Groundsperson

Groundsperson

/in /by

Situated in 42 acres of landscaped grounds adjacent to the River Thames in Fulham, The Hurlingham Club is recognised as one of the world’s finest private member clubs. Since its opening in 1869, The Hurlingham Club’s croquet and tennis lawns, botanical gardens and stately Georgian Clubhouse have made it a sought-after destination for exclusive sporting and social activities.

Groundsperson

Groundsperson

The Club offers a truly unique and rewarding environment to work, blending a rich history with a progressive outlook. With 26 specialised departments, each contributing distinct roles and functions you will have the opportunity to interact with vibrant, multi-faceted colleagues and members that share common interests and represent a wide range of backgrounds, professions and perspectives. The members actively contribute to the Club’s community, atmosphere, heritage and culture.

The Role

As a Groundsperson you will work 39-hour week (plus weekend overtime – 1 in 3 mornings). Typical duties will include:

Typical duties will include:

  1. To undertake general turf and grounds duties.
  2. Reporting and treating common pests, fungi and diseases.
  3. Setting out sports areas.
  4. Operating handmowers and other turf related machinery.

Working Schedule

39-hour week, Monday to Friday plus regular weekend overtime (one in three weekend mornings).

The Candidate

Candidates will embody our Club values; excellence, responsibility and courtesy.

Previous grounds or turf experience and preparing cricket pitches would be advantageous. Advantageous qualifications – NVQ 2 in Greenkeeping / Sports Turf Management and PA1 and PA6 Spraying qualifications. Candidates will have a hands-on approach, the ability to work under pressure, have excellent attention to detail and will be friendly, polite and diplomatic.

Benefits

At The Hurlingham Club, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing, development and long-term success of our staff. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to reward your contribution and support you both inside and outside of work. Benefits include:

Financial & Leave Benefits

  • 23 days’ annual leave, rising to 28 days after 5 years’ continuous service.
  • Annual bonus scheme and annual pay review.
  • Generous contributory pension.
  • Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and other financial wellbeing benefits.

Health & Wellbeing

  • Health cash plan, life assurance and group income protection.
  • Enhanced family leave (including maternity and paternity leave) and sick pay provisions.
  • Mental wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), access to counselling services and an in-house Mental Health First Aider network.

Learning & Development

  • Ongoing learning, training and development opportunities.

Workplace Benefits & Perks

  • Free meals on duty and free onsite parking.
  • Access to onsite sports and fitness facilities, including weekly staff fitness classes.
  • Discounts in the Club’s retail outlets and at selected local businesses.

Recognition & Social

  • Staff awards and recognition programmes.
  • Regular social events, both onsite and at local venues.

Investor in People

The Club has been recognised as an Investor in People since 2001, reflecting our long-standing commitment to supporting, developing and recognising our colleagues.

Groundsperson

GROUNDSPERSON

/in /by

GROUNDSPERSON

Start Date: as soon as possible

Salary: £32,078 plus excellent benefits including contributory pension scheme, health benefits, free gym membership, lunch during term-time, free lunch during term-time

We are seeking to appoint a keen and enthusiastic person to contribute to and provide strong support to the school’s grounds team.

Reporting to: head groundsperson

The groundsperson is responsible for undertaking tasks to assist with the maintenance of the general condition and availability of the school’s sports facilities, whether at the main KCS site or at Kingsway. They will work as part of an overall team of 6 grounds staff, and will report to the head groundsperson or his deputy.

The working hours will be 40 hours per week, based on the core hours of 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, although some flexibility is required to accommodate seasonal variations.  There may be a requirement to work every other Saturday with paid overtime.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Under the direction of the head groundsperson, preparing and maintaining the sports facilities, including artificial surfaces, at the main King’s College School site and the sports grounds at Kingsway, to recognised national standards and to the satisfaction of all users
  • Providing grounds staff support to matches/fixtures when required
  • Implementing weekly, monthly and annual agreed maintenance programmes for all facilities, including the Old Boys’ sports pitches
  • Liaising with appropriate staff on the availability of sports facilities for lessons and matches, and advising on the fitness of pitches
  • Working with various different types of machinery and equipment to prepare and maintain football, rugby, cricket and hockey pitches, as well as artificial surfaces
  • Undertaking general maintenance of equipment as directed
  • Assisting with light tree pruning, hedge cutting and maintenance of paths, including leaf collection and spraying
  • Reporting problems on the ticketing system
  • Attending meetings and events, as directed
  • Undertaking any other reasonable duties as directed by the head groundsperson.

