, please contact quoting ref: EST-165-24

£23,144 to £24,533 per annum, Grade 4