How to hire an athletic fields superintendent

How to hire an athletic fields superintendent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step athletic fields superintendent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an athletic fields superintendent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new athletic fields superintendent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post an athletic fields superintendent job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an athletic fields superintendent, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect athletic fields superintendent also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of athletic fields superintendents and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Athletic Fields Superintendent	Description	Hourly rate
   Athletic Fields Superintendent		$12-56
   Irrigation Manager	An irrigator manager handles the monitoring, inspection, and maintenance of irrigation systems. They are responsible for developing ways to manage and improve land... Show more	$11-21
   Grounds Maintenance Supervisor	The grounds maintenance supervisor is in charge of the maintenance and landscape crew. These are people who mow lawns, trim overgrown shrubs, irrigate planting beds, and perform a host of other outdoor maintenance tasks... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Athletic Fields
   • All-Conference
   • RAN
   • Freshman
   • Community Services

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage student transcripts, GPA, and credit verification according to school and CIF rules and regulations.
   • Collaborate closely with nurses, physicians and treatment centers to develop comprehensive care management for student-athletes.
   • Develop and maintain positive, proactive, and professional relationships with all points of contact within Nike and UnderArmour.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your athletic fields superintendent job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An athletic fields superintendent can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, athletic fields superintendents' average salary in wyoming is 58% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level athletic fields superintendents 79% less than senior-level athletic fields superintendents.
   • Certifications. An athletic fields superintendent with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an athletic fields superintendent's salary.

   Average athletic fields superintendent salary

   $54,529yearly

   $26.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level athletic fields superintendent salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an athletic fields superintendent job description

   A good athletic fields superintendent job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an athletic fields superintendent job description:

   Athletic fields superintendent job description example

   
   req12126
   
   Position Title:
   
   Assistant Athletics Field Superintendent
   
   Position Type:
   
   Staff Full-Time
   
   Position Number:
   
   632929, 633333
   
   OSU Campus:
   
   Stillwater
   
   Department:
   
   ATHLETICS
   
   Location Address:
   
   Stillwater, Oklahoma
   United States
   
   Hiring Supervisor:
   
   Todd Tribble
   
   Hiring Range
   (Contingent upon available funding):
   
   18.40 - 22.50, Hourly
   
   Work Schedule:
   
   8am to 5pm nights and weekends for events as needed
   
   Faculty Appt Period:
   
   Job Summary:
   
   Assist the Field Superintendent in overseeing all aspects of maintenance and upkeep of the OSU Athletic Village fields and grounds as well as all associated equipment.This includes management and supervision of maintenance staff.Assist in overseeing maintenance and regulations of fields.
   
   Will be required to work in inclement weather.
   
   Will be required to work hours beyond normal 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday hours, including weekends.
   
   Work around pesticides and chemicals.
   
   Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
   
   Special Instructions to Applicants
   
   A complete application consists of a resume, cover letter, list of professional references, and completed IAWP Employment Approval form which can be found at okstate.com/iawp. Applicants that do not provide these materials will not be considered for the position.
   
   Education & Experience
   
   Position Qualifications:
   
   MinimumQualifications:
   
   Associate Degreein turfgrass management or related field.
   
   3 years experience in grounds keeping at a college or professional venue.Prior completed internships can besubstituted for post-graduate experience at the discretion of the Athletic
   
   Fields Superintendent.Education may besubstituted in lieu of years of experience.
   
   Valid driverlicense
   
   Obtainwithin 6 months after hire:OklahomaDepartment of Agriculture, Food & Forestry's Pesticide Applicator License
   
   Knowledge ofturf grass and pesticides with previous application experience.
   
   Knowledge inthe safe mechanical operation and calibration of mechanical equipment, handoperated as well as pressurized spray equipment, lawn mowers, weed-eaters,utility tractors.
   
   Knowledge ofaerating, verticutting, sweeping, topdressing fertilization and irrigationrepair.
   
   Knowledge ofoccupational hazards and safety precautions of the work place.
   
   PreferredQualifications:
   Bachelor'sdegree in Turf Management
   
   Priorsupervisory experience.
   
   Oklahoma State University (OSU) strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, OSU conducts pre-employment background checks on final candidates. Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal (felony and misdemeanor) history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the university, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
   
   Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit eeo.okstate.edu.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find athletic fields superintendents for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your athletic fields superintendent job on Zippia to find and recruit athletic fields superintendent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting athletic fields superintendents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new athletic fields superintendent

   Once you've selected the best athletic fields superintendent candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new athletic fields superintendent first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an athletic fields superintendent?