Person Specification

This is an ideal opportunity for an able and enthusiastic person to contribute to and provide strong support to the school’s grounds team.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Previous experience as a groundsperson or similar
  • A good understanding of field markings
  • Experience of mechanical repairs and the ability to mend machinery and make small repairs
  • Knowledge and experience of working with synthetic sports pitches/surfaces
  • Ability to work well as part of a team
  • A flexible and enthusiastic approach to work
  • Ability to work without supervision and prioritise workload according to fixture lists and weather conditions
  • Relevant qualification in turf management (NVQ or similar) (desirable)
  • Driving licence (desirable)

Ideally we are looking for someone with relevant grounds experience, however we would consider applications from candidates seeking a change in career path and have a genuine interest in working outdoors with the school’s grounds team.

King’s is one of the most successful schools in the world, with outstanding academic results, first-class pastoral care and a vibrant co-curriculum.  Overlooking Wimbledon Common, the school is situated in one of the most attractive parts of south east England and benefits from exceptional grounds and facilities.

To apply for this role, please register your details online via our website www.kcs.org.uk (under useful information / career opportunities).  Once you have registered your details with us, you can apply for vacancies by logging into the candidate area using your email address and chosen password.  You will be asked to fill an online application form which includes a covering letter.

Closing date: Tuesday 22nd September 2026 at 09.00am

 

Interview date to be confirmed

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

King’s is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. King’s College School is fully committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity in its recruitment of teaching and support staff.

 

Grounds Manager

Grounds Manager

/in /by

Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex

Grounds Manager

Grounds Manager

Cowdray Park Polo Club is seeking an exceptional and experienced Grounds Manager to lead the management, development and long-term strategy of its internationally recognised polo grounds.

Home to some of the most important polo played in the UK, including The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, Cowdray has a longstanding reputation for excellence. The quality, consistency and safety of our playing surfaces are fundamental to that reputation.

Reporting to the Managing Director, this is a senior management position with overall responsibility for the Club’s polo grounds, agronomic programme, grounds team, machinery, irrigation infrastructure and departmental budgets.

The Role

We are looking for an accomplished turf professional who can combine outstanding technical expertise with strong leadership and strategic thinking.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Developing and delivering a long-term agronomic strategy for all Cowdray polo grounds
  • Ensuring playing surfaces achieve the highest standards of performance, consistency, presentation and safety
  • Leading, developing and motivating the grounds team
  • Planning annual maintenance, renovation and improvement programmes
  • Managing departmental budgets and long-term capital expenditure
  • Overseeing machinery, irrigation, drainage and grounds infrastructure
  • Driving sustainable turf management, soil health and responsible water use
  • Maintaining robust health & safety standards
  • Advising Club management on ground conditions, availability and recovery programmes
  • Preparing grounds to an exceptional standard for major tournaments, including hands on work where required, particularly the Cowdray Gold Cup

About You

You will ideally have a recognised qualification in Sports Turf Management, Agronomy, Horticulture or a related discipline (NVQ Level 3 or above) and significant experience managing high-performance natural grass surfaces.

Experience of polo grounds would be highly desirable, but we particularly welcome applications from experienced professionals working within golf, racing, equestrian sport, football, cricket or other elite natural-turf sporting environments.

You will bring strong knowledge of soil science, turf nutrition, irrigation, drainage and machinery alongside proven people-management, budgeting and planning skills. Above all, you will have a genuine passion for producing exceptional natural playing surfaces and the ambition to continually improve them.

Why Cowdray?

This is a rare opportunity to lead the grounds operation at one of Britain’s most prestigious polo clubs, taking responsibility for the long-term development of internationally recognised playing surfaces within the unique environment of the Cowdray Estate.

Location: Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex
Salary: Competitive remuneration and benefits package, commensurate with experience
Contract: Full-time, permanent

To apply: Please submit your CV and covering letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role; enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk