Career Center

This position reports to the Director of Facility Operations, and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of ICA facilities and related work as required. The Assistant Sports Turf Manager maintain an organizational culture that emphasizes our core values and fosters an inclusive, collaborative, innovative, and nimble environment.

This position will serve as the primary sports turf manager for Husky Softball Stadium and Dempsey Indoor Practice Facility and will be responsible for the daily preparation of those fields for practices and games. The position will be responsible for planning, supervising and executing the maintenance of those fields while sustaining a high-level playing surface with respect to the best field management practices associated with maintaining professional sports fields in the Pacific Northwest region.

• In addition to primary responsibilities, the Assistant Sports Turf Manager will assist with the daily field maintenance for football game and practice fields, softball, baseball, outdoor track, sand volleyball, surrounding landscape areas, and other facilities as assigned. Provide maintenance for artificial turf fields. Sweep, clean, replenish, tine and maintain the turf fields on a regular basis. Paint game fields as required.
• This position will require all types of sports field maintenance labor such as: turf grass management, sod cutting and installation, turf grass sprigging, Irrigation management, mowing, trimming and use of blowers, fertilizing with a walk-behind fertilizer, field markings and logo painting.
• Lead or support the setup, game day coverage, and clean up for soccer games, football games & cleanups, and other events as assigned. Develop layouts for facilities including bleachers, chairs, tables, backdrops, and staging. Assure sites are returned to original conditions.
• Lead seasonal staff or student staff to accomplish day-to-day tasks and during events. Assist in day of game football operations which includes setup, monitoring specified areas during the game, and cleaning the stadium. This may include leading a group of volunteers or temporary labor.
• Perform other related duties such as sweeping of tennis courts, washing track surfaces, and maintenance of basketball courts as assigned.
• Control vegetation growth in all areas around the athletic complex buildings and grounds to include but not limited to Husky Stadium, Alaska Airlines Arena, Husky Ballpark, Conibear Shellhouse, Husky Softball Stadium, Outdoor Track Facility, and the Dempsey Indoor Facility. Perform and lead others in planting, transplanting, pruning, and irrigating sports fields, shrubs, and trees; coordinate and prepare special projects. Perform general landscaping in assigned areas of the athletic grounds. Apply and instruct in the application of pesticides and herbicides for turf grass and landscape plants. Assist with snow removal around all athletic facilities.
• Develop and direct daily maintenance and preventive maintenance programs. Maintain adherence to safety policies and procedures. Maintain records and inventory for equipment, tools, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Implement plans to reduce impacts on the environment including recycling, waste management, erosion control, and improve the overall sustainability of the facilities.
• Develop preliminary cost estimates for maintenance, construction and repair work. Read and interpret plans, blueprints and sketches. Plan and prepare work assignments for utility worker and maintenance custodian crews. Inspect grounds projects. Construct and repair fencing as needed. Perform routine repairs to locks, floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, stairs, track surfaces, soccer goals, and other related items.
• Use a variety of manual tools and equipment such as rakes, hand edger’s, loppers, tampers, pruning shears, shovels, hoes, fertilizer spreaders and pesticide sprayers. Operate power and motorized equipment such as blowers, turf vacuums and sweepers, tractors, front end loaders, lawn mowers, bunker rakes, forklifts, lawn edger’s, chain saws, small trucks, backpack blowers, rototillers, aerators, sod cutters, and weed trimmers. Assist with snow or debris removal from sidewalks, stairs, driveways, entry way using manual or self-propelled equipment.
• Perform related duties as required.
• Compliance with the rules and regulations of the University, the NCAA, the Conference, the State of Washington and any other governing body is of paramount importance to the University. The overall responsibility of this position is for the successful operation of the program in full compliance with all such rules and regulations. As a condition of employment, the Employee shall be required to participate in rules education programs offered by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Minimum Requirements –

• Physical ability to do required work AND two years of experience as a Gardener or equivalent work involving grounds maintenance, plant care and landscape construction OR physical ability to do required work AND one year of experience as stated above AND one year of college level training in botany, horticulture, forestry, landscape, irrigation or allied field OR equivalent education/experience.
• Experience with athletic field maintenance and athletic turf management. Experience in preparing athletic fields for safety, especially during inclement weather. Availability and flexibility to work seven days a week during playing seasons.
• Strong background in the daily and seasonal maintenance requirements of athletic fields. Knowledge and experience of intercollegiate sports fields-dimensions and game field markings.
• Ability to communicate with coaches specifically with questions about the fields or explanation of fieldwork. Knowledge and experience in maintaining high quality turf grass and artificial turf grass playing surfaces (i.e. fertilization, use of pesticides, topdressing, aerating, irrigation etc.).
• Ability to work in inclement weather.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and have a valid Washington State public operator’s pesticide license or obtain within ninety days.
• This position is designated as one that performs an “essential function”. This position’s incumbent must continue to report to work in the event that the University suspends operations because of severe weather, natural disaster, or other emergency conditions.

Desired –
Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Turf Management or related field preferred. Knowledge of turf-grass maintenance on sand-based fields, especially in western Washington.

Typical Schedule –
Monday-Friday, 7:00am – 3:30pm (evenings, weekends, and holidays as required for sporting and special events)