We are looking for a passionate and knowledgeable General Manager to be the ambassador of Sedgefield Racecourse.
About us…
Arena Racing Company does so much more than lead the UK’s largest horse racing group. We have 21 racing venues showcasing horse racing, greyhound racing, golf courses, hotels and events. In short, leisure, entertainment, media production and global distribution are at the heart of what we do, making it an exciting and diverse place to work!
Our success is a team effort which is why we offer great opportunities for growth, development and career progression. After all, it’s our employees that enable us to offer first class service and create an electric atmosphere, all within an industry we love.
What is ARC?
We embrace diversity
We develop our people
We care for our visitors
We think about our impact
We are proud of our sport
Work Perks of being a General Manager...
• Annual passes to attend any of our 21 venues
• Discounted food & ARC days out
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday allowance increasing with length of service up to 28 days
• Company life assurance scheme
• Discretionary group annual bonus schemes to reward your hard work
• Support with study through our study assistance schemes
And so much more…
About the role:
Responsibility for successful delivery of the racecourse profit plan and operation of the business.
The General Manager is responsible for ensuring all the key responsibilities above are professionally managed and relevant targets are met or exceeded.
The General Manager will head a team based at Sedgefield which includes administration, sales, operations and racing (the Clerk of the Course is a shared resource) including the ground staff.
The finance management team will be based at Newcastle Racecourse but basic finance tasks will be carried out at Sedgefield. The catering operation will also be supported by Newcastle Racecourse.
There are seven key income lines in the business: admissions, hospitality, sponsorship, advertising hoardings/branding, annual boxes, annual badges and non-race day events such as conferencing, outdoor events, banqueting and weddings.
The targets for these key income lines will be achieved by working alongside and managing a pro-active team at Sedgefield and across the region. High levels of commitment and responsibility will be required in order to meet and surpass performance targets.
Responsibilities
• Clear and concise reporting as required to the Regional Director - North and Financial Controller. This is to include all bookings, cash flow and enquiries. Ensure all bookings are paid for prior to the event taking place in line with the company’s terms and conditions
• Race day pre-planning through co-ordination with the commercial departments and deploying operational resources within outline race day budgets, comply with racing regulations and ensure race days are run safely meeting our legal obligations.
• Ensuring the proper preplanning and delivery of non-racing events through the catering and events team ensuring client expectations are delivered whilst activities on the site by third parties are undertaken safely and in-line with current event industry guidance.
• Reviewing the site customer proposition working with the marketing team to establish feedback and responding across well as taking a holistic view with the Regional Director - North across the site with the objective of making improvements to the proposition, customer service and experience.
• Undertaking projects as agreed with the Regional Director - North, establishing the investment case and overseeing delivery where agreed.
• To review the IT provision and service support across the Racecourse site establishing investment and service level requirements to ensure the Racecourse has sufficient capability to service its customer base.
The person we are looking for as a General Manager has…..
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior leadership role within Hotels, Sports Arenas or Facilities Management
• Knowledge and experience of working within large multi-faceted facilities or ‘resort’ style environments
• Gravitas, charisma and excellent people management skills
• Outstanding customer service and communication skills
• Experience of managing line reports and diverse teams of people
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Excellent organisational skills
• A systematic approach to problems
• A process driven attitude to tasks
• Loyalty
• Commitment
• Positive attitude
We are on a thrilling journey. So, to join us at our next destination, be part of a winning team and to learn more about our company and this exciting opportunity apply today.
At ARC, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. We are an equal opportunities employer.
