Grounds Assistant

Organisation: Huddersfield Town AFC
Salary: Up to £24,000 depending on experience.
Location: Canalside Training Centre - Huddersfield
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 30 June 2025
Interview date: 15 July 2025
Job Description: Job Description

Post Title
Grounds Assistant.

Department/Location
Grounds, the Canalside Training Centre.

Reports to
Head Groundsman.

Purpose of the Role
To undertake all duties associated with maintaining and renovating sports surfaces in a football environment, ensuring that the facilities are in premium condition and fit for purpose, while also adhering to all environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.

Functional Links
Internal: Grounds team.
Sporting Director.
Head Coach and First Team Coaches.
Academy Manager and Coaches.
First Team and Academy Players.
Training Ground Operations Team.
All staff and managers throughout the organisation.

External: Members of the public.
Prospective players and their agents/representatives.
Fans/supporters.
External agencies e.g., HSE, Environmental Health.

Key Performance Indicators:

• All surfaces on the First Team and Academy training pitches are maintained to a consistently high standard.

• Safe and effective use of equipment to ensure playing surfaces are maintained in premium condition.

• Compliance with environmental and health and safety legislation and regulations.

Role Specific Responsibilities

Knowledge:

The post holder will be required to:

· Work as a member of the Grounds team to ensure playing surfaces are consistently well-maintained and fit for purpose.

· Identify and ensure the correct application of materials, tools, equipment, and machinery used in maintenance and renovation activities, under the supervision of the Head Groundsman and other leaders in the Grounds team.
• Identify and understand different grasses, soil types, weeds, pests, diseases, turf disorders, artificial surfacing material, underlays, infill material, turf and soil reinforcement material, and line marking materials.

• Understand the principles of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration, in the growth and development of plants and apply this knowledge accordingly to pitch management and maintenance.

• Contribute to monitoring the impact of weather, ground conditions, and usage on pitch quality and playing quality, and work with the Grounds team to take appropriate action as necessary.

• Contribute to minimising waste and reducing environmental impacts.

• Monitor, record, and report basic grounds maintenance findings.

Skills:

The post holder will be required to:

• Apply knowledge and skills with a logical and systematic approach, also demonstrating a positive work ethic in achieving the desired outcomes from maintaining the playing surfaces.

• Contribute to maintaining and renovating turf surfaces in a safe and appropriate manner to ensure training and matches can take place in fair and safe conditions.

• Use a range of equipment and machinery as required, including but not limited to, mowers, scarifiers, aerators, and other specialist turf equipment, covering hand tools, as well as pedestrian operated, ride-on, and tractor mounted implements.

• Correctly calibrate equipment for material requirements and apply at the correct rates a range of materials, including grass seed, fertilizer, and bulky top-dressing.

• Use integrated prevention and control methods to reduce the incidence of diseases, disorders, pests, and weeds on turf.

• Set and mark out playing areas in accordance with the Laws of the Governing Bodies of Sport.

• Maintain tools, equipment, and machinery used for maintenance and renovation activities, to ensure their safe and effective use.

• Maintain and conduct basic routine servicing and repairs to drainage and irrigation systems.

• Effectively communicate with others and provide an excellent level of customer service.

• Work safely, efficiently, and effectively at all times, whether under supervision, as an individual, or in a team.

The post holder will also be required to undertake any other duties as required by the Head Groundsman and/or any other Senior Leader.
Behaviour/Conduct

The post holder is required to:

· Be proactive with workload and interventions.

· Seek to continually develop their skills and knowledge.

· Adopt an organised and structured approach to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the role.

· Communicate appropriately at all levels.

· Be flexible to fit the development and growth of the organisation.

· Be flexible in hours of work.

· Be trustworthy and adhere to the Club’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

· Adhere to protocol and respect confidentiality in all matters, also protecting any data relating to the area of work in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.

· Consistently demonstrate high standards of behaviour and appearance and encourage the same from others.

· Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

· Respect others and behave in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner, taking account of all protected characteristics, as specified in the Equality Act 2010.

Additional Information

Safeguarding:

Huddersfield Town Association Football Club (HTAFC) Ltd. is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The post holder will also be required to undergo Safeguarding Training, to be agreed with the Head of Safeguarding.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Huddersfield Town AFC is a diverse environment in which we respect all characteristics under the Equality Act 2010; we want everyone to feel valued and included within the Club and to be able to achieve their full potential.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination, and we are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate. All employees are required to support and uphold this zero-tolerance approach and contribute to our ‘Terriers Together’ Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy.
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Huddersfield Town AFC Job Vacancy
Grounds Assistant

Up to £24,000 per annum (depending on skills and qualifications).
Full-time – 35+ hours per week.
Permanent.

This position will require a flexible approach to work, covering weekdays and weekends as required.

We are currently recruiting to the position of Grounds Assistant, to support our Grounds team based at our training complex and to ensure that our playing surfaces are suitable for both training sessions and competitive fixtures. The post holder will be required to fulfil all duties associated with maintaining and renovating sports surfaces in a football environment, ensuring that the facilities are in premium condition, while also adhering to all environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.

Candidates must have a genuine love of working outdoors, in all weather conditions, and an interest in grounds maintenance in an elite sport environment. Previous experience in a similar role is essential. A Level 2 qualification in Sports Turf Management or an equivalent qualification would be advantageous; however, full training will be given, and we will support the successful candidate to achieve a relevant qualification if not already obtained.

Candidates are encouraged to review the job description and person specification before applying, as these contain full details of the content of the vacancy, and the specific skills, experience, qualifications, and attributes we are looking for.

We expect our employees to be a positive ambassador for Huddersfield Town AFC, and to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders in a consistently polite and professional manner.

We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements. The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage.

To apply, please create an account in our online application portal and ensure you complete the associated questions in full.

Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and other stakeholders to share this commitment.

Applicants must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions in accordance with the associated legislation. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.

Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Equality and Inclusion

Huddersfield Town AFC is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where everyone can be themselves and in which everyone feels valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential. We offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment arrangements, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination.

We are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.

We are a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from disabled candidates. We are also seeking to diversify our workforce, particularly by gender and ethnicity.

Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website:

https://careers.htafc.com/

To apply, please complete the application form in our portal. If you need any assistance and/or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us by email to jobs@htafc.com

Previous applicants need not apply.

Completed applications must be submitted by 9:00am on Monday 30th June 2025.

Interviews are likely to take place in mid-July 2025.
How to apply: Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website: https://careers.htafc.com/ To apply, please complete the application form in our portal. If you need any assistance and/or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us by email to jobs@htafc.com Previous applicants need not apply. Completed applications must be submitted by 9:00am on Monday 30th June 2025.