Wollongong City Council

Sportsfields Operations Manager

At Wollongong City Council we have a steadfast commitment to creating an Extraordinary Wollongong. We are in an exciting period of transformation and focused on delivering exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community.

Our strength is the diversity of our people. Together our responsibility is to create an inclusive place where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. We lead with courage, openness and curiosity. Our conversations and actions celebrate diversity, inclusion and belonging. Learn more about us here.

About the role

As the Sportsfields Operations Manager, you'll lead a team of 14 dedicated employees in managing and maintaining Wollongong's sports fields, playgrounds, and recreation spaces. This role is at the heart of creating spaces where our residents and visitors can play, connect, and thrive. You'll also collaborate with the Recreation Services team to ensure facilities are well-managed and meet community needs.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to Wollongong's lifestyle and sustainability goals while driving innovation and continuous improvement in open space management.

This is a permanent full position, salary up to $126,222.85 per annum plus superannuation and an operational motor vehicle under lease back arrangements. (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience, and qualifications).

What you will be doing:

• Leading and mentoring a team of 14 to deliver exceptional maintenance and management of sports fields, playgrounds, and recreation facilities.
• Introducing innovative practices in turf management and staying at the forefront of industry developments.
• Overseeing operational plans, work programs, risk management strategies, and minor drainage works.
• Managing budgets, work schedules, and projects to ensure high-quality, timely outcomes.
• Driving efficiency and continuous improvement in processes, systems, and team performance.
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, contractors, and community groups to achieve shared objectives.
• Supporting compliance with Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) standards and organisational policies.
• Providing strategic advice, preparing reports, and contributing to community needs assessments to shape the future of Wollongong's recreation spaces.

Benefits of working at Council:

• We provide flexible working arrangements
• We are value-led, support and encourage personal and professional growth, recognise and reward performance and embrace change.
• We provide generous leave provisions including 5 weeks annual leave per year of service
• Long Service Leave after 5 years
• We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all, (everyone, every day and everywhere) and make available wellbeing programs to support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our staff to be at their best.

Interested?

For more information, click on Apply to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's E-recruitment site.

Contact Greg Knight, Parks & Open Space Manager on 02 4227 8176 for questions related to the job

For assistance in submitting your application, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team on (02) 4227 7065.

Applications close 11:59pm, Monday 24 February 2025.

We encourage applications from everyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, cultural background, faith, disability or gender identity. People with disability are encouraged to reach out so they can be supported in recruitment processes, to enable them to demonstrate their skills and capabilities to meet the requirements of the job.

Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.

Applicants are required to undergo an employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Criminal History and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks