Manager, Grounds

Job description

Jackie Robinson Training Complex is looking for a Manager, Grounds to oversee and participate in the maintenance of all sports fields, practice areas, indoor & outdoor training surfaces, landscaped areas, & other common areas. The Jackie Robinson Training Complex is an 80-acre campus consisting of 5.5 baseball fields, including two synthetic turf fields; four softball/youth baseball fields; one multipurpose field used for lacrosse, soccer, football, rugby, & other sports; numerous outdoor batting cages & bullpens; & a variety of landscaped areas. The campus also includes the Building 42 Indoor Training Complex, which features a fully synthetic, half-sized training field & four indoor batting cages. This hands-on manager directs the day-to-day sports turf & landscape maintenance activities & personnel & ensures safe, playable, event-ready facilities for year-round programs & events. **Responsibilities** *Department Leadership & Planning* - Lead daily grounds operations and establish annual, seasonal, and daily work plans based on field use, event schedules, agronomic needs, weather, and facility priorities - Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, coach, and evaluate full-time and part-time grounds employees; establish clear assignments, performance standards, safety expectations, and accountability - Directly supervise the Facility Mechanic and ensure timely preventive maintenance, inspection, repair, and service documentation for the facility's golf-cart fleet and grounds and facility equipment - Coordinate with Operations, Athletics, Event Planning, Engineering, and event leadership stakeholders; ensuring execution of facility preparation for groups *Athletic Field & Event Operations* - Direct the preparation, setup, conversion, and recovery of baseball, softball and multipurpose surfaces for practices, games, camps, tournaments, Major League Baseball programs, and special events, including natural turf, infield skins, base paths, mounds, home plates, bullpens, warning tracks, practice areas, and batting cages, consistent with Major League Baseball standards - Inspect fields and grounds; determine playability and field-protection needs; coordinate configurations and timelines; and verify corrective work before use - Monitor the condition and safe operation of pitching machines, batting-cage equipment, netting structures, and safety netting; coordinate inspections, repairs, replacements, and removal from service when necessary *Turf, Landscape, Irrigation & Weather* - Oversee the inspection, cleaning, grooming, decompaction, and infill management of outdoor and indoor synthetic turf surfaces to maintain consistent appearance, performance, and safety - Develop and execute warm-season turf programs, including mowing, aerification, verticutting, topdressing, fertilization, overseeding, sodding, moisture management, and weed, pest, and disease control - Manage landscape plans for trees, palms, bamboo, shrubs, plant beds, lawns, and common outdoor spaces, including routine bamboo maintenance and annual palm trimming, and oversee irrigation and drainage programming, inspections, maintenance, repair coordination, and water management - Lead adverse-weather and field-protection response, including tarp deployment, water removal, storm preparation, surface recovery, and post-weather inspections *Equipment, Materials, Safety & Compliance* - Manage the safe operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement planning of the golf-cart fleet and grounds and facility equipment, and maintain appropriate inventories of field materials, chemicals, fuel, parts, tools, and supplies - Ensure fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other regulated materials are purchased, stored, handled, applied, and documented in accordance with product labels, organizational procedures, and applicable law - Establish and enforce safety practices covering training, personal protective equipment, equipment operation, chemical handling, hazard communication, and applicable OSHA requirements *Budget, Vendors & Continuous Improvement* - Develop annual operating and capital budget recommendations; monitor expenses, review invoices, obtain quotes, manage purchases, and oversee contractor and vendor performance within approved parameters - Identify long-range field, landscape, irrigation, drainage, and equipment needs; maintain accurate department records; and provide timely reports, forecasts, and recommendations to the Director, Operations - Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, Operations **Qualifications & Skills** *Education & Experience* - Associate or bachelor's degree in turfgrass management, agronomy, horticulture, plant and soil science, sports field management, or a related discipline strongly preferred - Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in athletic field, sports turf, golf course, or comparable high-quality turf and grounds management, including at least three years in a supervisory or leadership role. An equivalent combination of relevant education, certification, and experience may be considered - Demonstrated experience maintaining baseball or softball playing surfaces and working knowledge of warm-season turf, infield clay, soil and plant health, irrigation, drainage, cultural practices, fertilization, pest management, and landscaping - Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM) or another recognized certification or equivalent experience at a professional, collegiate, tournament, training complex, or comparable high-use facility *Leadership & Technical Skills* - Proven ability to lead and hold teams accountable, communicate effectively, establish priorities, and manage multiple fields and events in a fast-paced, year-round operation - Experience managing equipment, inventory, vendors, purchasing, and operating expenses, with working proficiency in email, spreadsheets, scheduling tools, work-order or asset-management systems, and electronic records *Licenses & Certifications* - Valid driver's license and ability to safely operate organizational vehicles, utility vehicles, and groundskeeping equipment - Must possess or have the ability to obtain and maintain the Florida pesticide and fertilizer applicator certifications required for assigned duties within six months of employment *Schedule & Physical Requirements* - Ability to work a flexible schedule based on operational needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, and occasional emergency or weather response - Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, climb, push, and pull; lift or carry up to 50 pounds; safely operate commercial grounds equipment; and work outdoors in Florida weather and on wet or uneven surfaces **Top MLB Perks & Benefits** - Medical/Dental/Vision coverage - Company Matched 401(k) Plan - Paid Sick/Time Off and Holidays - Parental Leave - Disability Benefits (short term and long term) - Life and Accidental Death Insurance - Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) - Training & Development Programs - Discounts on MLB and JRTC merchandise - Access to special events at JRTC - JRTC Employee & Family appreciation events The Jackie Robinson Training Complex (JRTC), operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) located in Vero Beach, Florida, serves as a year-round hub for amateur development initiatives and events designed to diversify and strengthen the talent pipelines of baseball and softball. We are the permanent home to several signature youth-focused events and programs, such as the Nike RBI World Series and the Hank Aaron Invitational, which teach players how to succeed on and off the field. The historic facility, formerly known as Dodgertown, was renamed Jackie Robinson Training Complex in honor of its trailblazing namesake. *Please note: All job offers will be based on successfully completing a background check.*