Details
Employer: Sibford School
Contract: Full time
Hours: Full Time – 39 hours per week with some evenings and weekend
Salary: Salary dependent on experience – competitive package available including accommodation and school fee discount
Industries: Education
We are seeking a Senior Grounds Keeper to manage the day-to-day preparation, maintenance and care of sports pitches, hard surfaces and general school grounds and gardens on our 50 acre site. The role manages contractors and has the potential to manage x 1 Grounds Assistant. You should have proven experience of working as Head of Grounds or Assistant Ground Keeper in a school or similar setting, Sports Pitch Management, Grounds Management and knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety and compliance requirements of this role. The role requiries flexibility according to the weather and the needs of the business, this may may require some weekend working, and extended working hours in the summer months and shorter in the winter, and when covering for the caretaker (locking up).
Key Responsibilities
- Effective implementation of the annual grounds works program or ad hoc work agreed with the Operations and Commercial Manager Management of grounds staff and contractors:
a. Job allocation and supervision
b. Setting working pattern, holiday planning etc - Timely communication and liaison with Sports Department regarding pitch allocations, times for Cricket, Rugby, Football etc.
- Timely communication and liaison with other staff members responsible for outdoor learning areas, to assist, along with the Maintenance Assistant, the regular upkeep of those areas.
- Ensuring the highest standards of grounds presentation across the whole school site, including gardens, playing fields, MUGA’s, boundary fences, hedges and green spaces, including Head Teachers Garden.
- Working with outside contractors.
- Maintenance and marking of all sports pitches and maintenance of all associated equipment (goal posts, score boards, mobile covers, sight screens etc.).
- Marking and prepping pitches for school and commercial use (weekends)
- Using professional judgement to ascertain when total pitch renovation is necessary and then to obtain quotes and supervise work.
- Maintenance of all ground’s equipment and machinery.
- Ensure the regular servicing of equipment, overhaul and emergency repairs of machinery and equipment as necessary.
- Recommend to Commercial & Operations Manager when plant or machinery needs updating or replacing.
- Ensure all Health and Safety standards are met in area of responsibility:
Ability to use a range of grounds machinery and equipment
- Experienced in effectively manage a budget.
- Good and effective people management experience in the same or similar role.
- Organisation and administration skills and experience to fulfil the H&S and legal requirements of this role.
- Contract and Contractor management experience
- Experienced in driving a tractor and other vehicles used for mowing and maintaining grounds with the correct certification.
- For further information see the candidate pack.
Closing date for applications: Monday 19 October 2026 at midday
Interview date: Thursday 22 October 2026
To apply please complete our application form and return to vacancy@sibfordschool.co.uk
We reserve the right to close prior to this date should sufficient applications be received. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The School reserves the right to appoint at any stage of the recruitment process; early applications are therefore encouraged.
Additional benefits including free parking, excellent free lunches while on shift, use of our leisure facilities, company pension, Employee Assistant Programme and access to a range of retail store discounts.
Sibford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be invited for interview at the school and have the opportunity to view the school and it’s grounds.
