Turf Technician I, Facilities and Real Estate Planning

Job Description Summary

Assists with the promotion, monitoring, and maintenance of Wake Forest University’s athletic and campus recreation fields. This includes approximately 25 acres of natural grass and 12 acres of artificial turf.

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for total maintenance of the Wake Forest athletic fields to include improvements, student athlete safety and game day preparation as well as the needs of the Campus Recreation fields for the general student body.
• Following existing turfgrass maintenance schedules and management practices, to include recognizing, identifying, and treating turfgrass insects and diseases that could damage the quality of athletic turf.
• Formulating and applying fertilizers and chemical spread formulas used in turfgrass maintenance including the calibration of boom sprayers and fertilizer spreaders.
• Maintaining working inventory of all materials used; accurate allocation of chemicals in keeping with EPA standards; ensuring proper inventory records to plan for purchase of chemicals, fertilizers, paint, and maintenance supplies.
• Coordinating painting/fertilizing and cultural practices for all game and practice fields
• Grooming and disinfecting synthetic fields (working around team schedules to accomplish daily maintenance).
• Assisting with inspections of fields and hard surfaces (tennis courts, track surface) and reports any issues.
• Repairing/replacing facility items such as windscreens, wall pads, and netting (assist with other special projects).
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a variety of specialized machinery, including boom sprayers, reel mowers, utility tractors, topdressors, verti-cutter, aerifiers, paint lining equipment, irrigation systems, reel grinding, and bed knife sharpening equipment.
• Assisting with irrigation maintenance, repairs, and winterization.
• Assisting with game day operations for athletic events, including postseason ACC and NCAA games/matches, and outside events such as concerts.
• Assisting with clean-up of all sports playing surfaces before and after events
• Participates in continuing education opportunities such as seminars, workshops, correspondence courses and trade shows.
• Reports all matters of safety to the appropriate supervisor.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Associate degree in Turf Management or related field, plus one to two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to obtain NCDA pesticide license within 90 days of hire.
• Ability to prepare fields to meet specific preparations as dictated by the NCAA and/or ACC and in accordance with state, federal, university and departmental established guidelines.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow specific instructions and procedures as well as the ability to abide by all safety policies and procedures.
• Skills to operate turf equipment and irrigation systems.
• Knowledge of standards, materials, nutrient management and applications, techniques, and equipment used in maintenance of field and turf management.
• Knowledge of cool and warm season grasses (maintain bent grass golf greens and bermuda grass golf greens/fairways and soccer/throw fields).
• Knowledge and understanding of a variety of specialized machinery, including boom sprayers, reel mowers, utility tractors, topdressors, verti-cutter, aerifiers, paint lining equipment, irrigation systems, reel grinding, and bed knife sharpening equipment.
• Ability to grind reels and sharpen bed knives and perform minor mechanical repairs.
• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills both verbally and in writing, strong interpersonal skills and experience working with diverse groups of people.
• Proficiency in computer use and related software and other standard office equipment.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work scheduled hours which may include nights and weekends as needed to satisfy facility needs. May be required to work beyond a 40-hour week depending on needs of the department.
• Valid driver license with good driving record; must be insurable
• Heavy work: exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing. Visual acuity to operate motor vehicles or heavy equipment. Subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions; subject to extreme cold and heat; subject to noise, vibration, hazards, oils, atmospheric conditions

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Two to Four years of experience in sports field and/or golf course maintenance.
• Bachelor's degree in Turf Management or a related field.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work only.

Physical Requirements:

Heavy work: exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing. Visual acuity to operate motor vehicles or heavy equipment.

Environmental Conditions:

Subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions; subject to extreme cold and heat; subject to noise, vibration, hazards, oils, atmospheric conditions.