Grounds Team Leader

About Us

Stadium MK is a 30,530-seat multi-purpose venue in Milton Keynes, home to MK Dons Football Club. Since opening in 2007, the stadium has become a leading destination for sport, events, and hospitality.

The site also includes the DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes, a 304-bedroom hotel, and Arena MK, a versatile space hosting conferences, exhibitions, and live events. Together, these facilities create a dynamic and fast-paced environment offering a wide range of experiences for guests and clients alike.

The Role

Are you an experienced grounds professional with a passion for creating top-class playing surfaces? Do you want to play a key role in maintaining the facilities at Milton Keynes Dons FC and be part of a high-performance sporting environment?

We are seeking a Grounds Team Leader to join our team and lead the day-to-day maintenance and presentation of our pitches and training surfaces.

You will play a key role in ensuring all playing surfaces meet the highest standards for performance, safety, and presentation, while supporting and developing the grounds team.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Grounds and Estates, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the maintenance, preparation and presentation of all training surfaces and matchday pitches
• Ensuring pitches meet required regulatory, operational and performance standards
• Managing and leading the grounds team in daily operations
• Supporting the development of less experienced staff through training and on-the-job guidance
• Promoting best practice in sports turf maintenance and grounds operations
• Operating and maintaining grounds machinery safely and effectively
• Communicating effectively with coaching staff and the Head of Grounds regarding pitch conditions, requirements and maintenance planning
• Ensuring all work is carried out in line with health and safety procedures and safe operating systems

About You

We are looking for a motivated and solution-focused professional who:

• Has several years’ experience in sports grounds maintenance or similar environment
• Has experience supervising or leading a team
• Possesses strong knowledge of sports turf management and grounds maintenance techniques
• Is competent in the use of grounds machinery (e.g. pedestrian mowers, tractors, aerators)
• Demonstrates strong leadership, communication and organisational skills
• Has a proactive, positive approach to maintaining high standards
• Understands health and safety regulations and best practice within grounds management

Desirable (but not essential):

• Level 2 qualification in Sports Turf Maintenance or equivalent
• PA1/PA6 pesticide application certificates
• Tractor driving certification

What We Offer

• A leadership role in a dynamic, high-performance sporting environment
• The opportunity to directly impact the quality of elite playing surfaces
• A competitive salary with performance-based incentives
• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for development and progression within the organisation

Our Commitment

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Safeguarding

We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all team members are expected to uphold our policies and procedures.

Application Process

If you are ready to take the next step in your career and lead a team to deliver excellence in grounds maintenance, we would love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a covering letter outlining your experience and vision for the role to:
careers@stadiummk.com

As part of our safer recruitment process, reference requests may be completed prior to interview. Successful applicants will also be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check at the appropriate level for the role.