Grounds Nursery II - Lead Athletic Field Specialist @ UNC 8/2026

Posting number: C00077

Department: University of Northern Colorado

Division: Finance and Administration

Job classification: Grounds and Nursery II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Grounds & Landscaping

Summary

The University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, Colorado, population over 100,000, an hour's drive north of Denver, and within driving distance of the Rocky Mountains. UNC has an enrollment of over 12,000 students who attend classes on the 250-acre campus, and is large enough to provide true University opportunities, and small enough to treat students and employees as individuals. State classified employee benefits include medical, dental, life, flexible spending, PERA retirement, and tuition waiver for employees.

Examples of duties

Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis during this posting and the eligible list may be periodically refreshed to maintain a current pool of interested candidates.

At the University of Northern Colorado, we believe great athletic experiences begin long before the opening whistle. They start with safe, beautiful, and professionally maintained playing surfaces that allow student-athletes to compete at their highest level.

We are seeking a skilled, motivated, and detail-oriented Lead Athletic Field Specialist to help maintain and elevate UNC’s athletic facilities. This position plays a critical role in the care of our NCAA competition and practice venues, including natural grass fields, synthetic turf facilities, track and field venues, stadium environments, and athletic facility surrounding landscapes. 

This is more than a grounds position—it is an opportunity to directly impact the student-athlete experience while working behind the scenes to create exceptional game-day environments. If you enjoy working outdoors, collaborating with coaches and athletics staff, leading field operations, operating specialized equipment, and seeing the results of your work showcased under stadium lights, we encourage you to apply.

We are seeking professionals who take pride in their work and understand the importance of quality playing surfaces. Experience in athletic field maintenance, sports turf management, irrigation systems, landscape maintenance, equipment operation, event preparation, and leadership is highly valued. Passion, professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail are equally important. 

 Why Join UNC? 

• Competitive State of Colorado benefits package. 

• PERA retirement program. 
• Employee tuition waiver and educational opportunities. 
• Paid leave and holiday benefits. 
• Professional development opportunities.
• Meaningful work supporting student-athletes, campus recreation, and university events. 
• Collaborative team environment where your expertise is valued. 
• Opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of natural grass and synthetic athletic facilities. 
• Direct involvement in NCAA Division I athletic competition and special events.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique? 

Few grounds positions offer the opportunity to have a direct impact on NCAA athletics. In this role, you will help prepare facilities for collegiate competitions, collaborate with coaches and university partners, apply professional sports turf management practices, and contribute to the appearance, safety, and performance of UNC athletic venues. 

Whether preparing a soccer pitch for match day, maintaining a synthetic turf field, supporting a track and field event, or coordinating operations for a busy athletic weekend, your work will be seen and appreciated by student-athletes, coaches, fans, and the entire university community.

Position Summary:
The Lead Athletic Field Specialist plans, coordinates, and performs athletic field and grounds maintenance activities within a designated work zone. This position serves as the lead athletic grounds professional responsible for maintaining UNC's outdoor athletic facilities, including synthetic turf fields, track and field venues, baseball and softball complexes, soccer facilities, practice fields, stadium environments, and associated landscaping. 

Working under the direction of the Grounds Manager, this positio