Skip to main content
This site requires the use of cookies as defined by our Terms and Conditions.  We have provided a detailed description of how cookies work and are used on the site.  To accept cookies, please click the "Accept Cookies" button.
View All Vacancies

Grounds Person

Energy and Maintenance

Location:  Canterbury
Salary:  £23,144 to £24,533 per annum
Grade:  Grade 4
Post Type:  Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Release Date:  Friday 23 August 2024
Closing Date:  23.59 hours BST on Friday 06 September 2024  (unless otherwise stated)
Reference:  EST-165-24-R3

Join our team as Grounds Person where you will use your 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 Grounds Person you can expect to be involved in:

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

What will you bring to the role?

  • 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

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

•    43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)

•    excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions

•    corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

•    retailer and wellbeing discounts via Edenred

•    on campus cinema/theatre, sports facilities, library, nursery (Canterbury) and food outlets 

•    study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts

•    support in your development and wellbeing at all stages of employment, including an Employee Assistance Programme

•    training and development opportunities at all levels

•    on-site parking

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

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting reference number EST-165-24-R3.

Further details:    Job Description     Additional Information    
Email details to a friend

Please note that we prioritise applications from current University of Kent redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.

Applications must be made via the University’s online application system; CVs or details sent directly to the department or via email cannot be considered.

The University of Kent values diversity and promotes equality at all levels.