Senior Director, Field Research and Stadium Projects
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The Sr. Director of Fields, Field Research and Stadium Projects will lead and be on-site for all neutral site games to oversee all field-related planning and will liaise with member clubs to maintain high standards of excellence of field surface. This individual will lead all surface research, whether natural or synthetic, manage consultant experts as well as direct engagement with manufacturers, other sports leagues and the 32 clubs. In addition, this individual will collaborate on internal processes, project management, stadium and game day preparations, and issue tracking/reporting.

NFL just posted a job opening for a Senior Director of Field Research and Stadium Projects.

Job Description

The Sr. Director of Fields, Field Research and Stadium Projects will lead and be on-site for all neutral site games to oversee all field-related planning and will liaise with member clubs to maintain high standards of excellence of field surface. This individual will lead all surface research, whether natural or synthetic, manage consultant experts as well as direct engagement with manufacturers, other sports leagues and the 32 clubs. In addition, this individual will collaborate on internal processes, project management, stadium and game day preparations, and issue tracking/reporting.

Responsibilities:

Field Research Workstreams and Committees

  • Liaise with Health & Safety, as well as 3rd party consultants, on improved testing/tracking options and protocols
  • Oversee NFL-NFLPA Joint Mandatory Practices for fields/playing surfaces and liaise with Management Council on updates/modifications
  • Joint Surface Committee research and support
  • Lead team responsible for overseeing and executing field maintenance plans during Halftime rehearsals at Super Bowl

International & Neutral Site Games

  • Lead field surface project plans for practice and game fields for all Neutral Site Games (International Series, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, etc.) to ensure consistency across all games.
  • Procure and facilitate storage of all necessary equipment and tools for field preparation (e.g., paint machines, blowers, mowers, grow lights, field and bench area tarps, grow blankets, etc.)
  • Maintain and manage field equipment warehouse inventory and shipping for all neutral site and international games
  • Oversee League-hired grounds crew for all Neutral Site Games including scheduling, communications, onboarding paperwork, travel, housing, etc.
  • Oversee budget for all field projects
  • Identify, source and oversee any ancillary support required (e.g., fertilizer, sand, specialty equipment).
  • Lead efforts with Sod Farms for all neutral site games

Stadium Operations & Game Day Support

  • Primary responsibility for sharing turf/field research with clubs to aid them in field selection, replacement, preparation etc. This includes practice surfaces as well
  • Part of a team that Liaises with 32 Club Field mangers to ensure day-to-day compliance with field policies & best practices
  • Visit and review all new field installs, field issues/concerns, oversee compliance with NFL-NFLPA CBA/Joint Mandatory Practices
  • Advise Clubs that have new stadium projects and/or renovation plans on field surfaces, best practices, field dimensions, etc. and conduct on-site walkthroughs during construction phases to ensure construction details comply with the renderings
  • Review and edit relevant sections of the Game Ops manual.
  • Attend periodic in-person meetings, including the Combine, Field Managers meeting, etc.
  • Dorkamundo@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Yea, but HOW?

    Are they going to offer grants for NFL stadiums that are indoors to do what they do in AZ? Lighting etc?

  • machuitzil@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    And I will be taking a deep swipe through my ass crack to compare clean hand vs paper.

    Grass is expensive. Hard to have grass game-worthy the morning after a Ke$ha concert. Player safety is a secondary concern.

    And let’s be honest, a stadium purely devoted to one sport that has 8, maybe 9 events per year unless maybe your team doesn’t suck and then you get one or two more, is going to have trouble turning a profit.

    I understand the cost-saving efforts that a responsible business owner must undergo -but it also clearly demonstrates a clear and total lack of respect or priority for player safety.

  • callmeJudge767@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Did Ed Mangan quit? He’s the Director responsible for the ice rink at last year’s SB in Phoenix. George Toma put him on blast after the game.

  • jimmythevip@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I’ve just never understood the argument that some stadiums can’t support grass. I mean Kansas City has grass. It’s 95° opening day and 4° in the playoffs in an outdoor stadium. If I remember correctly, they have a heated water system that runs under the field to keep the grass alive. It’s always just been a money thing.

  • GMFPs_sweat_towel@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I think people will be disappointed by this study unless it provides definitive results. Injuries have such a wide scope a a playing surface that is better for lower leg injuries might be worse for something like head injuries.

    • Myke190@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Shit is a farce bro. Why do they need to hire some expert when you can ask literally every player and coach what their opinion is, and there be a unanimous decision for grass, if not for the league to try and tell us the players are wrong?

  • fieryscribe@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    If they don’t issue a report entitled “The grass isn’t always greener”, I’m going to be so mad

  • bwburke94@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    There is no reason to ban artificial turf. We aren’t playing on the OG glorified carpet anymore.