Deputy Head Grounds Person - Reading Football Club

The Deputy Head Grounds person will primarily support the preparation and maintenance of the playing surface and grounds at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The role also includes providing assistance at other Reading FC sites if required, supporting operational needs across the club. This includes supervising staff and contractors, producing staffing rotas, ensuring all surfaces are maintained to professional standards, and deputising for the Head Grounds person when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce and issue staffing rotas and daily work schedules.
• Liaise with HG regarding staffing rotas and daily work schedules.
• Coordinate and supervise daily tasks across Reading FC staff and contractors.
• Oversee contractors performing grounds-related works.
• Prepare, maintain and renovate all sports turf pitches at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
• Ensure full operational support for all first-team home matches, including matchday pitch preparation, in-game support where required, and post-match repair work.
• Support and deliver pitch operations for all other stadium events, ensuring the playing surface is protected, prepared and restored to required standards.
• Maintain high-quality playing surfaces for professional players and teams.
• Carry out line marking, mowing, turf care, fertilising and treatment of pitches.
• Maintain the indoor dome artificial pitch and outdoor 3G pitch.
• Carry out maintenance and installations of landscaped and amenity areas across all required club sites.
• Safely operate stadium grow lighting rigs, undersoil heating systems, irrigation and pitch data collections equipment.
• Maintain and record machinery usage, servicing schedules, irrigation systems and lighting rig operations.
• Conduct stock checks and ensure adequate supplies are kept.
• Collect and record all relevant agronomic data.
• Provide grounds support at other Reading FC sites if required, ensuring flexibility to assist with pitch preparation and maintenance activities outside the stadium when operationally necessary.

Leadership & Supervision

• Manage, lead and supervise grounds staff and casual workers.
• Train, develop and motivate staff, including apprentices and work-experience personnel.
• Ensure high standards of work, safety and professionalism across the team.
• In the absence of the Head Grounds person, liaise with senior club personnel including the Head of Grounds, Director of Operations, Managing Director, Safety Officer, Director of Football, First Team, Academy and Women’s team Managers and staff.
• Plan daily operations and long-term maintenance schedules with the Head Grounds person.
• Ensure adequate cover for training, fixtures, first-team matches, Academy fixtures, and all stadium events.

Health & Safety

• Promote and enforce safe working practices at all times.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety regulations, including COSHH, First Aid, PPE and Manual Handling.
• Conduct basic risk assessments and produce method statements.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies.
• Ensure all equipment is correctly maintained, safely operated and regularly serviced.

Administrative Duties

• Keep accurate attendance records for staff and casual workers.
• Maintain machinery logs and maintenance records.
• Support event planning and delivery.
• Order materials and products as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Sports Turf or equivalent.
• PA1, PA6 and PA2 spraying certificates.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong Health & Safety knowledge.
• Commitment to ongoing CPD.
• Willingness to undertake safeguarding, EDI and customer service training.