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 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, 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 towards hours and working tasks. You possess excellent management and communication skills, a good understanding of financial management, and the ability 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:

• Service focus, exceeding client expectations, supporting hospitality and fine dining service requirements, ranging from buffets to fine dining dinners or canapé receptions.
• Managing and controlling staff levels, ensuring budgetary requirements are met; recruiting, managing, training, motivating and appraising staff to promote good employee relations and a fantastic working environment while developing a positive team culture.
• Managing and maintaining all hospitality areas and equipment to keep the working environment clean and meeting Health and Safety legislation.
• Assisting the General Manager in ensuring all financial targets are achieved, and the preparation of business forecasts.
• Complying 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; and maintaining awareness of specific hazards.

Prime Objectives And Responsibilities:

• Manage the performance of any direct reports, ensuring fair objective performance reviews and effective follow‑up.
• Attend all regular meetings and cascade relevant information as appropriate.
• Lead set‑up on prep days.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and General Manager to induct, train and develop variable labour in line with business needs.
• Manage the casual team to ensure effective communication.
• Acknowledge and act upon individual customer needs while observing standards.
• Treat all customers and colleagues politely and courteously 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 positively, taking appropriate follow‑up action and turning negative 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 ability to perform all tasks consistently, adhering to the specific standard.
• Lead by example, ensuring team members wear correct, full, and clean uniform whilst on duty; address 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.
• Identify training needs and conduct on‑the‑job training.
• 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 per 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.
• Possess knowledge of all unit/location products and be able to advise the customer professionally and helpfully.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of all company marketing initiatives.
• Actively upsell each request to maximize revenue and profitability.
• Support the General Manager in achieving sales revenue targets for the department/location and optimizing 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 on set deadlines.

Benefits:

• 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 – Nuffield Health 20% and Pure Gym 10%.
• Travel discounts – holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia.
• Shopping discounts – Save up to 15% at high street and online stores via Shopping Cards.
• Meals on duty.
• Vodafone discounts.
• Pension scheme and Life Assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• 23 days + bank holidays and an 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.
• Ongoing training & development and career pathways.
• Professional subscriptions paid.
• Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products.

Company Commitment: Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!