Head of Grounds & Estates - Training Ground

The Head of Grounds & Estates - Training Ground is responsible for the leadership, management and delivery of all playing surfaces, grounds maintenance and external estate presentation at the Club’s training ground. The role is accountable for ensuring that all natural grass and synthetic playing surfaces are maintained to the highest professional standards, providing a safe, high-performing and visually outstanding environment for First Team, Academy, Women’s and wider Club activity. The postholder will manage surface availability across a multi-user site, balancing elite training, matchday use and community programming, whilst protecting pitch quality and long-term asset performance. The postholder will also oversee pitch standards and operational liaison for external venues used by the Academy match programme, ensuring surfaces and venue readiness meet Club expectations. The postholder will lead the grounds team, manage budgets, oversee specialist equipment and infrastructure, and deliver annual renovation and improvement programmes aligned to the Club’s operational and sporting objectives.

Requirements

• Grounds & Playing Surface Management
  • Lead all aspects of grounds maintenance across the training ground site, including mowing, fertilising, aeration, irrigation, overseeding, topdressing and disease prevention.
  • Ensure all natural grass and synthetic playing surfaces are maintained to elite professional standards.
  • Develop and implement annual turf management programmes to maximise surface quality, durability and presentation.
  • Monitor weather conditions and adapt maintenance plans accordingly.
  • Plan and deliver seasonal pitch renovation works.
  • Manage pitch usage levels to protect surface quality and maximise availability.
• Football Operations & Multi-User Scheduling
  • Prepare pitches daily for training sessions, matches and football activity.
  • Support First Team training requirements as priority activity.
  • Coordinate surface provision for Academy training and match programmes.
  • Coordinate surface provision for Women’s training and match programmes.
  • Manage evening and gap-period access to synthetic surfaces for Fulham FC Foundation and approved community activity.
  • Work closely with football operations and scheduling teams to balance competing demands across the site.
• Academy External Venue Support
  • Act as the Club’s principal liaison with the grounds team at Windsor Avenue and any other external venues used for Academy fixtures.
  • Work collaboratively with venue operators and grounds staff to ensure playing surfaces meet required standards for Academy matchday use.
  • Coordinate pitch preparation expectations, seasonal maintenance requirements and match scheduling impacts.
  • Undertake inspections and provide recommendations where standards require improvement.
  • Ensure strong working relationships are maintained with external partners supporting the Academy games programme.
• Estates & External Presentation
  • Oversee landscaping, pathways, roadsides and external presentation across the training ground estate.
  • Ensure the site is maintained to a professional standard for players, staff and visitors.
  • Support visits, media activity and events as required.
• Team Leadership
  • Lead, manage and develop the grounds team.
  • Allocate duties, manage rotas and ensure appropriate staffing coverage.
  • Set standards of performance, conduct and attendance.
  • Promote a positive, professional and collaborative team culture.
• Equipment & Infrastructure
  • Manage all grounds machinery, tools and specialist equipment.
  • Oversee servicing, maintenance and replacement planning.
  • Monitor irrigation, drainage, floodlighting interfaces and associated grounds infrastructure.
  • Liaise with suppliers and contractors as required.
• Financial Management
  • Prepare and manage departmental operating budgets.
  • Support annual CAPEX planning and investment proposals.
  • Control expenditure and seek value for money across purchasing and contractor activity.
• Projects & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead pitch reconstruction, enhancement and improvement projects.
  • Work with specialist contractors, consultants and suppliers.
  • Keep abreast of industry trends, innovation and best practice.

Essential and Desirable

• Significant experience in grounds management, preferably within professional sport or a high-quality estate environment.
• Experience managing natural grass and synthetic playing surfaces.
• Experience operating within a multi-user training ground or stadium environment.
• Experience leading teams and managing staff performance.
• Experience managing budgets and operational planning.
• Experience liaising with third-party venues or contractors.
• High standards and attention to detail.
• Proactive and solutions focused.
• Calm under pressure.
• Strong work ethic and reliability.
• Positive leadership style.
• Flexible approach to working hours in line with operational demands.

Education & Experience

• Essential Skills / Qualifications
  • Relevant qualification in Sports Turf / Horticulture / Grounds Management.
  • Strong technical knowledge of turf maintenance and agronomy.
  • Knowledge of irrigation, drainage and grounds machinery.
  • Good IT and administrative skills.
  • Strong organisational and communication skills.
  • Ability to prioritise competing operational demands.
• Preferred
  • Experience within elite football or professional sport.
  • NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Sports Turf.
  • PA1 / PA2 / PA6 qualifications.
  • IOSH or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
  • Project management experience.