UPPINGHAM SCHOOL JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title Assistant Grounds Manager Sports Reports to Grounds Manager Job context Uppingham School, founded in 1584, is a leading co-educational independent boarding school. Its 800 pupils, aged 13-18, 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 School s trading subsidiary. The School employs over 700 staff. The built estate has 80 buildings, including teaching blocks, assembly buildings, boarding houses, staff housing, administrative and technical accommodation, and sports facilities. The School covers approximately 120 noncontiguous acres, almost one mile apart at its extremities and interspersed by town housing and retail properties. 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 whole year. The School is currently seeking an outstanding Assistant Grounds Manager to join its busy, close-knit Grounds Team, specialising in cricket and other sports surfaces. Job purpose To maintain and improve the School grounds, associated sports facilities, and pitches, including multiple natural and artificial playing surfaces. To help lead, develop and mentor a team of grounds employees and to deliver high standards of performance, excellent customer service, and a proactive approach to all elements of work. To be a highly-skilled and knowledgeable senior team member, with extensive cricket experience, helping to manage and allocate all associated departmental tasks and ensuring that they are actioned correctly and to high standards at all times. Your accountabilities 1. Assistant Leadership of Grounds staff 2. Provision of high standards of customer service 3. Provision of sound technical and practical support to the Grounds Team 4. Planning and undertaking scheduled departmental tasks 5. Managing budgets and maintaining financial records 6. Compliance and health & safety 7. Managing equipment and supplies 8. Environmental Management Outcomes
Note: This section is a guide to the nature and principal duties of the position as they currently exist, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. 1. Assistant Leadership of Grounds staff a) The Grounds Manager feels well-assisted in the leadership and management of the department. The team work at optimum efficiency and effectiveness, and high standards are maintained at all times. b) Labour resources are allocated effectively and efficiently to complete duties and tasks on time. c) Team holidays are co-ordinated so that appropriate levels of support and cover are maintained at all times. d) The Assistant Grounds Manager effectively and competently deputises in the role of Grounds Manager during periods of holiday/absence. e) Appropriate resource is always allocated to matches and fixtures. 2. Provision of high standards of customer service a) Consistent feedback received demonstrating excellent level of customer service at all times. b) Sports staff feel well-communicated on the availability of sports facilities for lessons and matches and feel that they receive good advice on the fitness of pitches. c) The expectations of the School s wider Sports faculty on the delivery of all playing surfaces and facilities are fully met by the Grounds Team. d) Customers report that their concerns and issues are managed promptly and in a positive, solution-driven manner in line with the School s procedures. 3. Provision of sound technical and practical support to the Grounds Team a) The Grounds team report that the Assistant Grounds Manager provides them fully with technical knowledge and practical support in the development and maintenance of all sports/grounds facilities. b) The practical and technical requirements of a task / duty are clearly defined and explained, and the team understand them. c) Staff training needs are pro-actively assessed and met, and staff feel motivated and encouraged to continually develop their skills and relationships with clients/end users. 4. Planning and undertaking scheduled departmental tasks a) The planning and preparation of all playing surfaces and sporting facilities, including artificial surfaces, are carried out by the Assistant Grounds Manager and the team to recognised national standards. b) The Grounds Manager feels supported by his Assistant Grounds Manager in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of weekly, monthly and annual maintenance programmes, which are adjusted in a timely manner when required to take account of weather conditions and use of grounds. c) Required levels of resourcing are well-estimated and workload is efficiently allocated to team members. d) Team training needs are identified in a timely manner and training schedules arranged, which results in a demonstrably multi-skilled departmental workforce.
