Conference and Events Manager

Job Introduction

Job Description

• Job Title: Conference and Events Manager
• Location: Ascot Racecourse, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7JX 
• £45,000 Salary + up to 10% Bonus
• 23 days Holiday + Bank holidays
• Mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends depending on event schedule.

Job Introduction 

Sodexo Live! is delighted to be recruiting for a dynamic and highly experienced Events Hospitality Manager to join our team at Ascot Racecourse.

Supporting the Head of Hospitality, you will lead all aspects of event hospitality for this spectacular venue. 

Ascot Racecourse is a destination for over 500,000 guests each year where passion, elegance, and celebration converge, and it is our team of behind-the-scenes heroes that bring every intricate detail to life.

As one of the world's leading racecourses, Ascot is renowned for its rich heritage spanning over 300 years. But we are not bound by the past; we're driven by the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. 

From hosting our flagship event, Royal Ascot, to pioneering sustainable practices, we are committed to building a Global lifestyle brand, wrapped around the world class horse racing we run.

This is a fabulous opportunity to showcase your skills and expertise in hospitality event management by joining a venue like no other.

What You'll Do:

• Act as a strategic partner to the Ascot client, advising on C&E business development and client retention strategies.
• Serve as the key point of contact between sales and operations teams to ensure seamless event delivery.
• Manage all aspects of C&E operations to deliver best-in-class service while ensuring compliance with contractual terms, safety standards, and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure event spaces are set up and closed efficiently, maintaining cleanliness and organisation pre-, during, and post-events.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs, food safety, health & safety policies, and Safeguard audit standards.
• Monitor, report, and act on KPIs tied to C&E performance, ensuring targets are consistently met.
• Partner with culinary teams to design compelling, tailored menu offerings aligned with client needs.
• Liaise with clients to share best practices, review event details, and co-develop innovative approaches to attract and retain business.
• Develop pricing structures, manage costs, and ensure events remain profitable and within budget.
• Provide accurate financial forecasting and manage labour plans and actuals in line with budgets.
• Recruit, train, and lead a motivated, professional casual workforce aligned with client standards and company values.
• Identify and nurture talent, supporting training programs to build a high-performing and stable team.

What You Bring:

You will be an experienced Hospitality Event Manager with previously experience of working in large venues, organising high end prestigious events. You will have solid operational experience.

A passion for service excellence is essential, as is your desire and ability to build strong working relationships at all levels within the business. 

Drawing from your experience in the hospitality industry you will know what good looks like, but you will have the desire and drive to exceed this and deliver excellence.

You will also have:

• Operational knowledge and a minimum of three years’ experience in hospitality and event delivery
• Logistics understanding, for efficient set up and breakdown of events.
• Management of Profit and Loss Accounts
• Management of a diverse casual team
• Experience in developing & Implementing SOP’s
• Experience of Client Liaison 
• Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders
• Resilience to manage multiple tasks and effectively prioritise 
• Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative within a team environment 
• Ability to interpret and utilise financial and commercial information
• Experienced in using Microsoft Office
• The flexibility to work weekends and evenings when needed

Desirable

• CIEH Level 3 qualification
• Personal licence holder

What we offer:

You will be rewarded with a salary of up to £45,000 plus access to a suite of benefits and a performance related bonus.

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also 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 (also open to friends and family) 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.

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.

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.

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.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.