Senior Racecourse Operations Manager

Join our team as Senior Racecourse Operations Manager!

The Senior Racecourse Operations Manager is a key leadership role within the Operations Team, responsible for the strategic planning, operational management and successful delivery of race days and major events across Chester Racecourse and Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse.

You will be accountable for site operations, crowd management, operational logistics, presentation standards, compliance and guest experience, while leading cross functional collaboration with internal departments, contractors, emergency services and key stakeholders.

As an operational leader, you will drive high standards of performance, champion continuous improvement and ensure operational excellence across all activities. You will play a pivotal role in delivering commercial objectives, protecting the CRC brand and supporting the growth of CRC Live through the successful delivery of high quality, profitable non race day events.

General responsibilities include:

• Lead the delivery of a safe, inclusive and high quality guest experience across all race days, major events and non race day activity.
• Oversee end to end operational planning and execution, including site readiness, crowd management, admissions, security and presentation standards.
• Oversee the operational and financial management of the hotel.
• Champion Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and accessibility, ensuring facilities, services and communications meet the needs of all guests.
• Drive continuous improvement through guest feedback, performance insights and proactive issue resolution.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, security and regulatory requirements, supporting audits, inspections and event safety planning.
• Maintain consistently high standards of site presentation, cleanliness and waste management across both racecourses, on race days and non race days.
• Act in senior operational roles (including Duty Manager/Event Bronze).
• Support the planning and delivery of major events and CRC Live activity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, external partners and governing bodies.
• Lead, manage and develop the Racecourse Operations team.

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience leading guest facing operations.
• Proven managerial skills to develop teams and delegate appropriately.
• Experience in budget management and analysing guest feedback.
• Excellent communication, presentation and time management skills.
• Proactive, hardworking and highly organised approach.
• Problem solving ability and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Prioritise competing demands and set deadlines.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience within racing, hospitality, live events or entertainment industries.
• Ability to manage incidents and crisis situations.
• Experience developing new concepts and entertainment ideas.
• Relevant qualifications such as Safeguarding Level 3, Agile Project Management, and Level 4/5 Spectator Safety Management, IOSH Managing Safely qualification.

About Chester Race Company:

Chester Race Company Ltd is one of the North West's best known and most admired brands. It is an evolving organisation with a broad portfolio but retaining Horseracing at its core. The Company operates three racecourses, Chester, Bangor on Dee and Musselburgh, in Scotland. At Chester, we also own and operate a hotel, a vibrant pub and have other property interests in the city. Not to mention our in house caterers, Horseradish and our staffing brand - Thyme People. With that much diversity in our business, no two days are the same.

What we offer:

CRC offer a great selection of benefits, from Race Day tickets to enhanced pension contributions.

Salary:

£55,000 - £60,000 per annum

Hours of work:

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

CRC is an event company; you will be required to work some weekends and evenings. Any work beyond the contracted hours will be eligible for time off in lieu.

CRC has a flexible approach to working hours, which should be agreed with your line manager.