Grounds Manager 1st Team and Etihad Stadium

Closing Date of Applications – 29/11/2024

Our Story

Manchester City is an English Premier League club whose roots began in East Manchester. From its first incarnation as St Mark’s West Gorton in 1880, the club became Manchester City FC in 1894. Behind each title lies emotion, moments and memories that resonate with millions of supporters around the world. Manchester City fans are known for their commitment and togetherness, as a Club that fights to the end.

Our Winning Team

Fancy playing a key role in the future success of Manchester City FC? Roles like this don’t come around often!

We’re looking for an experienced Grounds Manager to lead the way in ensuring our Men’s 1st team and Etihad pitches are always at the highest standard, ensuring our world class facilities are maintained throughout the season, to ensure our players can play the Man City way! You’ll need to have hands on experience working in a professional sports environment, and have the confidence to lead a dedicated team to achieve our objectives.

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a simply health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts. 

Your Impact

1. Managing annual pitch maintenance programmes creation and managing timely implementation.
2. Ordering in line with programme and budget.
3. Managing and leading a highly skilled team of grounds people. Recognising, encouraging and developing talent within the department. 
4. Pitch testing – responsible for monitoring data and ensuring pitches and operations align with MCFC requirements.
5. Weekly meetings with Pitch Managers / 1st assistants to assist with planning or update upcoming events / fixtures. (Subject to approval)
6. Manage external contractors to ensure compliance with club, contractual and department standards.
7. Yard and storage facility management – to ensure all deliveries are correctly stored and all Grounds areas are safe and tidy at ALL times.
8. ATTENTION TO DETAIL – monitoring and implementing attention to detail tasks ensuring resource is allocated appropriately.
9. Develop CAPEX and OPEX proposals for review and consultation with Head of Grounds. 
10. Produce monthly reports for your area relating to People (HR/time management/PDR), Pitches (testing results / issues/ resolutions) Programmes (what’s been achieved, stock levels issues / resolutions)
11. Manage / resolve front line issues – irrigation repairs, breakdowns.
12. Proposals and suggestions for CAPEX and OPEX forecasting.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Experience working in a Grounds Management role in the professional sports industry
• You’ll need to be a great communicator
• Experience setting and meeting targets and managing staff to achieve high performance outcomes.  
• Application of health and safety legislation.
• Successful track record of Grounds Management service delivery.
• Knowledgeable in grounds maintenance systems and their application including maintenance of reinforced pitches, preferably Desso, SIS, Hero and Fibresand,
• Full understanding of automatic irrigation systems and SGL lighting rig deployment and service.
• Experience of planning and leading on of end of season renovation works.
• Experience in setting targets, monitoring outcomes, achieving results and working towards continuous improvement.
• Substantial experience working with playing surfaces. 
• Experience managing budgets and financial processes. 
• NVQ L3 Turf Management qualification
• Pesticides Application PA1,2 and 6
• Willingness to travel when required

Desirable

• Experience working in a Grounds Management role for a Professional Football Club

City Football Group promotes equal opportunities in employment and we positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We will screen all applicants and select candidates whose skills and experience seem to meet our needs. We will carefully consider your application during the initial screening and will contact you only if you are selected for an interview. 

Employment is subject to the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Due to our safeguarding promise, all UK based CFG roles will be subject to a DBS check upon commencing employment with us. This will be either a basic, standard or enhanced check depending on the job role and responsibilities.