Senior Event Operations Manager - CarFest (Fixed Term Contract) in Silverstone

Senior Event Operations Manager - Car Fest (Fixed Term Contract)

Department

Public Events

Employment Type

Fixed Term - Full Time

Location

Silverstone

Reporting To

• Head of Public Events
• Description

Our Public Events team thrives on adrenaline and energy, working year‑round to deliver over 40 world‑class events on schedule and within budget.

The return of the FIA World Endurance Championship Series, alongside iconic events such as Moto GP and the award‑winning Car Fest festival, brings the best to Silverstone.

Car Fest is the UK’s largest family fundraising festival, raising millions for children’s charities.

It offers fast‑paced, breathtaking cars, live music, celebrity appearances, wellbeing sessions and celebrity chefs.

The festival is designed to entertain the whole family.

As Senior Event Operations Manager for Car Fest, you will play a central role in planning, designing and delivering the festival.

You will work closely with the Festival Producer, Festival Director, Head of Public Events and key stakeholders to bring the event to life.

Key responsibilities include end‑to‑end operational delivery, budget management, site design, procurement, and coordination of build, live event, and breakdown phases.

You will own the event project plan within Wrike, ensuring all workstreams are defined, managed and delivered on time through strong cross‑functional collaboration.

You will provide line management to the Car Fest team and act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, sponsors, the Safety Officer and Health & Safety teams.

Silverstone is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. Background checks and DBS checks will be obtained prior to employment commencing.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Event Operations and Delivery Excellence
• Lead the end‑to‑end operational delivery of Car Fest across build, live event, and breakdown.
• Oversee all event areas, ensuring infrastructure, staging, AV, signage, dressing, structures and staffing meet the highest standards.
• Integrate operational elements with event objectives safely, efficiently and on schedule.
• Develop and oversee comprehensive operational plans, production schedules, event timelines and briefing frameworks.
• Act as a key liaison for stakeholders, sponsors, Safety Officer and Health & Safety teams.
• Lead real‑time event operations alongside infrastructure, security, stewarding and control teams.
• Define and implement procurement strategies that deliver cost efficiencies while maintaining high standards.
• Maintain accountability for budget management, procurement and overall operational planning throughout the event lifecycle.
• Oversee design and execution of the event floorplan to be operationally effective, visually engaging and compliant with safety and regulatory requirements.
• Drive cross‑functional planning with marketing, commercial, content and operations teams.
• Ensure sponsorship and partnership requirements are met and activations enhance visitor experience.
• Represent operational delivery in internal planning forums and contribute to strategic discussions.
• 2. Project Planning and Delivery
• Own and drive the overarching Car Fest project plan within Wrike.
• Use Wrike to drive accountability, clear ownership, risk management and milestone delivery.
• Provide regular reporting on progress, risks and delivery status to senior stakeholders.
• 3. Budgeting and Financial Oversight
• Lead the creation and management of the event budget with finance.
• Maintain accurate forecasting and real‑time spend tracking to stay within agreed parameters.
• Identify cost efficiencies and value optimisation through supplier negotiation.
• 4. Site Planning and Floorplan Management
• Lead strategic design and delivery of the event site layout for operational efficiency and visitor flow.
• Oversee development and implementation of floorplans across all zones, stages and features, ensuring safety compliance.
• 5. Procurement and Supplier Management
• Develop and implement procurement strategies for cost‑effective, high‑quality solutions.
• Oversee selection, contracting and management of key suppliers, ensuring delivery to agreed standards.
• Build strong supplier partnerships and drive continuous improvement.
• 6. Leadership and Team Management
• Provide line management and leadership to the Car Fest team.
• Set clear direction, objectives and accountability to balance strategic oversight with operational delivery.
• Coach, support and develop team members for high performance and engagement.
• 7. Post Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
• Lead data‑driven post‑event evaluation against KPIs, budgets and operational performance.
• Analyse feedback and insights to identify improvement areas.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives for future events.
• 8. Sustainability and ESG
• Champion sustainable event practices, waste reduction, responsible sourcing and environmental impact management.
• Work with suppliers and partners to embed sustainable solutions aligned with Silverstone’s Net Zero 2030 target.
• Support Car Fest’s charitable and social impact objectives and community partnerships.
• Team Responsibilities
• Lead and collaborate with the Car Fest Operations and Public Events teams.
• Create a positive and proactive culture within the operations departments.
• Present professionally reflecting Silverstone values.
• Performance Responsibilities
• Budget Management: deliver within agreed budget, with accurate forecasting.
• Operational Delivery: on‑time delivery of infrastructure, site build and breakdown.
• Sponsor & Partner Satisfaction: 100% fulfillment of contractual deliverables.
• Health & Safety Compliance: full adherence to safety regulations and minimal incidents.
• Team Performance & Engagement: effective leadership and coordination of the Car Fest team.
• Customer Experience: positive attendee feedback and engagement measured through surveys.
• Site & Operational Efficiency: smooth crowd flow and minimal disruptions.
• Supplier Delivery: suppliers meet agreed standards, timelines and budgets.
• Key Relationships
• Public Events Team and Car Fest Operations Team.
• All internal departments critical to event success (finance, marketing, catering, logistics and venue operations).
• External third‑party suppliers (traders, contractors, suppliers, car clubs and visitors).

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven event, project and operational management experience at a senior level.
• Deep understanding of global event trends and ability to apply innovative solutions.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills across teams.
• Strong analytical skills with use of data to inform decisions.
• Passion for motorsport and entertainment; commitment to world‑class events.
• Creative vision and keen eye for detail.
• Demonstrable problem‑solving skills and capacity to think fast.
• Ownership and ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• Team player with a can‑do attitude.
• Proven expertise in health and safety management and regulatory compliance.
• Flexible working hours, including evenings and weekends, especially between March – December.
• Willingness to support tasks set by the Head of Public Events, Festival Producer and Festival Director.
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