Operations Manager - Aintree Racecourse - Jockey Club

Operations Manager – Aintree Racecourse – The Jockey Club Experiences (Full‑Time / Permanent)

Excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We are looking for an Operations Manager to join The Jockey Club Experiences at Aintree Racecourse, to ensure the smooth delivery of day‑to‑day and race‑day hospitality operations within the unit to our clients and customers whilst managing the business needs and performance standards.

Jockey Club Experiences was formed in 2026 (following a rebrand of Jockey Club Catering, founded in 2009) and continues to provide outstanding catering, hospitality and customer service at all of The Jockey Club’s racecourses nationwide and has a portfolio of 15 racecourses delivering catering to over 333 race days a year.

Jockey Club Experiences delivers exceptional race‑day experiences through great people; and amazing customer service and providing ‘Legendary Experiences’ to all our customers at our event days.

As an Operations Manager, you will ideally have a successful background in Food Service / Contract Catering / Hospitality / Retail Catering. With previous experience working in a fast‑paced environment managing a team as well as supporting the catering, hospitality and events. You will have a flexible attitude towards hours and working tasks. You possess excellent management and communication skills, have a good understanding of financial management, and be able to demonstrate your analytical approach to problem solving.

You will have the ability to display a real passion for food and customer service and be financially and commercially astute.

• As Operations Manager, service will be your focus area ensuring you exceed client expectations. You will thrive on getting the best out of your team and maximising commercial opportunities, ensuring the delivery of the service is exceptional. You will be supporting with the hospitality and fine dining service requirements, our hospitality and meeting room bookings can vary from buffets to fine dining dinners, or canapé receptions.
• You will be managing and controlling staff levels, while ensuring budgetary requirements are met. The Operations Manager will recruit, manage, train, motivate and appraise staff to promote good employee relations and a fantastic working environment whilst developing a positive team culture within the workplace.
• By managing and maintaining all the Hospitality areas and equipment you will ensure the working environment is clean and meets Health and Safety legislation.
• Assisting the General Manager in ensuring all financial targets are achieved, and the preparation of business forecasts.
• Comply with all Company and client policies, procedures and statutory regulations, including human resources, site rules, health and safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire, COSHH. This will include your awareness of any specific hazards in your workplace.

• Manage the performance of any direct reports. Ensure every team member is given a fair objective performance review and any agreed action is effectively followed up.
• Attend all regular meetings and ensure that relevant information is cascaded as appropriate.
• Lead set up on prep days.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and General Manager to effectively induct, train and develop variable labour in accordance with the needs of the business.
• Manage the casual team to ensure effective communication.
• Acknowledge and act upon individual customer needs while observing the standards.
• Treat all customers and colleagues in a polite and courteous manner at all times.
• Provide direct liaison with client, customer and sales team to ensure clear communication for each event’s needs and expectations.
• Deal with all customer comments in a positive manner and take appropriate follow‑up action, turning any negative customer experiences into positive ones.
• Support the Deputy General Manager and team in effective liaison with the client to ensure the continual development of the partnership.
• Ensure day‑to‑day…