Catering Manager

Catering Manager at Newton Abbot Racecourse

Location: Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon TQ12 3AF

Salary: Competitive Salary, based on experience

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent (40 hours)

Shift Pattern: Flexible to include evenings, weekends, and bank holidays to meet event needs

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Are you a passionate, experienced, organised and creative Catering Manager ready to lead the culinary team and customer experience at one of the region's most prestigious event venues? Newton Abbot Racecourse is a fast-growing events venue, also renowned for staging 18 high-profile horse-racing events per year. We are looking for a hands-on manager to oversee our catering operations, from high pressure racedays that attract up to 7,000 people to intimate dinners, a variety of special events and corporate functions.

About the role

As Catering Manager, you will be responsible for the seamless and profitable operation of our catering services. Working closely with our Head Chef and Sous Chef, you will lead a dedicated team to deliver outstanding food and beverage experiences for all of our events including racedays. This is a crucial, high-impact role for a leader who can maintain quality under pressure, has an eye for detail and can inspire creativity and best experience in their team.

Key responsibilities:

• Operations: Manage all day-to-day catering activities, including menu planning, food preparation, and service delivery.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, train, supervise, and motivate a small team of full-time and a larger team of temporary staff to ensure excellent customer service and high morale.
• Financial Management: Control budgets, monitor costs, manage stock levels, oversee purchasing and negotiate with suppliers to meet financial targets.
• Client Relations: Work directly with clients to understand their needs, design menus, and ensure high quality event delivery.
• Quality and Compliance: Uphold the highest standards of food hygiene, health and safety, and compliance with all regulations.
• Innovation: Stay current with industry trends to develop and implement new catering initiatives and menu ideas.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate is a natural leader with a proven track record in hospitality and event catering.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience in a catering management role, ideally a high-volume commercial operation.
• A strong creative flair and passion for high-quality food and drink.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with clients and staff.
• Excellent financial acumen with experience managing budgets and controlling costs.
• A solid understanding of food safety regulations and catering best practices.
• Flexibility to work varied hours, including evenings and weekends, based on our event schedule.

Why join Newton Abbot Racecourse?

We offer more than just a job; we offer the chance to be part of a team that is committed to making Newton Abbot Racecourse the best pound for pound racecourse venue in the UK. You will work in a unique location and play a vital role in our venue's success. We provide a supportive environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a competitive benefits package.

To apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role to by close of business on Friday 14th November 2025.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £30,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person