Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations

Arena Racing Company Careers; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading racing organization is seeking a Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations to provide leadership across multiple racecourses in the UK. The role involves overseeing turf management, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and mentoring clerks. Candidates should have a BHA accreditation and at least five years of relevant experience. The company values diversity and offers a collaborative work environment with opportunities for health, wellbeing, and professional development.

Benefits

Annual Members badges for race days

22+ days annual leave

Employee Health Cash Plan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years post accreditation experience.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Clerks of the Course.
• Oversee racecourse turf management strategies.
• Manage BHA compliance and racecourse operations.

Skills

BHA accredited Clerk of the Course

Deep understanding of turf and AW care

Experienced in managing operational teams

Ability to manage across multiple sites

Job description

Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations

We have an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join Arena Racing Company as a Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations.

About us

Arena Racing Company does so much more than lead the UKs largest horse racing group. We have 21 racing venues showcasing horse racing, greyhound racing, golf courses, hotels and 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, its our employees that enable us to offer first class service and create an electric atmosphere all within an industry we love.

About the Role

The Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations will provide senior leadership support and consistency across the group in all aspects of raceday turf management, safety and operational delivery. The Head of Group Clerking & Racing Operations will also be responsible for supporting and mentoring clerks including Regional liaising with EDs / GMs, managing turf and infrastructure standards and supporting continuous improvement in line with BHA and ARC expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and mentoring to all Clerks of the Course including Regional Clerks and Senior Clerk - Group AWT Specialist
• Oversee racecourse turf management strategy and condition reporting protocols.
• Oversee group wide raceday medical and veterinary provisions and raceday supplier contracts and compliance.
• Management of BHA racecourse inspectorate.
• Oversee Starting Stalls service and strategy.
• Coordinate and advise on training and development of Trainee Clerks.
• Support Racing Consultant with project delivery and capital works on track infrastructure (e.g. drainage railings jumps).
• Champion consistency of standards across racecourses and ensure BHA compliance with BHAGIs.
• Race off times reporting and responsibilities.
• Daily weather monitoring and reporting.
• Support out-of-hours operational resilience through a shared duty system.
• Maintain strong communication with the Racing Director and operational teams and Operations Director (Horseracing).
• Support the Racing Director in key decision-making processes around annual programming and fixture allocation (including additions).
• Group track capital expenditure and purchasing.
• Attend regular regional and departmental meetings to align approaches.
• Regular site visits out of which the key focus will be compliance welfare and improving standards.
• Focus on upskilling Clerking and Grounds teams and supporting in recruitment processes.
• Seeking efficiencies in ways of working e.g. providing clarity around the deployment of our resources in a cost effective and budgeted manner. For example ensuring optimal use of our variable labour and external third party contractors such as Treaders to support our core teams without creating additional headcount.
• Educating our venues on best in class presentation of site / outdoor areas within budgetary constraints.

Experience and Skills Required

• BHA accredited Clerk of the Course with minimum 5 years post accreditation experience.
• Deep understanding of turf and AW care and maintenance equine welfare and regulatory requirements.
• Experienced in managing and mentoring operational teams.
• Ability to manage across multiple sites and priorities.

What ARC can offer you

Days Out & Leave

• Want to experience a day on the other side: 2 Annual Members badges giving access to over 500 race days as well as discounts on hospitality & room rates at ARC venues.
• Because we value work-life balance we offer an annual leave entitlement starting at 22 days plus bank and public holidays - increasing on your work anniversaries up to 28 days!

Because your health & wellbeing comes first

• Company life assurance scheme
• Employee Health Cash Plan
• Cycle to work scheme

And so much more! 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 apply today.

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.

Key Skills

• Succession Planning
• Growing Experience
• Expense Management
• Management Experience
• Rackspace
• Laboratory Management
• Senior Leadership
• Operations Management
• Relationship Management
• Leadership Experience
• Negotiation
• Taxonomy

Employment Type : Full-Time

Department / Functional Area : Operations

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1