Sports Turf Supervisor

The Sports Turf Supervisor is part of the Facilities Grounds team in the Maintenance and Operations Department at Vanderbilt University. The Sport Turf Supervisor supports the Grounds department generally and the Athletic crew specifically. 

About the Work Unit:

Facilities Department provides facilities support for all construction, renovation, and routine maintenance of University space and facilities; housekeeping services for approximately 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space; grounds care for 330 acres that are a registered arboretum; turf care for athletic fields; and utilities for the University Central and the Medical Center. The Facilities department is comprised of Campus Planning & Construction, Maintenance and Operations, the Business Operations Center and Real Estate.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Collaborate effectively with the Assistant Grounds Athletic Manager to develop and implement the turf care required to care for and maintain the natural and artificial athletic competition surfaces to the highest collegiate level as required by the Vanderbilt University, the NCAA and the SEC.
• Competent understanding of common turf care chemicals used to provide athletic turf care.  Ability and understanding of effective timing, proper preparation and accurate applications of materials required.
• Accurately track turf care steps and applications.  
• Create and supervise daily and weekly schedules of turf care activities.
• Ability to accurately recognize, report and appropriately respond to weeds, turf disease, soil fertility and other issues which might occur in athletic turf.
• Ability to effectively direct a crew of Turf Care Specialists in daily operation.    
• Ability and knowledge required to competently operate machinery used in athletic field turf care, including but not limited to: reel mowers, rotary mowers, string trimmers, blowers, push mowers, backpack blowers, fertilizer spreaders, spray equipment and hand tools.
• Ability and knowledge to complete minor irrigation repairs such as replacing, reorienting or re-nozzeling rotary sprinkler heads.
• Provide game day support for athletic matches and competitions.
• Assist and supervise with landscape upkeep of areas adjacent to or incorporated within stadiums and practice fields.
• Direct and supervise additional employees who may occasionally be assigned to the Athletic Turf crew. 
• Perform tasks necessary to respond to winter weather conditions including outside of normal working hours.
• Operate a walk behind paint machine and/or robotic paint machine.   
• Other duties as assigned. 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position reports directly to the Assistant Grounds Manager – Athletics and will have supervisory responsibility for a crew of two Turf Specialists.  Will have responsibility for additional employees on occasion. 

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Tennessee Applicators License or the ability to acquire one within six months of starting employment.
• Valid Tennessee Driver’s License or equivalent from another state.

Experience and Skills:

• Three to five years of turfgrass care in a collegiate environment, golf course or similar work experience. 
• Knowledge of NCAA and SEC rules and regulations preferred.
• Basic communication and computer skills preferred.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, reach or stand for extended periods of time. 
• Must be able to lift as at least 70 lbs

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.