Senior Event & Project Manager

ZipRecruiter; Oxford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading events catering firm in Oxford seeks a driven Senior Event & Project Manager to lead exceptional catering delivery for high-profile sporting events. You will manage all aspects of event planning and execution, ensuring operational excellence and client satisfaction. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in event management and a strong background in the catering sector, with a passion for delivering outstanding experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an event or project manager in a catering-led environment.
• Experience managing large-scale, high-profile events.
• Strong communication skills and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of high-profile sporting tournaments.
• Lead teams across catering, logistics, and hospitality.
• Manage forecasting, tracking, and reconciling budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Client liaison

Creative thinking

Operational excellence

Job description

Overview

Senior Event & Project Manager
High-end Events Caterer
Oxford
Salary up to £55,000 - £65,000 DOE
Monday – Friday (flexibility for evenings & occasional weekends)

We’re searching for a driven leader to take the helm of catering and hospitality delivery across flagship sporting tournaments. This is more than project management — it’s your chance to shape unforgettable experiences, orchestrate seamless operations, and set new standards of excellence on a world-class stage.

The Senior Event & Project Manager will oversee the end-to-end delivery of three high-profile sporting tournaments, acting as the primary client liaison and leading all event functions. This role demands strategic leadership, operational excellence, budget management, and cross-functional team coordination to deliver world-class events.

Due to the nature of the role it is imperative you come from a Catering-led Events background

What You’ll Own

• Event Journey: From blue-sky planning through to live delivery & post-event review, you’ll be accountable for every detail.
• Leadership: Set direction, define priorities, and ensure momentum across all functions.
• Food & Beverage Vision: Bring innovation to menus, presentation, and guest experience.
• Operational: Lead teams across catering, logistics, hospitality, and workforce management, ensuring efficiency and flair.
• Financial: Take charge of forecasting, tracking, and reconciling budgets, ensuring every pound adds value.
• Client & Stakeholder: Act as the key liaison for senior stakeholders, balancing big-picture vision with day-to-day delivery.

What Success Looks Like

• Guests wowed by hospitality that feels both effortless and extraordinary.
• Teams motivated, aligned, and thriving under your leadership.
• Budgets not just controlled but optimised — turning strategy into commercial success.
• Events delivered to the highest standards, setting a new benchmark for what great looks like.

Who You Are

• A seasoned event or project manager with experience running large-scale, high-profile projects.
• A confident communicator who builds strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Financially astute, with proven success managing multi-faceted budgets.
• Creative and commercially sharp, bringing new ideas to food & beverage while staying operationally grounded.
• Calm under pressure, energised by complexity, and motivated by delivering excellence at scale.

This is a unique opportunity to combine big picture thinking with hands-on delivery, bringing your expertise to some of the most prestigious tournaments on the sporting calendar.