Catering Operations Manager

Arena Racing Company; Uttoxeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual passes

Discounted food

Cycle to work

28 days holiday

Life assurance

Bonus schemes

Study support

Job summary

The role requires proven delivery of large-scale events, cost control, staff leadership, and strong collaboration with sales and kitchen teams. A full UK driving licence and flexibility for weekends are essential. ARC offers a supportive, inclusive team culture and competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering events for 5,000+ attendees in leisure, sporting or events environments.
• Track record of managing labour and costs within budget.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Effective leadership with ability to develop teams and manage stakeholders.
• Highly organised, process-driven, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Full UK driving licence and flexibility for weekends.

Responsibilities

• Support the site Executive Director in implementing and delivering the catering strategy across Uttoxeter Racecourse, ensuring alignment with Group objectives and targets.
• Develop and monitor performance frameworks to improve service delivery, food quality, and customer experience.
• Lead workforce planning and recruitment, managing labour costs and recruitment strategies.
• Collaborate with Sales to plan and optimise catering for racing and non-racing events.
• Provide leadership for high-volume operations and ensure delivery of key events and client requirements.
• Oversee cost controls and compliance across purchases and caterings operations.

Skills

High-volume catering

Event delivery

Budget management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

GCSE Maths & English

Job description

At Uttoxeter Racecourse, we're always looking for hard working and passionate individuals to join our team. We offer a fast paced and exciting environment for everyone. Our friendly work environment reflects our belief that a happy workplace is more productive. We employ people with a positive attitude who genuinely want to provide a great customer experience and will always look for ways to improve the services we offer.

We are looking for a passionate and knowledgeable Catering Operations Manager to join our team at Uttoxeter Racecourse!

About us...

Arena Racing Company does so much more than lead the UK's largest horse racing group. We have 21 racing venues showcasing horse racing, greyhound racing, golf courses, hotels and events. In short, leisure, entertainment, media production and global distribution are at the heart of what we do, making it an exciting and diverse place to work!

Our success is a team effort which is why we offer great opportunities for growth, development and career progression. After all, it's our employees that enable us to offer first class service and create an electric atmosphere, all within an industry we love.

What is ARC?

We embrace diversity. We develop our people. We care for our visitors. We think about our impact. We are proud of our sport.

Work Perks of being a Catering Operations Manager...

• Annual passes to attend any of our 21 venues
• Discounted food & ARC days out
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday allowance increasing with length of service up to 28 days
• Company life assurance scheme
• Discretionary group annual bonus schemes to reward your hard work
• Support with study through our study assistance schemes

And so much more...

About the role of Catering Operations Manager:

This role holds responsibility for Catering Operations at Uttoxeter Racecourse, encompassing both in house and third-party concessions, as well as the effective mobilisation and execution of race days and events.

Working closely with the site Executive Director, Regional Catering and Events Manager and the Head of Group Catering and Events, the role will provide on-site leadership across all catering activities and deputise as required, ensuring continuity of delivery and operational excellence.

The position is accountable for driving sustainable growth at site level through the optimisation of revenue opportunities, enhancement of service standards, and effective integration of catering teams.

Main Responsibilities...

• Support the site Executive Director in implementing and delivering the catering strategy across Uttoxeter Racecourse, ensuring alignment with Group objectives and commercial targets. Support the delivery of a cohesive site catering and events strategy, driving revenue growth and profitability across all commercial operations in line with wider Group objectives.
• Establish and continuously enhance performance monitoring frameworks, driving improvements in service delivery, food quality, and overall customer experience. Maintain high operational standards through regular site inspections, structured checklists, and consistent follow-up to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
• Lead workforce planning across all race day and non-race day activity, ensuring rotas effectively support event build-up, delivery, and breakdown while maintaining control of labour costs within budget. Lead site-based recruitment strategies, strengthening direct hiring approaches, reducing reliance on agency labour, and ensuring robust workforce planning across all catering functions.
• Work in partnership with Sales teams to plan, coordinate, and optimise catering delivery for both racing and non-racing events, ensuring accurate and effective communication of the catering offer. Lead the planning and coordination of catering operations across all events, ensuring a seamless and well-executed delivery across racing and non-racing activity.
• Provide leadership for high-volume operations, taking accountability for the successful planning and delivery of key events and client requirements, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience. Collaborate closely with the Head Chef to deliver the site's food and beverage strategy, ensuring quality, consistency, and control of cost of goods.
• Lead the development of direct reports through structured performance and development reviews, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, and continuous progression. Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture, driving engagement and retention through effective leadership, recognition, and development opportunities.
• Maintain strong financial governance by ensuring all purchasing activity is compliant with agreed controls and budgetary limits across departments. Proactively identify and develop new commercial opportunities to maximise the use of site facilities, enhancing both revenue generation and customer experience.
• Ensure full compliance with allergen regulations, maintaining accurate and up-to-date information across all platforms, including digital tools such as indicator systems and QR code builders.

The person we are looking for as a Catering Operations Manager has...

• Proven experience in a leisure, sporting, or event-led environment delivering events for 5,000+ attendees; Strong background in high-volume catering and multi-format hospitality (retail, restaurants, hospitality, events); Experience managing large-scale event delivery, including planning, execution, and breakdown.
• Track record of managing labour and costs within budget; Experience driving spend per head and improving customer experience; Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Effective leader with the ability to manage, influence, and develop teams; Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organised, process-driven, and able to manage multiple priorities; Confident decision-maker, able to perform under pressure.
• Customer-focused with a focus on quality and delivery; GCSE Grade C (equivalent) or above in Maths and English.
• Full UK driving licence; Flexible to work across race days, events, and weekends.

We are on a thrilling journey. So, to join us at our next destination, be part of a winning team and to learn more about our company and this exciting opportunity.

At ARC, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences.We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

If you have a disability that requires reasonable adjustments, please let us know; we will ensure that individuals with additional needs are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.

We understand the value that diversity brings to our business and we are striving to create a working environment that is inclusive, psychologically and physically safe and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions. We are committed to making a consistent, top-down effort to be role models on what diversity, inclusion and belonging means in society.