Supervisors - Sports fields

City Operations – proudly delivering awesome community outcomes. The City Operations Team is a newly established division within Tauranga City Council, responsible for maintaining Tauranga’s green spaces and a portfolio of Council-owned buildings and assets. Currently consisting of 115 community-focused individuals, the team is poised for significant growth this year, expanding to over 160 team members as we take on additional services for the city.  

Please watch our recruitment video https://youtu.be/UcVhfz3WWxs 

Te Tūranga | About the role 

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Sports Fields Supervisor to launch and lead a brand-new team dedicated to maintaining and enhancing our sports fields. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your technical expertise, project management, and leadership skills into a dynamic and rewarding role. As the leader of this team, you will play a key role in delivering a high-quality sports field maintenance program, ensuring that our fields are always in peak condition for the community.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team of 10+ skilled professionals (including a Turf Manager) in the delivery of sports field maintenance, renovations, and renewals. You will be responsible for setting the team up for success, ensuring high-quality work, efficient planning and scheduling, and sharing your technical expertise on many areas (irrigation, lighting, line marking, sports code specifics).  

• Project & Stakeholder Management: Oversee multiple projects related to sports field maintenance and improvements. Collaborate effectively with sporting user groups, asset managers, and key stakeholders to ensure requirements are met and expectations are exceeded. 

• People Management: Handle all aspects of team management, including recruitment, performance management, training, coaching, and fostering a positive and motivating work culture. Inspiring and supporting your team to achieve their best. 

• Operational Oversight: Ensure that all work meets high performance standards, coordinating schedules to ensure that fields are ready for use on time, even if that requires working weekends or outside of normal business hours. 

This role will report directly to the Team Leader – Reserves. Due to the nature of the work, weekend shifts and occasional after-hours work will be required to meet deadlines for events and maintenance. 

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed within the City Operations Team 

• Proven experience in sports field management, with a strong understanding of turf management, renovation processes, and maintenance techniques.  

• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple tasks and priorities effectively. 

• 5 – 10 years’ experience in leading a sports turf management operation, delivering to a high standard. 

• Strong communication skills with the ability to liaise with stakeholders and user groups.  

• Level 4 in Sports Turf Management qualification.  

• Strong computer skills.  

• Full clean NZ drivers licence.  

• Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours as required by the role. 

Te Tukanga | How to apply 

If you wish to apply, please click ‘Apply’ at the bottom of this page and follow the link. 

If you need additional information please contact Tracey Cotterell at tracey.cotterell@tauranga.govt.nz  

Please note we will not be accepting applications via email only via the recruitment system.  

Applications close: 6th April

Please note: 

• As part of Tauranga City Councils commitment to health, safety and wellbeing, the successful candidate will need to pass a pre-employment medical and drug & alcohol screen. Random D&A testing is part of our operation.  

• All candidates must be able to supply the details of two recent work-based referees. 

• We are unable to provide sponsorship for these roles. 

• Some employees will be provided a vehicle for work purposes only, there is no private use allowed.  

• Tauranga City Council will not accept applications or contact from any placement service, temporary staffing agency, or professional recruiter for this vacancy.

Job Description: Supervisors - Sports fields