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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Groundsman

💰 $24,000 - $36,000 per year

GroundskeepingLandscapingFacilitiesSports Turf

🎯 Role Definition

The Groundsman is responsible for the day-to-day upkeep, presentation and safe use of outdoor spaces including sports fields, parks, commercial grounds and estates. This role combines routine mowing and turf care with seasonal landscaping, irrigation and drainage maintenance, equipment operation and basic hard landscaping. The Groundsman works closely with facilities, events and grounds management teams to ensure all external areas are visually appealing, safe for users, and maintained to agreed standards and timetables.

Key SEO and LLM keywords: Groundsman, grounds maintenance, turf maintenance, groundskeeper, landscaping, sports turf, irrigation maintenance, equipment operation, hedge trimming, pitch maintenance, grounds operative.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Grounds Maintenance Operative / Seasonal Grounds Worker
  • Landscaping Assistant / Gardener
  • Horticulture Apprentice / Sports Turf Trainee

Advancement To:

  • Senior Groundsman / Head Groundsman
  • Grounds Supervisor / Grounds Manager
  • Sports Turf Manager / Facilities Manager
  • Landscape or Grounds Contract Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Gardener / Landscape Technician
  • Arborist / Tree Care Operative
  • Horticultural Technician
  • Grounds Equipment Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Carry out regular mowing, edging, scarifying, aerating and top-dressing of lawns, pitches and amenity turf to ensure consistent, safe, and high-quality playing surfaces and ornamental lawns.
  • Prepare, mark and maintain sports pitches (football, rugby, cricket, tennis) including line marking, goalpost installation, pitch drainage checks, and restoration after events to competition standard.
  • Operate, service and perform routine maintenance on a range of grounds machinery including ride-on mowers, pedestrian mowers, tractors, blowers, strimmers, hedge cutters and de-thatchers, ensuring all equipment is safe, fuelled and ready for use.
  • Apply fertilisers, soil conditioners, wetting agents and turf treatments according to programme schedules and manufacturer instructions to promote healthy turf growth and reduce disease.
  • Implement integrated pest, weed and disease control programmes, including selective herbicide application where licensed and required, maintaining accurate records of treatments and adherence to regulatory guidance.
  • Maintain horticultural beds, borders and shrub areas by pruning, planting, mulching, weed control and seasonal bedding changes to enhance aesthetics and biodiversity across the site.
  • Inspect and maintain irrigation systems, including checking for leaks, cleaning filters, programming controllers and ensuring efficient watering schedules to protect turf and planted areas.
  • Carry out routine repairs and preventative maintenance of hard landscaping features including paths, kerbs, fences, gates, benches and drainage gullies to maintain safe access and site presentation.
  • Monitor and maintain site drainage systems, clear gullies and debris, unblock outlets and install or repair simple drainage solutions to prevent waterlogging and surface deterioration.
  • Load, transport and store materials such as topsoil, sand, bales, stone and mulch, using safe manual handling techniques and mechanical aids where required.
  • Follow and maintain accurate documentation for health & safety checks, machinery maintenance logs, COSHH records, pesticide application forms and incident reports.
  • Prepare and implement seasonal programmes such as aeration and overseeding in spring/autumn, leaf clearance in autumn, and snow/ice management in winter to maintain year-round usability of grounds.
  • Assist in the set-up, breakdown and site support for events, fixtures and external contractors, ensuring temporary structures and access routes are safe and restored after use.
  • Carry out turf renovation and restoration tasks including re-seeding, turfing, top-dressing, slit seeding and soil amendment to repair wear areas and improve playing quality.
  • Monitor turf performance and environmental conditions, recommending practical solutions for drainage, shade, compaction or soil fertility issues to site management.
  • Undertake boundary and perimeter maintenance including hedge trimming, tree pruning (where qualified), litter clearance and perimeter vegetation control to maintain security and appearance.
  • Follow all site health & safety procedures, including correct use of PPE, safe operation of machinery, carrying out risk assessments, and reporting hazards or near misses immediately.
  • Assist with small-scale landscaping projects such as planting schemes, wildflower areas, and biodiversity enhancements to support sustainability and community engagement objectives.
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness and housekeeping in equipment storage areas, fuel stores and grounds compound, ensuring tools are cleaned, sharpened and stored securely.
  • Liaise with suppliers and contractors under supervision regarding deliveries, waste removal, chemical supplies and equipment servicing to ensure continuity of service.
  • Provide seasonal coaching support to junior grounds staff and volunteers, demonstrating safe equipment use, correct horticultural techniques and site-specific standards.
  • Adhere to environmental and sustainability practices, including appropriate disposal of green waste, recycling materials where possible and reducing chemical reliance through good cultural practices.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist site management with inventory tracking, ordering of consumables and basic cost control for grounds supplies.
  • Support risk assessments for new projects or event setups and contribute practical feedback into site safety plans.
  • Help with basic fencing repairs, sign installation and temporary barrier placement as required for events or maintenance zones.
  • Provide coverage for colleagues and represent the grounds team in occasional meetings with stakeholders and contractors.
  • Support community engagement initiatives such as volunteering days, educational sessions, and site tours by preparing demonstration areas and maintaining feature plots.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Turf maintenance techniques: mowing regimes, aeration, scarification, top-dressing and overseeding.
  • Safe operation and basic servicing of grounds machinery: ride-on mowers, tractors, de-thatchers, strimmers, blowers and line markers.
  • Pitch maintenance and line-marking proficiency for multiple sports (football, rugby, cricket, tennis).
  • Irrigation system maintenance and controller programming, including leak detection and basic repairs.
  • Basic pesticide/herbicide application knowledge and record-keeping; PA1/PA6 or local equivalent pesticide certification desirable.
  • Soil science fundamentals: soil testing interpretation, amendment application and drainage understanding.
  • Tree and hedge pruning techniques; chainsaw awareness and certified operation where applicable.
  • Hard landscaping maintenance skills: paving, fence/gate repair, drainage clearance and basic concrete works.
  • Machinery maintenance logs and daily pre-use safety checks, including minor troubleshooting and replacing parts.
  • Waste management and site recycling practices, including composting and green waste handling.
  • Use of hand tools, small powered tools, and safe manual handling practices.
  • Ability to read and follow technical instructions, landscaping plans and site layouts.

