Job title: General Manager
Based at: Epsom Downs Racecourse
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 40 hours per week
About the role
Epsom Downs Racecourse has a fantastic opportunity for a General Manager to lead the team providing strong commercial management, leadership and direction. This leadership position will be crucial in developing and delivering strategies and innovation to strengthen The Derby’s position as ‘Racing’s most spectacular carnival’ on the global stage.
About The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club stages thrilling sporting occasions and live events nationwide including The Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival & The Derby. Owning & operating 15 courses, millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment on racedays and beyond.
As the largest commercial group in British racing, we are guided by our mission to act for the long term good of the sport. Every penny we make goes back into racing to promote excellence within Britain’s second biggest spectator sport. Our people are what makes this possible
At The Jockey Club people are at the heart of what we do and drive our success. We are inclusive and actively seek to attract people with unique backgrounds and perspectives. Diverse, collaborative teams are pivotal to our success and support the potential and growth of all our people.
The General Manager will:
Deliver the new strategic plan for Epsom Downs
• Evolve and execute new strategy to grow Derby Festival into a week-long event.
• Refine and implement a business strategy for Epsom Downs Racecourse that is aligned with The Jockey Club overall vision and strategic plan.
• Design and deliver site property masterplan in collaboration with Property Team to diversify and grow revenue mix.
Deliver a leading racecourse
• Regularly monitor and review the P&L highlighting areas of risk and opportunity ensuring cost efficiencies are made and commercial opportunities explored.
• Deliver a beautifully presented Group One Racecourse site in line with Jockey Club standards and customer expectations, working closely with the Racecourse Operations Team.
• Always ensure compliance of Health & Safety at your racecourse and work with the teams across the region to ensure the highest standard of H&S across the site and all events.
Embed the racecourse in key communities
• Deeply embed Epsom Downs in the heart of the communities that surround the racecourse by developing strong local relationships.
• Act as an ambassador for Epsom Downs Racecourse and The Jockey Club in the local, national, and international racing community, including driving awareness.
• Lead the Epsom Training Ground team, in collaboration with Estates team and work with local training community to deliver successful local training centre
Build a high performing team
• Build, motivate and develop a high performing racecourse team to deliver outstanding service and business results with strong culture of learning and development.
• Collaborate with the senior management and National teams to create an innovative commercial, sales and marketing culture that maximises every opportunity.
• Closely integrate with London region delivery teams (operations, customer experience, maintenance) to improve cross-site efficiencies
• Manage the racecourse committee in conjunction with the Managing Director and Racecourse Chairman, ensuring strong relationships are built, networking opportunities are established, and value is gained from specific areas of expertise among committee members.
About you
• Outstanding communicator with a hands-on approach able to contribute positively and influence business decisions.
• Proven people leader adept at inspiring and leading teams to deliver results in a matrix structure.
• Thrives in a team environment collaborating effectively across a varied stakeholder group both internally & externally.
• Commercially savvy and experienced in controlling a sizeable budget.
• Proactive and comfortable taking ownership and responsibility with a hands-on approach.
• Logical thinker comfortable using initiative, identifying risks, and resolving issues.
• Professional Service approach knowledge
• Proven experience in an events environment, ideally with large events
What we offer in return
• All colleagues can go along to any of our race day or music events free of charge - along with 3 friends or family with our TeamPass Ticket scheme.
• An award-winning pension scheme provider with a generous employer contribution
• A healthcare cash back plan enabling you to claim money back on health & wellbeing services.
• 25 days annual leave
• Access to a suite of Learning & Development training resources from renowned providers
• A whole host of other benefits including free eyecare vouchers, a ride to work cycle scheme & discounts across varying retailers & services.
If you think you have everything we’re looking for and more, then we’d love to hear from you. Don’t hang around, our closing date for this vacancy is 2 nd September but we reserve the right to bring this forward if we have many applications.
This role may be subject to a criminal record check, standard or enhanced DBS check or BHA Suitability Check. By applying you confirm that you are happy for these checks to be carried out.