COORDINATOR: PLAYING SURFACE MAINTENANCE
Maryland SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute
Are you an aspiring Sports Turf Manager excited to grow your experience? Do you have the desire to work in 1 of the most challenging, busy, and rewarding environments in sports? Is solving problems with unique solutions something that sounds fun?
If yes to any of these, this opportunity to join the SoccerPlex GEM team as Coordinator: Playing Surface Maintenance might be just for you!
JOB DESCRIPTION
Coordinator: Playing Surface Maintenance (CPSM) works in collaboration with both the Director & Manager of Grounds. They are responsible for Planning, Operations, & Quality Control
Planning
- Assist Director in developing and monitoring the maintenance programs utilized on the multiple types of playing surfaces at Maryland SoccerPlex
- Assist Director & Manager w developing field renovation plans for projects that are taking place 12 months of the year
Field Maintenance Operations: As directed by Manager & / or Director of Grounds:
- Perform Field Surface Testing & Analysis
- Compaction testing
- Soil water content testing
- Ball interaction testing (roll / bounce / etc)
- Player surface interaction testing (force reduction / vertical deformation / etc)
- Collaborate with Manager & / or Director of Grounds to adapt maintenance plans based off of the Field Surface Testing Data & Analysis
- Support the implementation of the natural grass management plan via mowing, spraying, fertilization, soil decompaction, etc
- Operate field maintenance equipment including various mowers, tractors, utility carts and other equipment essential to soccer field & natural grass maintenance
- Learn to operate Turf Tank field lining robots that are used to do all field layouts & field painting
- Assist contracted Maintenance Technician w managing maintenance of large John Deere & Redexim field maintenance equipment fleet
- Assist with irrigation management & irrigation system maintenance on the 50 acres of irrigated natural grass across the park
- Assist with in-house field renovation work that includes
- sand slit installation w Redexim SandMaster
- fraze mowing
- Bermudagrass sprigging
- sod installation (limited)
Quality Control:
- Observe field conditions on a daily basis
- Perform Field Surface Testing & Analysis to ensure field safety
- Assist with execution of environmental safety & environmental management plan
- Inspect field maintenance work being performed by other staff members to ensure quality
- Assist with enforcement of OSHA & SoccerPlex employee safety protocols / programs
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- 2- or 4-year degree in turf/landscape management or similar degree
- 1-2 years of turf management experience
- Working knowledge of various turf management equipment
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Valid drivers license
- Hold, or able to acquire, a basic understanding of different sports that utilize SoccerPlex fields
- Ability to acquire fertilizer applicators certification
- Ability to acquire pesticide applicators certification
- Willing to work outside in varying climate conditions including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow
- Ability to work in vary physical positions including standing, kneeling, seated & / or physical exert self to push / lift / move objects
- Flexibility for work hours. Schedule could require early morning / evening / & or weekend hours (from time-to-time)
- Previous sports & / or landscaping experience is not required, but it preferred
- Employment contingent upon successful completion of a background check
- Employment contingent on being full vaccinated for Covid-19
JOB COMPENSATION
- Hourly pay range: $20 - $25 / hour
- Benefits including, health, dental, and vision coverage, 403b Retirement Plan, paid vacation
ABOUT MARYLAND SOCCERPLEX
SoccerPlex is one of the premier outdoor sports complexes in the United States. On the northwest side of Washington, DC in Boyds, MD, SoccerPlex hosts 6,000 events / year - for youth to Pro – across 24 full-size fields. Opened in 2000, SoccerPlex was built & is operated / maintained by Maryland Soccer Foundation (501c-3)
ABOUT SOCCERPLEX SPORTS TURF INSTITUTE
SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute is tasked with maintaining the 160-acre SoccerPlex to the highest quality possible. The high quality kept on SoccerPlex's 21 heavily used natural grass fields is what the SoccerPlex team is best known for.
- SoccerPlex is constantly creating new ideas & testing new concepts for sports field maintenance (SFM)
- Widely used concepts for SFM that have originated at SoccerPlex include modern style fraze mowing, "Blue-muda", seed-to-play in 35 days w 100% Kentucky bluegrass, "rain-out proof" native soil fields, & #GrassCanTakeMore®
The unique work experience with GEM has yielded career success for many team members. GEM Alumni include:
- 5 - Director of SFM in MLS (1 MLS & NFL)
- 2 – Director of SFM for Parks & Recreation
- 2 - Manager of SFM in NCAA D-1
- 1 – large territory manager for a turfgrass sales company
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
