Extra Help Athletic Turf Assistant

Title: Extra Help Athletic Turf Assistant
Division Name: Presidential
Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

Job Summary

The Athletic Turf Assistant supports the maintenance, preparation, and overall quality of athletic fields and surrounding grounds. This role assists in ensuring safe, high-quality playing surfaces for practices, competitions, and events while following established turf management practices and safety standards.

Key Responsibilities
- Assist with maintenance of natural athletic fields
- Operate and maintain grounds equipment, including mowers, utility vehicles, and hand tools
- Assist with seasonal maintenance of surrounding landscapes, leaf cleanup, and general grounds work

Additional Information

Benefits include time away from work for eligible employees and the option to participate in the University’s 403(b) Plan.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$17.00 per hour

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent
2. Basic knowledge of turfgrass maintenance or willingness to learn
3. Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Previous experience in athletic field maintenance, landscaping, or groundskeeping
2. Experience operating turf and grounds equipment

Work Hours

Varies. Up to 28 hours per week.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and operate equipment for extended periods
Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, rain, and other environmental conditions

Proposed Starting Date

March 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Extra Help employees may only work up to 28 hours per week for all University employment. Employees are only paid for hours worked and do not qualify for most benefits including health insurance and retirement, with Illinois State University. However, Extra Help employees are eligible to participate in the University’s supplemental retirement savings plans (403b). Applicable retirement information is provided at the time of hire. There is no guarantee that working as Extra Help will lead to or secure permanent employment. In addition, extra help employees may only work up to 900 hours total during their employment.

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois.

Applicants for this position must be authorized to work in the U.S. without ISU sponsorship. Sponsorship for work authorization will not be considered for this position.

Contact Information for Applicants

Mackenzie Chapman
Human Resources
309-438-3092
mrchap1@ilstu.edu 

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,