Hospitality Manager in City of London

ROCKWOOL Racing represents American Magic and Denmark on the global SailGP circuit. The team competes at the highest level of foiling sail racing, offering a dynamic, fast-paced international event environment. Team members work closely with partners, guests, and stakeholders who share a passion for sport, sustainability, and world-class hospitality.

ROLE CONTEXT

An operator manages the guest experience and hospitality event operations, connecting partners, guests, and the world.

PURPOSE

Ensure ROCKWOOL Racing partners and guests arrive, operate, and host to a world-class standard within Hospitality across the SailGP calendar. Protect the commercial platform by presenting and operating the Vela Lounge in line with standard partner, guest, and sponsor expectations. Ensure the team, kit, and infrastructure are ready at each venue to protect guest experience.

THE BREADTH OF THE ROLE

This role is broad, covering functions such as hospitality, race-week events, SailGP league, compliance, and commercial hosting in line with team ambitions and partnership asset delivery. It combines logistics, freight, accreditation, customs, and compliance with guest-experience and VIP management, representing the operational and experiential face of the platform.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hospitality: Deliver the Vela Lounge, tech base, and other private areas' guest journeys, allocations, named-arrival standard, on-site delivery, and hospitality sales support to a premium standard, working to the sell-through and margin model with the support of the wider team.
• Event operations: Manage guest race-week travel, accommodation, accreditation, local transport, suppliers, and weekend schedules, where applicable and appropriate; coordinate freight and high-value equipment movement with the Tech Base Manager and Shore Team Manager; manage timelines under customs, weather, and schedule pressure.
• League & compliance: Act as the operational link to SailGP organisers on all hospitality-related matters; manage deadlines, licensing, RIB sign-off, dock-out, and race-day paperwork to ensure the smooth running of the hospitality programme working in partnership with the wider team members.
• Commercial hosting: Deliver partner and prospect hosting, guest conversion support, and CRM data capture so hospitality is a commercial asset, not just a cost.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT & STANDARDS

• Represents ROCKWOOL Racing, American Magic and the team's partners to the highest professional standard always, on-site, online and in private, the brand is judged by the conduct of the people who carry it.
• Operates with absolute discretion and confidentiality around commercial, sporting, partner and personal information; signs and honours NDA and data-handling obligations.
• Holds themselves to the same performance, accountability and substantiation standards as the athletes do what they say, flags problems early, and never over-promises what cannot be delivered.
• Sets the standard for the team's physical presentation, the Tech Base and Lounge are judged the moment a partner walks in, and this role owns that impression.

ENGAGEMENT BASIS & COMMITMENT

The successful candidate acts as an independent contractor, responsible for their own taxes, and is engaged under a contract with deliverables, standards, and notice terms. It is the most travel-intensive and physically demanding role on the team, focused on logistics and hosting UHNW guests, and suited for someone energised by a fast-paced global schedule.

EXPERIENCE & PROFILE

• Background: High-end / elite-sport hospitality and event operations (F1 paddock, America's Cup, SailGP), or premium marine event delivery.
• Discipline: Logistics, freight, accreditation and compliance alongside VIP hosting and guest experience.
• Character: Calm under pressure; makes the base look effortless when it is anything but; obsessive about presentation and detail.
• Drive: Thrives on a relentless travel calendar and irregular hours; takes total ownership of getting the team there and ready.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Hospitality readiness before deadline 100%
• Lounge occupancy/sell-through 85%
• Guest satisfaction 8.5+/10
• Budget variance Within 5–10%
• Safety / compliance incidents Zero major failures

Qualifications

• Strong Communication skills, including the ability to interact confidently with VIP guests, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Proven Customer Service and Hospitality experience, ideally within sports, events, luxury, or high-profile corporate environments.
• Hands-on Food & Beverage knowledge, including coordination with catering partners and understanding of premium service standards.
• Experience Training and supervising hospitality or event staff to deliver consistent, high-quality guest experiences.
• Demonstrated event management or operations experience, with the ability to manage logistics, schedules, and vendor relationships.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast-paced, international setting.
• Comfort working in a hybrid model (London-based with some remote work) and willingness to travel to SailGP events as required.
• Knowledge of or interest in sailing, sports marketing, or sustainable events is an advantage.
• Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in hospitality management, events, tourism, or a related field.