Clerk of the Course

The Jockey Club; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

TeamPass Ticket scheme for events

Generous pension with employer contrib

Healthcare cash back plan

25 days annual leave

Learning & Development resources

Eyecare vouchers

Cycle to work scheme

Retail discounts

Job summary

The Clerk of the Course role at The Jockey Club is based at Carlisle Racecourse and offers a permanent contract with 37.5 hours per week. You will lead the racing surface, turf and raceday operations, ensuring safety, presentation and compliance with industry standards.

You will manage turf activities, estate maintenance and a grounds team while collaborating with stakeholders across the racecourse. A UK driving licence and flexible hours, including racedays and weekends, are essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified Clerk of the Course with strong racecourse operations knowledge.
• Solid turf management understanding and regulatory awareness.
• Leadership experience overseeing grounds teams and projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management and presentation of the racing surface with safety and performance in mind.
• Oversee turf management, track maintenance, infrastructure and improvement projects.
• Manage and develop grounds teams with training and day-to-day direction.
• Take responsibility for the wider racecourse estate including equine facilities.
• Plan and deliver raceday operations in line with BHA regulations.
• Produce and communicate going reports with BHA officials and industry stakeholders.
• Manage budgets, records and project delivery to support long-term development.
• Contribute to fixture planning, race programming and prize money strategies.

Skills

Clerk of the Course expertise

Team leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Driving licence

Education

Qualified Clerk of the Course

Job description

Job title: Clerk of the Course

Based at: Carlisle Racecourse

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

About the role

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of the Course to play a key role in the management of the racing surface, estate and raceday operations. Working closely with colleagues across the racecourse, you will help ensure the highest standards of safety, presentation and raceday delivery, while overseeing turf and estate management activities and acting as Clerk of the Course when required.

About The Jockey Club

The Jockey Club stages thrilling sporting occasions and live events nationwide including The Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival & The Derby. Owning & operating 15 courses, millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment on racedays and beyond.

As the largest commercial group in British racing, we are guided by our mission to act for the long term good of the sport. Every penny we make goes back into racing to promote excellence within Britain’s second biggest spectator sport. Our people are what makes this possible

At The Jockey Club people are at the heart of what we do and drive our success. We are inclusive and actively seek to attract people with unique backgrounds and perspectives. Diverse, collaborative teams are pivotal to our success and support the potential and growth of all our people.

The Clerk of the Course will

• Lead the management and presentation of the racing surface, ensuring the highest standards of safety, welfare and performance.
• Oversee all turf management activities, including track maintenance, course infrastructure and ongoing improvement projects.
• Manage and develop permanent and casual grounds teams, providing leadership, training and day-to-day direction.
• Take responsibility for the wider racecourse estate, including key equine facilities, landscaping and grounds maintenance.
• Plan and deliver raceday operations, ensuring full compliance with BHA regulations and industry standards.
• Produce and communicate going reports, working closely with BHA officials, inspectors and industry stakeholders.
• Manage departmental budgets, records and project delivery to support the long-term development of the racecourse.
• Contribute to fixture planning, race programming and prize money strategies to help maximise racing performance and commercial success.

About you

• Qualified Clerk of the Course with a strong understanding of racecourse operations and industry regulations.
• Strong knowledge of turf management and racecourse maintenance, with a commitment to delivering the highest standards.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Commercially aware, with experience managing budgets, resources and projects.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with the ability to make sound decisions and adapt to changing priorities.
• Calm and resilient under pressure, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Full UK driving licence and a flexible approach to working hours, including racedays and weekends.

What we offer in return

• All colleagues can go along to any of our race day or music events free of charge – along with 3 friends or family with our TeamPass Ticket scheme.
• An award-winning pension scheme provider with a generous employer contribution
• A healthcare cash back plan enabling you to claim money back on health & wellbeing services.
• 25 days annual leave
• Access to a suite of Learning & Development training resources from renowned providers
• A whole host of other benefits including free eyecare vouchers, a ride to work cycle scheme & discounts across varying retailers & services.

our closing date for this vacancy is 10th November but we reserve the right to bring this forward if we have many applications.

This role may be subject to a criminal record check, standard or enhanced DBS check or BHA Suitability Check. By applying you confirm that you are happy for these checks to be carried out.