5. Managing budgets and maintaining financial records a) The Grounds Manager feels well-assisted by his Assistant Grounds Manager in that the financial operation of the Department is reviewed and issues flagged on both an annual basis and regularly throughout the year. 6. Compliance and health & safety a) The health and safety of persons working under the Assistant Grounds Manager s direction and their own personal health and safety is in full compliance with health and safety legislation. b) The wider health and safety of the Grounds department is closely monitored and in compliance with legal requirements at all times. c) All work (whether carried out in-house or through a contractor) is in full compliance with all relevant legislation and completed in a controlled, professional manner. d) All accidents, incidents, and near misses are reported promptly and fully through the School s reporting processes. e) Any unsafe behaviours or conditions are proactively challenged and reported as soon as practicable to the Grounds Manager. f) SSOW (Safe Systems of Work) are adopted at all times. 7. Managing equipment and supplies a) Through the guidance and assistance of the Assistant Grounds Manager, all plant and equipment are able to meet the ongoing and future needs of the department. b) Replacements and upgrades are planned for where required, within budget constraints. c) Regular inspections, general maintenance, and statutory testing of equipment take place and are recorded at all times. 8. Environmental Management a) Opportunities within the department have been identified and implemented for improved energy efficiency. b) Waste disposal is always fully compliant with hazardous waste regulations. c) Pesticides and similar substances are used, stored, calibrated and disposed of safely at all times. Qualifications, skills and experience, personal qualities required Attributes Essential Desirable Qualifications Attendance of recognised IOG / ECB Cricket courses BTEC National Diploma or National Certificate in Turf Science NVQ Level 3 Sports Turf and Sports Ground Management. Maintenance or equivalent Driving Licence for towing trailers. PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying qualification. Specialist Skills Significant experience as a Sports Groundsperson. Recognised Health & Safety qualification. & Experience Significant knowledge and First Aid at Work qualification. experience of cricket surface provision and management. Formal training in preparation and review of Risk Assessments. Understanding of relevant Health & Safety legislation. Experience working in a school or educational environment. Good knowledge and experience of sporting surfaces including artificial Experience working on a large and varied estate.
Personal Qualities and natural. Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office. Personable and supportive. Ability to remain calm in a busy and demanding environment. High personal and professional standards. Self-motivated, solution-based team player. Possess an eye for detail and quality. Possess excellent communication skills. Strong leadership skills. Flexible attitude to working hours. Key relationships Grounds Manager Grounds Team Gardens Manager Building Services & Maintenance Manager Project Manager Estates Director Terms and conditions Working hours All year round, hours of employment are 39 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, worked as follows: Autumn/Winter Term (1 September to 31 March) 08:00 16:30 Monday to Thursday inclusive and 08:00 15:30 on Friday with a 60-minute lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30 each day, of which 30 minutes is paid and 30 minutes unpaid. Spring/Summer Term (1 April to 31 August) 08:30 17:00 Monday to Thursday inclusive and 08:30 16:00 on Friday with a 60-minute lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30 each day, of which 30 minutes is paid and 30 minutes unpaid. The School reserves the right to vary these normal hours of work between Monday and Sunday (whether temporarily or permanently). This may be necessary to meet the particular needs of the School. Overtime All employees are required to work reasonable overtime whether in the evenings or at weekends, particularly during busy sports periods. Salary Dependent upon experience.
Probationary period Six calendar months. Benefits Holidays The annual holiday entitlement is 25 days holiday per annum plus Bank/Public Holidays. Bank/Public Holidays that fall in term time are normal working days. It should be noted that up to five days holiday (less Bank/Public Holidays) may be required to be taken, subject to line manager approval, over the Christmas/New Year period, when the School is mainly closed. Pension scheme Benefits Defined contribution scheme: employee contribution matched by School by factor of two, up to 10% maximum (upon completion of probationary period). 50% contribution to premiums for School s private health insurance scheme (pro-rata for part-time staff) Free annual membership of dual-use Sports Centre ( 15 joining fee); prorata monthly membership for part-time employees Free staff lunches in term time School fee discount scheme for children of staff (66% discount on fees) Death in service cover 1 with a lump sum of two times the contractual annual salary. Safeguarding The post-holder s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School s 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 they must report any concerns to the School s Designated Safeguarding Lead, his Deputy or to the Headmaster. Note This Job Description is not an exhaustive list of what may be expected of you in the role. It is noncontractual and may be amended by the School from time to time. Applications Applications must be made on the School s application form, which can be obtained from the School s website (www.uppingham.co.uk) or from Reception and returned when complete to: E: hr@uppingham.co.uk T: 01572 822216 The HR Department Uppingham School High Street West Uppingham Rutland LE15 9QD 1 For employees aged 16-65, with contracted hours of work and in employment of over nine months (subject to acceptance by Scottish Widows).