Senior Event Operations Manager - CarFest

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

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 MotoGP 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 work streams 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 kground checks and DBS checks will be obtained prior to employment commencing.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Lead strategic design and delivery of the event site layout for operational efficiency and visitor flow.
• Oversee development and implementation of floor plans across all zones, stages and features, ensuring safety compliance.

• 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…