Operations Manager - Aintree Racecourse - The Jockey Club Experience

£38,000+ excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We are looking for an Operations Manager to join The Jockey Club Experiences at Aintree Racecourse to ensure the smooth delivery of the day-to-day and race day hospitality operations within the unit to our clients and customers while managing the business needs and performance standards.

About Us: Jockey Club Experiences was formed in 2026 (following a rebrand of Jockey Club Catering, founded in 2009) and continues to provide outstanding catering, hospitality and customer service at all of The Jockey Club’s racecourses nationwide and has a portfolio of 15 racecourses delivering catering to over 333 race days a year. Jockey Club Experiences delivers exceptional race day experiences through great people; and amazing customer service and providing ‘Legendary Experiences’ to all our customers at our event days.

Who You Are: As an Operations Manager, you will ideally have a successful background in Food Service /Contract Catering/Hospitality/Retail Catering. With previous experience working in a fast‑paced environment managing a team as well as supporting the catering, hospitality and events. You will have a flexible attitude toward hours and working tasks. You possess excellent management and communication skills, have a good understanding of financial management, and be able to demonstrate your analytical approach to problem solving. You will have the ability to display a real passion for food and customer service and be financially and commercially astute.

Personal Requirements: As Operations Manager, service will be your focus area ensuring you exceed client expectations. You will thrive on getting the best out of your team and maximising commercial opportunities, ensuring the delivery of the service is exceptional. You will be supporting with the hospitality and fine dining service requirements, our hospitality and meeting room bookings can vary from buffets to fine dining dinners, or canapé receptions. You will be managing and controlling staff levels, while ensuring budgetary requirements are met. The Operations Manager will recruit, manage, train, motivate and appraise staff to promote good employee relations and a fantastic working environment whilst developing a positive team culture within the workplace. By managing and maintaining all the Hospitality areas and equipment you will ensure the working environment is clean and meets Health and Safety legislation. Assisting the General Manager in ensuring all financial targets are achieved, and the preparation of business forecasts. Comply with all Company and client policies, procedures and statutory regulations, including human resources, site rules, health and safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire, COSHH. This will include your awareness of any specific hazards in your workplace.

Prime Objectives and Responsibilities:

• Manage the performance of any direct reports.
• Ensure every team member is given a fair objective performance review and any agreed action is effectively followed up.
• Attend all regular meetings and ensure that relevant information is cascaded as appropriate.
• Lead set up on prep days.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and General Manager to effectively induct, train and develop variable labor in accordance with the needs of the business.
• Manage the casual team to ensure effective communication.
• Acknowledge and act upon individual customer needs while observing the standards.
• Treat all customers and colleagues in a polite and courteous manner at all times.
• Provide direct liaison with client, customer and sales team to ensure clear communication for each event’s needs and expectations.
• Deal with all customer comments in a positive manner and take appropriate follow‑up action, turning any negative customer experiences into positive ones.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and team in effective liaison with the client to ensure the continual development of the partnership.
• Ensure day‑to‑day delivery of catering services as advised to standards set within the business.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform all tasks consistently adhering to the specific standard.
• Lead by example and ensure members of the team wear correct, full and clean uniform whilst on duty.
• Actively address all issues related to non‑adherence of company standards.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and General Manager in communicating, motivating and involving individuals within the team.
• Demonstrate ability to identify training needs and carry out on‑the‑job training.
• Be aware and adhere to statutory, legal and company requirements for: Health and Safety; Food Hygiene; Licensing Laws; Employment Law; Fire Regulations; Sales of Goods/ Trade Description.
• Report all maintenance issues and hazards as in the company health and safety manual.
• Attend department meetings and briefings as required.
• Support other venues within the region and across the country as required.
• Maximize all sales opportunities through selling techniques.
• Have knowledge of all unit/location products and be able to advise the customer in a professional and helpful manner.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of all company marketing initiatives.
• Actively upsell each request to maximize revenue and profitability.
• Maximize sales opportunities that occur within the planning and operations stages of the functions and events.
• Support General Manager in achieving sales revenue targets for the department/location and to optimize profitability and efficiency within the unit.
• Demonstrate excellent control of all operating costs in line with set targets.
• Minimize operating costs by using all equipment and products in accordance with company and manufacturers’ guidelines.
• Ensure all stock takes are completed to company standards and to set deadlines.

Why Join Us?

Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality. We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive. Together, we create unforgettable experiences and shape the future of hospitality.

Medicash - Healthcare benefits, including dental, optical and therapy treatments (includes up to 4 dependent children)

Aviva Digicare - Free annual healthcare check

Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)

Entertainment discounts - up to 55% off cinema tickets

Health & Wellbeing discounts - Discounts for Nuffield Health (20%) and Pure Gym (10%)

Travel discounts - Discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia

Shopping discounts - Save up to 15% at high street and online stores by purchasing Shopping Cards

Meals on duty

Vodafone discounts

Pension scheme and Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

23 days + BH's and additional day off for your birthday

2 days additional leave, following return from Maternity leave during first year back

Competitive and supportive family benefits

Day off for baby's first birthday

Holiday purchase scheme

On-going training & development and career pathways

Professional subscriptions paid

Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.