ASSISTANT GROUNDSKEEPER

Chicago Bears • Lake Forest, IL

1d • $70,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Chicago Bears are seeking to hire an Assistant Groundskeeper for our headquarters located in Lake Forest, Illinois. As a member of the grounds department, this position will provide comprehensive field care and will ensure all playing surfaces, including indoor and outdoor surfaces at both our headquarters and the stadium, are compliant with NFL safety and playability standards. The assistant groundskeeper will also support management of vendor contracts and relationships, department budgeting, and assist with team practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Turf Management and Science preferred, or Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) certification and 5 years of relevant trade experience 
• Must have knowledge and experience operating field and other heavy-duty machinery and equipment such as mowers, aerators, forklifts, and irrigation systems.  
• Must have a forklift certification or the ability to obtain a certification within 3 months.
• Must be able to regularly lift 50+ lbs., standing/walking, bending, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, and climbing in a variety of weather conditions for extended periods of time.
• Must have a valid driver’s license with no more than 2 violations in a 3-year period.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams)
• Strong ability to operate with discretion to ensure privacy and confidentiality of Club business
• Must be able to work independently with proactive problem-solving and reasoning skills
• A collaborative service approach, commitment to teamwork, attention to detail and demonstrated commitment to process improvement
• Must be organized and exhibit strong attention to detail, teamwork, problem-solving, and flexibility in adapting to environment such as weather and game schedules. 
• Professional demeanor and strong communication skills required
• Must be able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including early morning hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Regular Grounds Maintenance: Prepare fields for practices and games, including painting field markings and managing weather-related challenges.  Maintain entire campus grounds which include mowing, fertilizing, watering, and repairing the turf to ensure league standards for safety and performance.
• Field Care Planning: Under the direction of the Head Groundskeeper, develop and implement comprehensive field care plans; including irrigation programming/moisture management, field heat tracking and scheduling adjustments as needed.
• Fertilization and Pesticide Programming: Oversee fertilization and pesticide programs for all practice fields, including product selection, ordering, and application.
• Cultural Practices and Management: Collaborate with the grounds team to develop and implement field/campus-wide cultural practices, including mowing, top-dressing, painting, over-seeding, sod inspections and installations and aeration.
• Mandatory Field Testing: Conduct and input league-wide mandatory field testing using required testing equipment to measure key performance indicators (KPIs), including moisture, surface hardness, shear strength, and infill depth.
• Game Day Operations: Provide support to the stadium grounds crew on game days, ensuring optimal field conditions and safety.
• Painting practice fields/designs: Run GPS painter, hash marks, and special designs by coaches each year.
• Field rotations/practices support: Ensure sleds are on the correct fields each day, which includes moving equipment on and off the fields Assist at practice as requested.
• Training Camp & Events: Support various on-campus events related to grounds operations.  This may include providing guidance and recommendations as well as assisting with event set-up such as bleachers, and/or extending or repairing gravel paths.  
• Maintenance oversight: Proficient handling of equipment, including whackers, forklifts various machines, and pick-up truck.  
• Vendor management: Assist in ensuring the fulfillment of services with grounds related vendors.  May also support various RFP (Request For Proposal) processes by conducting research and/or gathering details from prospective & current vendors. Work with the legal department to ensure compliance with related contracts, this may include routing contracts for signature and/or other steps as necessary per the in-house legal process.
• Schedule Management: Collaborate with football operations on practice field rotation plan for all practices in-season and during OTAs and Training Camp.
• Assist with annual budget process analyzing previous fiscal year cost, forecasting future year’s operating expenses and multi-year capital plans, Assist with Campus Maintenance duties including snow removal, irrigation management and various landscaping projects
• Maintain accurate records of field care activities, including irrigation, fertilization, and pest management.
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities to stay current with industry trends and best practices.
• Maintain knowledge of current and projected industry development through continuous attention to industry periodicals and participation in relevant trade associations, organizations, and trade shows
• Comply with all health and safety regulations.
• Perform other duties and/or projects, including administrative tasks, as assigned

Benefits

• Core Coverage: 100% paid premium for healthcare and dental coverage, affordable vision offerings, 100% paid premium for disability and employee life insurance coverage, paid FMLA (including paid paternity leave) 
• Investments: employer paid pension plan, 401K with matching
• Time to Recharge: Minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 5 paid sick/mental health days, 4 paid floating holidays, 2 paid days to volunteer, 2 paid days to volunteer, plus 10 paid holidays
• Experiences: complimentary home game tickets & parking, ability to buy tickets to away games and fan events 
• Gear: yearly Bears gear package plus 50% off at the Bears Pro Shop 
• Wellness: FREE breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks, access to onsite fitness facilities and BearsFit, complimentary Calm app access 
• Connection: Social events for staff and their families, Employee Resource Groups, Service Milestones, and more 
• Professional Development: complimentary LinkedIn Learning access, leadership programming, guest speakers, mentorship, and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees