Overview
Job Title: Cricket Grounds and Pitch Operations Manager
Job Reference: REQ260215
Date Posted: Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT
Application Closing Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT
Location: Loughborough
Package: Operational Services Monthly grade 5 from £29588 to £34610 per annum. Subject to annual pay award.
Full Time, Open ended.
Join a World-Leading Sporting Environment
Loughborough University is renowned globally for sporting excellence and world-class performance environments. We are now seeking an experienced and ambitious Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager to lead the delivery of elite cricket surfaces across our exceptional facilities, including the ECB National Cricket Performance Centre.
This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of UK high-performance sport, supporting national teams, driving innovation in turf management, and contributing to one of the world’s most successful sporting ecosystems.
About the Role
As Cricket Grounds & Pitch Operations Manager, you will take a leading role in planning, preparing, and maintaining outstanding natural and synthetic cricket surfaces. You will oversee fixture scheduling, manage the winter marquee programme for covered grass wickets, and deliver international-standard pitches that support ECB team training, performance, and talent development.
You will lead and mentor a dedicated team, coordinate specialist renovation works, and play a key role in shaping the future of cricket facilities at Loughborough.
For this role, the successful candidate will require:
- Competent in operating and maintaining specialist turf machinery
- Experience producing elite cricket pitches at first-class or high performance environments
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
- Proven track record in managing grounds teams including planning, scheduling, and performance management.
- Experience coordinating fixture preparation and training programmes
- Experience with IT Systems such as Microsoft Office and Email for record-keeping, reporting, and administrative task
Why Join Us?
- Lead facilities used by national teams, elite athletes, and future stars.
- Be part of a supportive performance-focused team culture.
- Access excellent training, development, and progression opportunities.
- Contribute to the success of one of the UK’s most prestigious sport performance hubs.
Why you should apply:
You will be working on beautiful grounds with access to plenty of refreshment outlets, excellent sporting facilities and on-campus nursery. One of the university’s core values focuses on wellbeing, and we are committed to continuing your personal development and training while you are here with us and working with you to maintain a strong work life balance.
Our Benefits
At Loughborough, our benefits are designed to support your life inside and outside of work, helping you to thrive and feel valued as part of our community. Examples of our benefits include:
Time off – generous holiday allowance, including 14 university closure days and bank holidays, with the option to buy extra through our holiday purchase scheme
Where you work – access to a range of fantastic facilities with plenty of green space across our 523-acre East Midlands campus, plus an exciting community at our London campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Financial wellbeing – competitive pay, two excellent pension schemes, and everyday savings opportunities
Support for you and those close to you – through our range of life event leave policies as well as access to an on-site nursery at our East Midlands campus, flexible and hybrid working options
Health and wellbeing – discounted gym memberships and access to world-class sporting facilities, including physiotherapy, plus healthcare offers such as eyesight testing and wellbeing support
Travel and sustainability – access to our electric vehicle and cycle-to-work schemes, as well as a variety of travel offers to support sustainable commuting
Discover more about the full range of rewards and benefits at Loughborough University.
As well as being an excellent place to study, Loughborough is also a great place to work, and we look forward to meeting you!
Reasonable Adjustments
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process. If there are any additional adjustments, you’d like to request please contact f.m.admin@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.
How you can apply:
All applications must be made by our University Jobs Portal. We cannot accept CV’s.
For more information refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
Closing Date: 23/04/26
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
