Career Center

Position Summary
The Athletic Turf Technician is part of a crew that manages all the athletic facilities synthetic and natural turf and surrounding building and grounds areas. These facilities include: Huntington Bank Stadium, Siebert Field, Cowles Softball Stadium, Track Stadium, Robbie Soccer Stadium, Mooty Golf Practice Facility.

Primary duties include working on athletic playing surfaces and maintaining all surfaces at a NCAA Division 1 standard. Also acting as lead for part time student grounds workers to complete all the daily duties on playing fields and the surrounding landscaped areas. Supervision of part time staff includes directing and supervising indoor facilities and custodial tasks to ensure those are completed properly and in a timely manner. From December through February, this position assists with arena event preparation and off-season equipment maintenance. This position typically works 7am – 3:30pm with nights and weekends required for scheduled events. Assist in advancing the department’s mission, vision and strategic plan including its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Functions

V. Outdoor Athletic Facilities (9 months) 70%

• Primarily work on Football, Baseball, Softball and Track as the event schedule requires.  Laying out and marking fields for various athletic events and practices and camps (baseball, softball, track markings, etc.).
• Maintenance of all fields including repairing clay and engineered soil surface areas, general maintenance of indoor football practice facility maintenance and grooming of synthetic turf on regular basis.  Synthetic turf maintenance and grooming is common.
• Oversee/direct maintenance and custodial via student grounds crew of press boxes, dugouts, restrooms, etc.  These duties are performed on a weekly basis as well as related to games/events.
• Irrigation control and repair is a regular task for this position.
• Must be able to operate forklifts, tractors, field marking and other turf equipment.
• Snow removal of fields, building and grounds areas (walkways, plazas, entrances, etc.).
• Occasionally assist with duties on natural grass fields at Soccer Stadium (two fields) that include, but not limited to, mowing, trimming, aeration, top dressing and proper field nutrition /applications.
• May also contribute to day to day operations on Mooty Golf practice facility areas including greens, tee boxes, specialized bunkers and landing areas for short game practice.
• Proper cultivation practices to maintain golf areas requisite for NCAA Division 1 level of play is critical to the success of this position.

VI. Indoor Athletic Facilities (3 months) 30%

• Assist in facility/ field maintenance of indoor Gibson – Nagurski complex, Larson Football Performance Center, John W Mooty Indoor Golf Facility.
• Assist in removing snow around Athletes Village, Huntington Bank Stadium, John W Mooty Indoor Golf Facility with the use of shovel and machines.
• Operate auto scrubbers, carpet extractors and other general building maintenance equipment.
• Assist in facility prep for athletic events within the Huntington Bank Stadium club rooms, ice arenas/tennis center as well as other athletic facilities.
• Perform off season maintenance and repair of utility carts, mowers, snow blowers, etc.
• Assist with small maintenance projects.
• Nonessential Functions
• Other duties as assigned

Equipment used to perform the essential functions of this position:
Computer, riding mowers, tractors, forklift, handheld landscape tools, power tools, plate compactors, small equipment, utility vehicles.

This position will work indoors 10% of the time and outdoors 90% of the time. Respiratory conditions with exposure to outdoor field conditions, skin conditions with exposure to sun, working conditions with exposure to machinery with moving parts, grease and oils, noise (work requires employees to shout to be heard), vibration, use of sharp objects, temperatures below 32 degrees and above 90 degrees.

Hourly Wage:
Starting salary is $27.69 /hour and eligible for overtime. Annual increases with hourly range up to $31.46/hr. after four years of service.

Qualifications
Required Qualification:

Minimum: High School Diploma. Two years of athletic grounds maintenance experience required including maintenance of sports turf fields and/or golf course maintenance experience. Must be physically capable of heavy lifting and snow shoveling- see Physical Requirements. Must have a valid Driver’s License as periodic driving of University owned/leased vehicles is required. Must have a valid Pesticide Applicator’s License with categories A & E or able to obtain within 6 months.

Preferred:
One year of intercollegiate athletics turf experience is preferred.

Physical Requirements:
Heavy Physical Activity: Lift and carry 50 to 80 lbs frequently, and up to 100+ lbs.

About the Department
With more than 140 years of tradition, Gopher Athletics is one of the oldest and most decorated athletics departments in the country. Minnesota was a charter member of the Big Ten Conference – our teams have won more than 200 conference titles to go with 26 national titles. There are more than 600 student-athletes and nearly 300 full-time employees in our athletics department. That community has built Minnesota into a nation’s top-ranked public school with respect to student-athlete academic performance in each of the past four years, a span of time during which the Gophers have won 13 conference team titles and a collection of individual conference and national crowns. Housed in the historic Dinkytown neighborhood on the northern edge of the University campus, Gopher Athletics is succeeding against a backdrop unique in college athletics, nestled at the heart of a bustling, modern metro area. We are proud of our decorated history, but we are prepared to achieve even greater success in the years to come. Ski-U-Mah!

United Are We

Gopher Athletic’s Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply

• Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.
• Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.
• To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a motor vehicle and a criminal background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).

To apply please visit hr.myu.edu and type in the job opening ID #362562