Turf Technician , 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.

• 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.
• Follow existing turfgrass maintenance schedules and management practices, including recognizing, identifying, and treating turfgrass insects and diseases that could damage the quality of athletic turf.
• Formulate and apply fertilizers and chemical spread formulas used in turfgrass maintenance, including the calibration of boom sprayers and fertilizer spreaders.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of all materials used; ensure proper inventory records to plan for purchase of chemicals, fertilizers, paint, and maintenance supplies in keeping with EPA standards.
• Coordinate painting, fertilizing, and cultural practices for all game and practice fields.
• Groom and disinfect synthetic fields, working around team schedules to accomplish daily maintenance.
• Assist with inspections of fields and hard surfaces (tennis courts, track surface) and report any issues.
• Repair or replace facility items such as windscreens, wall pads, and netting; assist with other special projects.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of specialized machinery, including boom sprayers, reel mowers, utility tractors, top dressers, verti-cutter, aerifiers, paint lining equipment, irrigation systems, reel grinding, and bed knife sharpening equipment.
• Assist with irrigation maintenance, repairs, and winterization.
• Assist with game day operations for athletic events, including postseason ACC and NCAA games/matches, and outside events such as concerts.
• Assist with clean-up of all sports playing surfaces before and after events.
• Participate in continuing education opportunities such as seminars, workshops, correspondence courses and trade shows.
• Report all matters of safety to the appropriate supervisor.

• 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, top dressers, 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.

• Two to Four years of experience in sports field and/or golf course maintenance.
• Bachelor1s degree in Turf Management or a related field.

• Responsible for own work only.

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,…