Race Director

Daytona Motorsport; Esher; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Daytona Sandown Park is seeking a Race Director to lead live race operations and oversee teams across departments. You will manage race control, track operations, staffing, and safety procedures to ensure each event runs smoothly, safely, and professionally.

The role combines operations leadership, people management, safety oversight, and event delivery in a busy outdoor karting venue. Excellent communication and decision‑making are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a management or team leadership role.
• Strong operational awareness and confident decision‑making.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer‑facing skills.
• Experience in customer service or live operational environments.
• Confidence in public speaking and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for venue operations, acting as Duty Manager.
• Oversee race control, track monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure safe delivery of all race sessions and events.
• Coordinate event timings and operational requirements across departments.
• Manage staff rotas, breaks, and shift deployment to maintain safe staffing levels.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development of venue staff.
• Ensure staff presentation, PPE, and professional standards meet Daytona requirements.
• Conduct performance reviews and support career progression.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, licensing, and company regulations.
• Maintain accurate training, incident, and operational records.
• Act as a key point of escalation for incidents, customer issues, and emergencies.
• Ensure fire, evacuation, first aid, and incident procedures are followed.
• Liaise with engineering on kart safety, maintenance, and testing records.
• Oversee stock control, purchasing, and budget‑aware ordering.
• Ensure correct money handling procedures are followed.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting to GM, Ops, and HR.

Skills

Management experience

Operational awareness

Public speaking

Customer service

Team leadership

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Race Director

Location: Daytona Sandown Park, Esher
Department: Track Team
Reporting to: General Manager

Are you an experienced manager, supervisor, or team leader who thrives in fast-paced, live environments? As Race Director at Daytona Sandown, you'll lead race operations, oversee teams on shift, and ensure every event is delivered safely, professionally, and to the highest standard at the Midlands' largest outdoor racing track.

Why Join Us?

• Take a senior, hands‑on leadership role at a busy outdoor motorsport venue
• Be responsible for live race operations and customer experience
• Lead, train, and develop teams in a fast‑paced environment
• Work closely with senior management and influence venue performance
• Varied role combining operations, people management, safety, and events
• Opportunity to develop further within an established karting business

About Daytona & Sandown Park

Daytona is the UK's leading karting operator, delivering one of the most authentic motorsport experiences available in arrive-and-drive karting. From championship-winning DMAX race karts and iconic endurance events to corporate experiences and junior driver development, Daytona provides unrivalled racing opportunities for drivers of all levels.

Daytona Sandown Park is a long-established outdoor karting venue operating in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. Quality, consistency, and teamwork are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring every customer receives a safe, professional, and memorable experience.

The Role

As Race Director, you will be responsible for the safe and effective operation of the venue when on shift. You will lead teams across departments, oversee race control and track operations, manage staffing and rotas, and ensure customer expectations are met at all times.

This role combines operational control, people leadership, safety oversight, and event delivery, and requires a confident decision‑maker who remains calm under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

Venue & Race Operations

• Take full responsibility for venue operations, acting as Duty Manager
• Oversee race control, track monitoring, and regulatory compliance
• Ensure safe delivery of all race sessions and events
• Coordinate event timings and operational requirements across departments

People Management & Training

• Manage staff rotas, breaks, and shift deployment to maintain safe staffing levels
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development of venue staff
• Ensure staff presentation, PPE, and professional standards meet Daytona requirements
• Conduct performance reviews and support career progression

Safety, Compliance & Standards

• Ensure compliance with statutory, licensing, and company regulations
• Maintain accurate training, incident, and operational records
• Act as a key point of escalation for incidents, customer issues, and emergencies
• Ensure fire, evacuation, first aid, and incident procedures are followed

Operations & Administration

• Liaise with engineering on kart safety, maintenance, and testing records
• Oversee stock control, purchasing, and budget‑aware ordering
• Ensure correct money handling procedures are followed
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting to GM, Ops, and HR

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in a management or team leadership role
• Strong operational awareness and confident decision‑making
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer‑facing skills
• Experience in customer service or live operational environments
• Confidence in public speaking and leading teams
• Strong attention to detail and professional standards
• Computer literate, including MS Office
• First Aid at Work qualification (or willingness to maintain certification)
• Flexible availability, working 40 hours per week on a rota including weekends

Experience in motorsport, marshalling, or outdoor operational environments is highly desirable and advantageous