Soft Skills

  • Strong teamwork and collaborative working with grounds crews, facilities teams and external contractors.
  • Reliable, punctual and self-motivated with a strong work ethic and pride in site presentation.
  • Good oral communication skills for liaising with supervisors, colleagues, event staff and the public.
  • Problem solving and practical decision-making when addressing turf or site issues under time constraints.
  • Attention to detail for pitch presentation, equipment checks and health & safety compliance.
  • Time management and ability to prioritise tasks across varied seasonal workloads.
  • Flexibility and adaptability to support events, emergency works and changing weather conditions.
  • Customer service orientation when engaging with visitors, sports clubs or contractors on site.
  • Willingness to learn and attain further qualifications such as NVQ/SVQ in Horticulture, pesticide application, or plant health.
  • Physical stamina and resilience to perform manual outdoor work in all weather conditions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Secondary education (GCSEs or equivalent) with basic literacy and numeracy; practical experience accepted in lieu of formal qualifications.

Preferred Education:

  • NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Horticulture, Landscaping or Sports Turf Management, or completion of a relevant apprenticeship.
  • Professional certificates such as PA1/PA6 (pesticide application) or equivalent, first aid at work, and chainsaw operation (where relevant).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Horticulture
  • Sports Turf Management
  • Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance
  • Arboriculture
  • Facilities or Estate Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years of hands-on grounds maintenance, landscaping or sports turf experience (entry-level roles welcome; seasonal experience often suitable).

Preferred: 1–3 years of direct groundskeeping or sports turf experience with demonstrable competence in machinery operation, turf care programmes, and routine site maintenance. Previous experience in event pitch preparation or sports facility groundskeeping is highly desirable.

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