At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting brand experiences for McLaren Racing at the World Endurance Championship.
- Company: Join McLaren Racing, a leader in motorsport innovation and fan engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, private healthcare, and a vibrant workplace culture.
- Why this job: Make unforgettable memories for fans while driving the McLaren brand forward.
- Qualifications: Fluent in French and experienced in large-scale event management.
- Other info: Dynamic role with global travel and opportunities for personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. At McLaren Racing, we're not just here to try to take the chequered flag. We're here to excite our fans, inspire our people and deliver for our partners. And we're also committed to evolving our sport, our industry, and our technology, too.
Purpose of the Role
We are seeking a highly experienced, dynamic, and fluent French-speaking Senior Manager to lead the operational planning and execution of McLaren Racing's fan and brand activation portfolio specific to the World Endurance Championship (WEC), with a key focus on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This role will be instrumental in bringing the McLaren brand to life for our passionate fanbase and partners across the WEC calendar, delivering unforgettable, high-impact experiences that drive engagement and reinforce our brand values in the championship.
Role Dimensions
This is a full-time role dedicated to the operational implementation of hospitality and wider brand activations for WEC. Fluency in French (verbal and written) is a requirement to manage key stakeholders, suppliers, and venue operations as well as guests, with a large delivery programme in Le Mans. It will require extensive global travel for recces and event delivery, including weekends and unsociable hours, inherent to the WEC calendar. The role may focus on delivering fan and client track experiences off-track (city-centre activations, Fan Zones), bringing the racing closer to the community. Work is generally performed within an office environment when not traveling. This role will not have immediate direct line reports but is responsible for building and leading a project-based working group using internal team members (shared resources), external freelancers, and agency support at the outset.
Principal Accountabilities
- WEC & Le Mans Project Management & Delivery: Lead the end-to-end planning, development, and execution of major McLaren Racing brand experience events across the global WEC calendar, with specialist focus on the demanding logistics of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Manage the selection, deployment, and logistics of physical brand assets (show cars, simulators, installations) required to deliver the WEC event portfolio in conjunction with the centralised team. Ensure all WEC brand experience initiatives are integrated seamlessly and deliver on the broader commercial, communication, and race team objectives. Work closely with key commercial partners to develop impactful WEC experiences that meet contractual obligations and exceed partner expectations, demonstrating clear ROI.
- Project & Resource Management (Matrix Leadership): Act as the project manager responsible for scoping, building, and managing the Brand Experience project group required for each WEC activation. Build business cases for, and manage the utilization of, shared internal resources, including design, marketing, and logistics teams. Identify, onboard, and manage external freelancers, consultants, and agencies required to scale operations, ensuring clear briefs, quality delivery, and adherence to budget. Effectively delegate tasks and manage complex workloads across non-dedicated resources and external suppliers across multiple simultaneous WEC projects. Serve as the primary operational liaison for Le Mans with all French-speaking venue managers, and local suppliers, leveraging fluent French to facilitate permits, contracts, and on-site issue resolution.
- Financial Management & Reporting: Accountable for the Brand Experience P&L for the WEC portfolio, including meticulous budget planning, forecasting, cost control, and financial reporting. Develop and present comprehensive post-event reports, analyzing KPIs, customer engagement (NPS), partner value, and financial outcomes specifically for WEC activations. Build comprehensive surveys and utilize data and feedback to continuously refine and improve future WEC brand experience activation strategies and execution.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Essential: Fluent use of English and French Language (verbal and written) is required. Proven experience leading and delivering large-scale experiential marketing or live events, with a deep operational knowledge of motorsport events, specifically sports car or endurance racing (WEC/Le Mans) or with a strong experiential agency background. Experience in leading and motivating project groups composed of internal, external, and non-direct reports. Demonstrable experience working in and understanding diverse global markets and cultural nuances, inclusive of international permitting, freight and contracting. Proven ability to manage complex budgets and P&L responsibility. Strong track record of successfully managing and collaborating with external agencies and suppliers. Meticulous attention to detail in planning, execution, and reporting. Confident public speaker who can create and deliver compelling presentations, business cases and engage a wide range of audiences.
- Desirable: Proficiency in other languages (e.g., German, Italian, Japanese). Experience in delivering sustainable events and guiding best practice. Experience with project management software (e.g., Smartsheet) and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce).
Personal Attributes
- Confident and inspiring leader, capable of motivating a project-based team and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on formal line management structure.
- Proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to thrive in the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of endurance racing.
- High degree of flexibility and adaptability, willing to undertake extensive international travel.
- Thoughtful decision maker who can operate under intense pressure, demonstrating confidence to challenge the status quo.
What can McLaren offer?
We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part. We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace. McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Here at McLaren, we offer hybrid working with 3 days a week based in the MTC. Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.
Senior Manager, Brand Experience - World Endurance Championship in Woking employer: McLaren
Contact Detail:
McLaren Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Brand Experience - World Endurance Championship in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the motorsport industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks at McLaren Racing. You never know who might help you land that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for endurance racing! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and insights about the World Endurance Championship. Let them see how much you care about the sport and the brand.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching McLaren’s recent events and initiatives. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their brand experience goals, especially around the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit for their team!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the McLaren family. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Brand Experience - World Endurance Championship in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Manager role. Highlight your experience in brand activation and event management, especially in motorsport or endurance racing. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at McLaren Racing!
Show Off Your Language Skills: Since fluency in French is a must, don’t forget to showcase your language abilities in your application. Whether it’s in your CV or cover letter, let us know how you’ve used your French skills in professional settings. We love seeing candidates who can communicate effectively with our diverse stakeholders!
Be Specific About Your Experience: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific projects you've managed, particularly those that involved large-scale events or brand activations. We’re keen to understand the impact of your work, so include metrics or outcomes where possible. This helps us see the value you could bring to our team!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our official website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren
✨Know Your Brand Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into McLaren Racing's brand values and recent initiatives. Understand their approach to fan engagement and how they activate their brand during events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion and alignment with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of large-scale event management you've led. Highlight your experience in logistics, budget management, and working with diverse teams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Fluency is Key
Since fluency in French is a requirement, practice speaking about your experiences and ideas in French. Prepare to answer questions in both English and French, especially those related to managing stakeholders and suppliers. This will show your confidence and readiness for the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills under pressure. Think of potential challenges you might face during a WEC event and how you would address them. This will showcase your proactive mindset and ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.