About this role
Title: Athletic Field Maintenance Groundskeeper Reports to Director or Supervisor of Facilities and Grounds Job Summary The Athletic Field Maintenance Technician is responsible for the preparation, upkeep, and safety of the school district's natural and artificial turf athletic fields — including baseball, softball, football, soccer, and multi-purpose fields — to support practices, competitions, special events, and third-party field rentals. This position focuses on turf management, field layout and markings, and athletic surface maintenance, with additional responsibility for the grounds and equipment immediately supporting athletic facilities (dugouts, bleachers, fencing, irrigation, and adjacent walkways). Because district fields are frequently rented by outside organizations, this position also plays a key role in preparing fields for renters, managing quick turnarounds between uses, and protecting field condition and playability across a high volume of scheduled use. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Prepare athletic fields for practices, games, and tournaments, including mowing, edging, dragging, and grooming natural turf and synthetic turf surfaces.
• Lay out and paint or chalk athletic field lines and markings for baseball, softball, football, soccer, and other sports in accordance with regulation dimensions.
• Maintain infield skin and mound/plate areas on baseball and softball fields, including conditioning, moisture management, and clay repair.
• Monitor and manage turf health through mowing height and pattern, aeration, overseeding, topdressing, fertilization, and pest/weed control programs.
• Operate and maintain athletic field equipment, including mowers, field groomers, infield rakes, line painters, aerators, and turf sprayers.
• Install, maintain, and repair field irrigation systems to ensure proper turf moisture and playability.
• Assess field playability and safety before events, including turf firmness, drainage, and surface hazards, and communicate field status to coaches, administrators, and renters.
• Prepare fields for third-party rentals (community leagues, camps, tournaments, and outside organizations), including setup, lining, and condition checks before handoff, and manage quick turnarounds between practices, games, and rental use on the same day.
• Inspect fields during and after rental use to identify damage, unauthorized use, or maintenance issues, and coordinate with facilities/rental staff to address rental agreement violations or repair needs.
• Set up and remove field equipment for competitions, events, and rentals, including goals, bases, pitching mounds, batting cages, and temporary fencing.
• Clean and maintain dugouts, bleachers, scorer's tables, and other structures directly supporting athletic fields.
• Coordinate field maintenance schedules around practice, competition, and rental calendars, prioritizing and sequencing work to keep pace with a high volume of scheduled field use, including evening and weekend events.
• Perform emergency and weather-related field preparation and recovery, including tarping, drainage management, and post-storm assessment.
• Maintain accurate records of field maintenance activities, chemical applications, and equipment upkeep.
• Follow all district safety procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Assist with general grounds and facilities tasks (parking lots, walkways, landscaping) as time and staffing needs require.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications Education
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
Experience
• Experience in athletic field maintenance or sports turf management strongly preferred.
• Experience operating commercial mowing, grooming, and turf care equipment is desirable.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of sports turf management practices, including mowing, fertilization, aeration, and pest control specific to athletic fields.
• Knowledge of regulation field dimensions and layout for multiple sports.
• Ability to safely operate athletic field maintenance and grooming equipment.
• Working knowledge of irrigation systems as they relate to field playability.
• Ability to assess field conditions and make sound judgments about playability and safety.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to align with athletic and rental schedules.
• Ability to manage competing demands on field time and prioritize maintenance work to protect field condition under heavy, back-to-back scheduled use.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team under time-sensitive conditions before events.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coaches, athletic staff, administrators, and the public.
Physical Requirements
• Frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and perform physically demanding tasks for extended periods, often before and during athletic events.
• Work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.
• Safely operate motorized field maintenance equipment and vehicles.
Licenses and Certifications
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Commercial Pesticide Applicator License, or the ability to obtain certification within a specified period, is desired.
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) preferred but not required.
Work Schedule This is a full-time position. Schedule will vary seasonally and could include evening and weekend hours during athletic seasons to support games, events, and field rentals. Working Conditions Work is performed primarily outdoors on and around athletic fields, with exposure to changing weather conditions, loud equipment, dust, chemicals, and uneven terrain. Appropriate safety equipment must be worn as required. Equal Employment Opportunity The Fort Mill School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable law. Terms of Employment: 240 days per year, 8 hours per day, Monday-Friday, Non-Exempt Salary: M2 FMSD Salary Schedule, Salary commensurate with education and experience based on district formula. Evaluation: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the board's policy on evaluation of non-certificated personnel.