Lead Athletic Field Specialist (Grounds Nursery II – Athletics)

University of Northern Colorado • Greeley, CO

7d • Onsite

About The Position

At the University of Northern Colorado, we believe great athletic experiences begin long before the opening whistle. They start with safe, beautiful, and professionally maintained playing surfaces that allow student-athletes to compete at their highest level. We are seeking a skilled, motivated, and detail-oriented Lead Athletic Field Specialist to help maintain and elevate UNC’s athletic facilities. This position plays a critical role in the care of our NCAA competition and practice venues, including natural grass fields, synthetic turf facilities, track and field venues, stadium environments, and athletic facility surrounding landscapes. This is more than a grounds position—it is an opportunity to directly impact the student-athlete experience while working behind the scenes to create exceptional game-day environments. If you enjoy working outdoors, collaborating with coaches and athletics staff, leading field operations, operating specialized equipment, and seeing the results of your work showcased under stadium lights, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

• PER State Guidelines
• Experience in athletic field maintenance, sports turf management, irrigation systems, landscape maintenance, equipment operation, event preparation, and leadership is highly valued.
• Passion, professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail are equally important.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with university staff and athletic personnel.
• Inclination to value team success over personal recognition.

Nice To Haves

• Turf management or sports field management or related qualification/education
• Informal requirements include a passion for continuous learning and producing high-quality work

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and perform maintenance activities for UNC athletic facilities, including competition and practice fields, synthetic turf facilities, track and field venues, stadiums, and surrounding landscapes.
• Lead athletic field preparation for practices, competitions, tournaments, and special events.
• Perform field painting and NCAA-compliant game markings.
• Manage turf maintenance, mowing, aerification, topdressing, and field renovation activities.
• Operate, monitor, troubleshoot and repair irrigation systems.
• Perform synthetic turf grooming and maintenance.
• Operate a variety of specialized grounds and athletic field equipment including tractors, mowers, skid steers, loaders, forklifts, backhoes, aerifiers, spreaders, sprayers, and utility vehicles.
• Coordinate work assignments for student staff and provide day-to-day leadership for assistant team members.
• Support coaches, athletics personnel, campus recreation programs, and occasional conference and event field rental activities to ensure facilities are prepared and presented at a high standard.
• Monitor field conditions to provide safe, high-quality playing surfaces.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on teamwork, customer service, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Competitive State of Colorado benefits package
• PERA retirement program
• Employee tuition waiver and educational opportunities
• Paid leave and holiday benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance
• Selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions
• Sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position
• Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed