Uppingham School, founded in 1584, is a leading co-educational independent boarding school. Its 800 pupils, aged 11-18, are accommodated in 15 boarding houses, taught by over 20 academic departments, and participate in numerous extra-curricular activities such as sports, music, and drama. The academic programme is supported by business units responsible for marketing, estates, finance, human resources, IT, catering, cleaning, health and safety, and the schools trading subsidiary. The school employs c. 550 staff and operates seven days a week during term-time.
For a complete understanding of this opportunity, and what will be required to be a successful applicant, read on.
Uppingham is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcomes applications from anyone who feels they could fulfil the role.
Job purpose
Games and a full sporting curriculum form an integral part of school life at Uppingham. The playing fields and sports facilities, covering approximately 56 acres over three sites, cater for multiple sporting activities throughout the year, such as rugby, football, cricket and athletics.
We are looking for a committed, experienced, and passionate grounds operative with strong knowledge of machinery and sports pitch maintenance. This role will play a key part in ensuring that the grounds and school pitches are maintained to an excellent standard.
Your accountabilities
To ensure the maintenance and upkeep of sports fields, ensuring they are safe, functional, and visually appealing for use in sporting activities. This role involves a variety of tasks such as mowing, fertilising, aerating, irrigating, repairing turf surfaces, and maintaining artificial pitches/courts. The goal is to provide high-quality playing surfaces that meets the needs of the school while adhering to safety standards and regulations. Additionally, be responsible for managing equipment, completing scheduled maintenance activities, and liaising with other staff or stakeholders to support field usage.
Qualifications, skills and experience, personal qualities required.
Qualifications:
PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates (desirable).
NVQ Level 2 Sports Turf qualification or similar (desirable)
Skills and experience:
Experience of sports grounds maintenance and associated work.
Experience in mowing, aeration, fertilising and weed control.
Ability to use a range of machinery and equipment.
Experience in initial setting out and marking pitches.
Full driving licence* (essential)
Personal qualities:
Excellent communication skills at all levels of the organisation
Positive, can-do and forward-looking attitude, striving for improvement.
Diplomatic problem-solver who understands the requirements of stakeholders and colleagues
Good eye for attention and details
Ability to
Be decisive and confident in own skills and ability.
Self-motivate, self-evaluate and show initiative.
Work alone, with minimum supervision or as part of a team.
Work at a commercial pace and in a clean, efficient and logical manner.
Solve unexpected problems within the normal working day in a calm and logical manner.
Operate outside in all weather conditions.
* A full clean driving licence is essential. This position involves driving vehicles around the Schools estate. Any offer of employment will therefore be conditional upon the successful candidate being accepted for insurance cover by the Schools insurance provider. Whilst every application will be considered on its own merits, successful applicants should note that if they have six or more penalty points on their driving licence, or a previous drink-driving conviction, they may not be accepted for cover by the Schools insurers, in which case any offer of employment would be withdrawn.
Working hours : 39 per week, 52 weeks per year.
Normal hours are 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 3.30pm on a Friday, with two 30 min breaks (30 minutes paid, 30 minutes unpaid)
Salary : £27.810 per annum
Benefits
50% contribution to premiums for the Schools private health scheme
Free Westfield Healthcare
Free membership of dual-use Sports Centre (£25 annual joining fee)
Free staff lunches in term-time
School fee discount for children of Uppingham staff (pro-rated for part-time staff)
Retail, gym, supermarket, cinema and restaurant discounts
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Occupational Health Services
Free annual flu jabs
Recognised as a Disability Confident employer
Recognised as a Mindful employer
Favourable rates and terms with local nursery
Complimentary staff ticket to selected School performances
Discount at local coffee shop for Uppingham staff.
Safeguarding
The post-holders responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the Schools Safeguarding (Child Protection) Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the Schools Designated Safeguarding Lead or to the Headmaster. xsngvjr
You may have experience of the following: Groundskeeper, Grounds Operative, Sports Turf Operative, Greenkeeper, Grounds Maintenance Technician, Sports Grounds Assistant, Turf Care Operative, Pitch Maintenance Technician, Estates Grounds Worker, Grounds and Facilities Operative, or Sports Surface Technician.
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