Operations Manager in St Helens

We are seeking an Operations Manager for Haydock Park Racecourse with The Jockey Club Experiences. As Operations Manager, you will ideally have a successful background in Food Service / Contract Catering / Hospitality / Retail Catering. You should have previous experience working in a fast‑paced environment managing a team, as well as supporting catering, hospitality and events. Flexibility towards hours and tasks, excellent management and communication skills, sound financial management knowledge, analytical problem‑solving ability, passion for food and customer service, and commercial astuteness are required.

Main objective is to ensure the smooth delivery of day‑to‑day and race‑day hospitality operations within the unit to our clients and customers, while managing business needs and performance standards.

Personal Requirements

• Ensure service exceeds client expectations and maximise commercial opportunities.
• Support hospitality and fine dining service requirements; manage catering and meeting room bookings.
• Manage and control staff levels, ensuring budgetary requirements are met.
• Recruit, manage, train, motivate and appraise staff to promote good employee relations and a fantastic working environment.
• Maintain all conference/hospitality areas and equipment, ensuring a clean working environment that meets health and safety legislation.
• Assist GMs in achieving financial targets and preparing business forecasts.
• Comply with all company, client, statutory regulations and policies, including HR, health & safety, hygiene, fire, COSHH.

Prime Objectives and Responsibilities

• Manage performance of direct reports and conduct fair performance reviews.
• Attend all regular meetings and cascade relevant information.
• Lead setup on prep days.
• Induct, train and develop variable labour under the Deputy General Manager and General Manager.
• Manage casual team and ensure effective communication.
• Address individual customer needs in line with standards.
• Treat all customers and colleagues politely and courteously at all times.
• Liaise with client, customer and sales teams for event needs and expectations.
• Resolve customer comments positively, converting negative experiences into positive ones.
• Support managing partnership development with clients.
• Ensure day‑to‑day delivery of catering/event services to standards.
• Adhere to specific standards consistently.
• Enforce correct uniforms and address non‑adherence.
• Motivate and involve team members.
• Identify training needs and provide on‑the‑job training.
• Adhere to statutory and company requirements for health & safety, food hygiene, licensing, employment law, fire regulations, trade description.
• Report maintenance issues and hazards per health and safety manual.
• Attend department meetings and briefings as required.
• Support other venues regionally and nationally as required.
• Maximise sales opportunities through selling techniques.
• Provide product knowledge and professional customer advice.
• Implement and monitor company marketing initiatives.
• Upsell requests to maximise revenue and profitability.
• Support GM in achieving sales revenue targets.
• Control operating costs in line with targets.
• Minimise costs by using equipment and products correctly.
• Ensure all stock takes are completed to company standards.

Benefits

• Medicash – healthcare benefits (dental, optical, therapy), up to 4 dependent children.
• Aviva Digicare – free annual healthcare check.
• Exclusive benefits & wellbeing site.
• Entertainment discounts – up to 55% off cinema tickets.
• Health & wellbeing discounts – Nuffield Health (20%) and Pure Gym (10%).
• Travel discounts – TUI, Expedia.
• Shopping discounts – purchase cards, up to 15% off.
• Meals on duty.
• Vodafone discounts.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• 23 days + bank holidays and birthday day off.
• 2 days additional leave after maternity leave.
• Competitive and supportive family benefits.
• Day off for baby's first birthday.
• Holiday purchase scheme.
• On‑going training & development 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. Join us to grow your career with an industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development.