Turf Manager

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Green by Nature seeks a Turf Manager in Levin to lead a ten-person team across Levin Domain and Donnelly Park, two venues hosting major matches. Reporting to the Operations Manager, you’ll blend hands-on fieldwork with strong leadership on a 6:30am to 3:00pm schedule, plan daily maintenance, manage staff and fleet, and partner with the other Team Manager to share resources and meet council and club needs. The ideal candidate holds a Level 4 turf qualification, a full NZ driver's license (manual preferred), and a proven ability to motivate and develop staff while prioritising safety. To apply, tailor your CV to highlight leadership, turf expertise, stakeholder engagement, and results; be ready for drug and criminal checks and showcase willingness to train others.

Due to an internal promotion, we are looking for a Turf Manager for our amazing Horowhenua Team!

About the role:

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of 10 who include hardworking turf specialists, mower operators and facilities operators on the 6:30am - 3:00pm shift pattern. As the team lead you maintain a hands-on approach, helping to build a team who are focused and driven to achieve excellence and pride in what they do while exceeding our clients’ expectations. 

This role offers the exciting opportunity to manage two 1st Class Sports Venues: Levin Domain and Donnelly Park. Both venues have hosted prestigious events such as Super Rugby Matches and NZ Cricket Representative matches. Both venues are renowned for the high quality of their turf surfaces, and we are striving to continue to improve these sites and the other sports fields we maintain for HDC and other local schools.

Day-to-day activities include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Work closely with the other Team Manager (covering Horticulture, Cemeteries, Response, and Spraying) to efficiently share staff and equipment resources
• Monitor workflow and regimes for your mowing and facilities staff
• Plan and set up your team's daily sports field maintenance tasks, adapting to weather conditions and field demands
• During summer, engage in hands-on cricket pitch maintenance alongside the Turf Trainee on our 5 x natural grass cricket blocks and 3 x synthetic pitches
• Maintain strong communication with Horowhenua District Council to ensure all requirements are met
• Collaborate closely with park stakeholders, including sports clubs and regional associations, to understand and address their needs
• Arrange for the servicing and repair the fleet under your teams care, ensuring everything runs smoothly
• Provide training and ongoing coaching to staff to ensure high performance and professional development

Who we’re looking for:

Our ideal candidate has prior experience in a similar industry, showcasing proven leadership in achieving team success. You should be approachable, thrive in all leadership situations, and make informed decisions to instil confidence in your team. Other qualities we seek include:

• A level 4 turf qualification across a range of playing turf (Soccer, Softball, Rugby etc)
• High work ethic with the proven ability of getting on the tools to support your team as required
• Ambitious to deliver outstanding service to our clients and your team
• A full, clean NZ driver's licence with the ability to drive a manual is essential
• Solid organisational and planning skills and enjoy managing workloads
• Strong written, computer and administration skills and you'll have internal and external stakeholder engagement responsibilities
• Understanding of what makes your team tick with the ability to motivate your team to complete their best work
• A positive attitude towards working safely, something you'll lead from the front for

Why Join Us?

As well as being part of a business that has been an industry leader for more than 30 years, you will also receive:

• Tools of the trade, including a work vehicle and a phone that is permitted for personal use
• Performance-based salary reviewed annually
• Internal and external opportunities for learning and development
• A rewarding role helping upkeep the local community with exciting seasonal sporting event to be part of
• Opportunity to make a name for yourself as the Turf Manager of the best rugby field in the Heartland Rugby Championship and the best performing cricket pitches in the lower North Island
• Annual $300 wellness benefit (after qualifying period) and more!

About Us

Green by Nature is a diversified professional full facility, parks maintenance, sports turf, landscaping and horticulture company, operating across New Zealand and Australia. We have 2000+ employees, have been an industry leader for over 30 years and are committed to a culture of health and safety, excellence, and continuous improvement, whilst caring for our people, clients, and communities.

If you're a motivated individual looking to make impact within a company that has been an industry leader for over 30 years, apply now!

In accordance with the Company's Drug & Alcohol Policy, the successful candidate will be required to undergo and pass a pre-employment drug test and a New Zealand request for Criminal Convictions and Driving Charges Check.