People Operations Manager - Events
Be part of something greater.
- Job reference: SDX/TP/736016/158113
- Location: Ascot
- Job type: Full Time - 40 hours a week
- Salary: upto £44,000 per annum plus Sodexo Benefits
- Closing date: 02 July 2026
About the role
- Job Title: People Operations Manager – Events
- Location: Royal Ascot, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7JX with travel to off-site events
- Upto £44,000 Salary + upto 10% performance bonus
- 40 Hours / Mon-Fri with requirements to support Weekend Racedays & Events
- Perks: Raceday Tickets
Job Introduction
Due to continued business growth and an expanding events portfolio, Sodexo Live! have an exciting opportunity for a People Operations Manager – Events to join our team at Ascot Racecourse, supporting the delivery of some of the UK’s most prestigious sporting and hospitality events.
This is a fast-paced and varied operational role where you will take ownership of workforce planning and people operations across off-site events and support Racedays. You will play a key role in delivering exceptional guest experiences by ensuring staffing plans are efficient, commercially focused, and aligned to operational needs.
Working closely with operational leaders, agency partners, and key stakeholders, you will oversee labour planning, staffing delivery, labour forecasting, recruitment support, and workforce performance across a diverse events portfolio. You will also lead and develop a small event staffing team, driving high standards, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
You will be accountable for managing people related budgets for key events and will need to ensure you are driving commerciality.
This role will involve weekend working, travel to off-site events, and flexibility during peak event periods, particularly throughout the summer season. Some events may require overnight stays or extended periods away from home.
To succeed you will have strength of character, meticulous attention to detail and a passion for driving Service Excellence through people. If you thrive in fast-paced, diverse operational environments, enjoy leading people, and want to be part of an exceptional portfolio of prestigious events, we’d love to hear from you.
What You'll Do:
- Lead all aspects of labour planning and workforce delivery for allocated events and operational functions
- Produce accurate staffing forecasts aligned to budgets, operational requirements, and commercial targets
- Manage and develop a small People Operations/Event Staffing team
- Build strong relationships with operational managers, agency partners, and key stakeholders
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of direct hire and casual event staff
- Monitor labour productivity, staffing costs, and event KPIs to drive operational efficiency
- Oversee timesheet accuracy, payroll support, purchase orders, and labour reporting
- Support live events both on-site and off-site, ensuring staffing challenges are resolved effectively
- Drive continuous improvement across workforce planning systems, reporting, and processes
- Ensure compliance with employment legislation, HR policies, and health & safety standards
- Support the development of a casual workforce and drive organic growth within the team
For a full list of responsibilities please view the attached job description
What You Bring:
- Experience managing large-scale casual or temporary workforces within hospitality, events, leisure, or service-led environments
- Strong labour planning, scheduling, and forecasting experience
- Confident people manager with the ability to coach and support teams
- Commercially aware with experience managing labour costs and staffing productivity
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced operational environment
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Experience using workforce planning or time and attendance systems such as Humanforce is desirable
- Strong Microsoft Excel and reporting skills
- Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel to event locations
What we offer:
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 Live!
At Sodexo Live! 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.
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KEY BENEFITS
-
Advice and guidance
Get help with legal, financial, personal or work issues whenever you need it. -
Pension Plan
Save effectively for your future when you join the Sodexo Pension Plan. -
Wellbeing support
Unlimited access to online support for your mental health, 24/7. -
Generous leave
For holidays, care needs or major life events, we’ll help you rest and recharge. -
Discounts and savings
Enjoy great deals from leading retailers and use our Bike to Work scheme -
Virtual GP
24-hour access to video or phone consultations for you and your family.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At our company, we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Roles at Sodexo are designed to empower individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an environment that values equity and supports the growth of all employees, ensuring that everyone can contribute to and benefit from our collective success.
Social Impact
Ever since we started, we’ve had a clear purpose – to do some good in our communities through helping people. Today, that purpose is still a huge part of who we are. And every one of our colleagues helps that happen.
We’re committed to volunteering our time, resources, skills and knowledge – more than 50% of colleagues contribute to thousands of volunteer hours every year. And our Charitable Foundation has now donated over £9 million to charities and good causes across the country.
Ascot, United Kingdom, SL4 7JX
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