Operations Manager Conference and Events

Job Introduction

Job Title: Operations Manager - Conference and Events

Location: Ascot Racecourse, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7JX 

Salary: £45,000 + up to 10% Bonus

Holiday Entitlement: 23 days Holiday + Bank holidays

Hours: Flexible working hours based on business requirements, including early starts, late finishes, and weekend shifts during event periods.

About Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse is more than a venue; it’s a destination for extraordinary experiences. Each year, over half a million guests join us to celebrate moments of passion, elegance and tradition, brought to life by a team who care deeply about every detail.

With a heritage spanning more than 300 years, Ascot remains one of the world’s most prestigious racecourses. Yet our story continues to evolve. Guided by creativity, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence, we are building a global lifestyle brand, rooted in world-class horseracing.

Our Conference and Events business reflects that same spirit. From high-profile conferences and large exhibitions to intimate dinners and luxury hospitality experiences, we deliver bespoke occasions that embody quality, sophistication and style.

Excellence is at the heart of everything we do. Those who join us share our ambition to create moments that inspire, connect and live long in the memory.

Role Summary

You will lead the operational delivery of our conferencing and events portfolio, ensuring flawless execution, financial discipline, client satisfaction and operational excellence. You will work in partnership with Sales, Culinary, Technical, Facilities and our Health & Safety teams, to translate vision into reality.

You will set and maintain the highest standards and be the guardian of detail, the architect of efficiency and the strategist of profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operations for all conferences, corporate events, exhibitions, gala dinners and hospitality functions - from planning through to breakdown
• Act as strategic operations partner to clients: counsel, advise, challenge and protect operational feasibility
• Serve as primary liaison between our Sales and Client teams, bridging client ambition and operational reality
• Develop comprehensive event plans, operational schedules, critical paths, risk assessments, site plans and event-specific operations manuals
• Oversee all logistical elements: room setups, staging, AV/technical, furniture, signage, flow, loading access, breakdown sequencing
• Collaborate closely with culinary teams to build menu solutions, service flows, plating strategies, logistics and back-of-house coordination
• Enforce and audit compliance with health & safety, food safety, licensing, crowd management and internal SOPs
• Own financials for each event: estimating, pricing, cost control, margin protection, forecasting, labour modelling, variance reporting
• Monitor event performance via KPIs and post-event debriefs; identify process improvements and deliver greater efficiency
• Build, maintain and grow strong client relationships: lead site visits, run operational briefings, anticipate needs, act as key client contact onsite
• Recruit, develop and lead a high-performing operations team (full time and casual), ensure strong deployment, training, quality control and performance
• Be present onsite for critical events, troubleshooting in real time, ensuring delivery under pressure
• Oversee our client funded areas for Racedays
• Support on external events, as required

What Success Looks Like

You are the person clients trust, knowing they can hand over the operational reins and you will deliver. You don’t flinch under pressure; you thrive on big delivering complex and large scale events, and working to tight timelines. You maintain composure, keep standards high, and never let the detail slip.

You operate with commercial sharpness: you read a P&L, you question cost lines, you refine budgets and you protect margins. You don’t settle for “good enough.” You are accountable, drive continuous improvement and demand excellence.

Your Experience & Skills

• At least 5 years in high-end event operations, ideally in a large venue, conference centre, luxury hotel or hospitality event business
• Proven track record delivering large-scale, multi-day conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners or high-end corporate events
• Strong financial acumen: you’ve built budgets, managed forecasts, understood cost lines, and driven margin improvement
• Extensive knowledge of operations, logistics, production flow, AV/technical delivery, site management
• Experience working closely with culinary teams — understanding plating, mise en place, service logistics, kitchen sequencing
• Strong understanding of health & safety, licensing, food safety procedures, crowd management and operational risk
• Excellent client-facing and relationship-building skills; you can confidently lead client meetings, site tours, operational briefings
• Demonstrated leadership of mixed workforces (core and casual staff), with capability in training, performance management and driving a positive team culture
• Superb organisational skills, attention to detail, resilience, decisiveness and the ability to multi-task
• Comfortable being hands-on; you will spend time in the field as well as behind the scenes
• Flexible working: you will be expected to support evening, weekend and out-of-hours events

Desirable

• Professional qualification in health & safety (e.g. NEBOSH, IOSH) or CIEH
• Personal licence holder  
• Experience in large-scale exhibition operations or trade shows
• Experience with event management software / venue management systems

What We Offer

• A platform to lead premium, high-impact events
• Competitive remuneration and bonus tied to business performance
• Opportunity to shape and elevate the operational standards at a flagship venue
• A supportive, high-performing leadership environment 

If you're someone who won’t accept second best, who lives for flawless execution and ambitious scale, let’s talk. Submit your CV and a cover letter that shows us what makes you the best in the business. 

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo Live!

At Sodexo Live!, we believe every event is an opportunity to create exceptional moments and lasting memories. As a global leader in hospitality and venue services, we partner with iconic venues including stadiums, arenas, convention centres, museums and cultural destinations to deliver experiences that delight guests and elevate brands.

Operating in 55 countries and serving over 100 million consumers each day, we are part of Sodexo, a company renowned for improving the Quality of Life. Our services include bespoke catering, facilities management, event logistics and guest services, all tailored to the unique needs of each venue and event.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. As a Disability Confident Leader and a forces-friendly employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Our Employee Networks, including Pride, Disability, Ability, So Together, Generations and Origins, provide platforms for support and community engagement.

At Sodexo Live!, you will be part of a team that brings people together, creates memorable experiences and makes a real impact through the power of shared moments.