Job Purpose:
To maintain landscaped areas, plants, shrubs, Lawns and Pitches, whether on or off site.
To present and maintain Plants, shrubs, lawns, Pitches and landscaped areas to highest standards.

Accountabilities:
To prepare and maintain and carry out daily checks on all playing surfaces, lawns, plants, shrubs, beds, borders and surrounds at Reading FC Training Ground or SCL Stadium.
To use a wide range of machinery knowledge and operation skills to deal with all breakdowns, setting up all cylinder/rotary mowers and perform regular routine prestart checks.
To use Equipment and machinery in a safe and controlled manner.
To safely carry out Tractor operations using different implements.
To maintain and develop all Beds, Borders, and Gardens to a high standard at the Stadium and Training ground using pedestrian mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers and hand tools.
To perform general duties such as pitch maintenance, planting, pruning, hedge cutting, leaf collection, watering lawns/plants, weed control and cutting lawns etc.
To inform your line manager or take corrective action on mechanical defects or breakdown of equipment.
To assist with Natural and Artificial Pitch maintenance if required.
To stay up to date with, and keep in line with, industry practices.
To ensure correct storage of all equipment and ensure it is kept clean and returned appropriately
To maintain consistent and regular communication with the Head Grounds person and all team members to ensure pitch, garden and any other ad-hoc duties are carried out
To help with all deliveries of fertiliser/seed/equipment.
To adhere to a strict code of confidentiality in respect of any information relating to Reading Football Club and its operation
There is an expectation that you will undertake adhoc work on an exceptional basis or provide relevant cover for other team tasks

Person Specification:
Qualifications: Essential – UK driving license
Desirable – Level 2 or higher equivalent in sports Turf or Horticulture; PA1/PA6 Safe use spraying pesticides certificates; PA2 Boom Spraying certificate; Tractor operations certificate
Experience: Essential – 1 or more years in Grounds Maintenance; Use of related tools & machinery
Knowledge: Essential – Good knowledge of workplace health & safety; Understanding of machinery maintenance
Skills: Essential – Good communication skills; Operational skills of Grounds maintenance machinery; Able to work on your own initiative; Works well in a team and independently; An organised approach to work
Attitude: Essential – Proactive & positive attitude; Ability to work irregular and unsocial hours as required involving work outside normal office hours, at evenings, weekends and bank holidays

How to apply
Please complete the application form on our website and return it to recruitment@readingfc.co.uk by The full job description, person specification, and application form can be found on our website https://www.readingfc.co.uk/club/vacancies/grounds-person-jan23