Venue Operations Manager - Racecourse

Sodexo Ltd; Musselburgh; On-site; GBP 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality service company in Musselburgh is looking for an F&B Operations Manager to lead venue operations across race days and events. The ideal candidate will manage teams, ensure compliance, and drive innovation in service delivery. A passion for the catering industry and proven experience in high-volume environments are essential. This role offers competitive compensation and extensive benefits.

Benefits

Mental health support services

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing app

Employee discounts scheme

Retirement plan options

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret and communicate P&L data.
• Proven experience in high-volume catering environments.
• Excellent communication skills, confident in presenting to clients and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the venue is fully operational and maintained to high standards for all race day events.
• Lead operational meetings with racecourse clients to ensure consistent excellence.
• Recruit, train, and develop staff, promoting productivity.

Skills

Financial acumen

Catering industry knowledge

High-volume catering experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Leadership skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Overview

Job Title: F&B Operations Manager

Location: Musselburgh

Salary: £34,000 per year + up to 10% bonus + excellent Sodexo benefits

Working pattern: Monday - Friday with occasional evenings and weekends in line with race days

Job Introduction

Musselburgh Racecourse, in partnership with Heritage Portfolio, is delighted to be recruiting a Venue Operations Manager to lead and deliver exceptional operations across both race day and non-race day events. Reporting directly to the General Manager, you’ll be at the heart of the action, managing everything from intimate corporate functions to major race days attracting up to 7,000 guests.

Working as part of the award-winning Heritage Portfolio team, you’ll oversee event planning and execution, drive Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance, and manage budgets to deliver strong commercial performance. You’ll also lead and develop a talented on-site team, from a small core group on non-race days to 150+ staff on busy race days — ensuring seamless operations and an outstanding experience for every guest.

If you’re a hospitality or operations professional with experience in large venues, high-volume catering, or complex event delivery, and you thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment, this is your chance to join one of Scotland’s most exciting sporting and hospitality destinations.

What You'll Do

• Ensure the venue is fully operational and maintained to high standards for all race day events.
• Maintain strict quality control, hygiene, and Health & Safety in line with Heritage Portfolio standards.
• Communicate service offerings clearly to clients, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead operational meetings with racecourse clients to ensure consistent excellence and promote the MRC brand.
• Foster collaborative, professional relationships between Heritage Portfolio and Musselburgh Racecourse stakeholders.
• Drive innovation in service and food delivery to enhance reputation, client satisfaction, and revenue.
• Manage financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, stock management, and reporting.
• Recruit, train, and develop staff, promoting productivity through effective scheduling and a positive work culture.
• Uphold contractual obligations and represent Heritage Portfolio at senior management meetings.
• Ensure security of premises, stock, personnel, and customers, delivering KPIs and targets for events.

What You Bring

Essential

• Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret and communicate P&L data.
• Passionate about the catering industry, aware of current trends and market developments.
• Proven experience in high-volume catering environments.
• Excellent communication skills, confident in presenting to clients and colleagues.
• Highly organised with advanced planning capabilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate diverse teams.

Desirable

• Experience and understanding of events costing and event design.
• Ability to identify and capitalise on revenue growth opportunities.
• Skilled at working accurately under pressure and meeting strict deadlines.

What we offer

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

We offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins. We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.