Assistant Restaurant Manager - New Premium Opening!

Pony Dining Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pony Dining Group in Sydney's Barangaroo is opening a flagship venue and seeks an Assistant Restaurant Manager to join the launch team. You will lead on the floor with the GM, shaping culture, service standards, and daily operations from day one.

The role requires hands-on leadership, premium-service mindset, and the ability to perform under pressure in a high-volume setting. Join us to build a standout dining experience and develop a high-performing FOH team across pre-opening and ongoing

Qualifications

• Proven Assistant Manager experience in hatted or premium dining venues.
• Strong operational knowledge with hands-on leadership style.
• High-level service standards and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre-opening and opening operations to ensure a smooth launch.
• Coach and mentor FOH supervisors and team members.
• ROSTERING, labour control, and shift costing.
• Drive upselling, productivity, and service efficiency.
• Maintain compliance with systems and reporting standards.

Skills

Leadership

Guest experience

Team coaching

Operations management

Rostering & scheduling

Tools

Lightspeed

OpenTable

Deputy

Job description

An Opportunity to be part of our new flagship venue.

Assistant Restaurant Manager - Pony Dining Barangaroo

We're building something from the ground up at Pony Dining Barangaroo, and we want you to be part of it. This is a rare opportunity to join a brand new team at one of Sydney's most anticipated openings, not to slot into an existing operation, but to help shape the culture, the energy, and the standard of a venue that's been years in the making.

Backed by the legacy of Pony Dining at The Rocks and led by an experienced leadership team, Barangaroo is where we take everything we know and build it bigger, bolder, and better. If you're someone who thrives on being in at the start, who wants to grow with a team rather than just join one, this is the role for you.

Working closely with the Group General Manager and Venue Manager, the Assistant Restaurant Manager is a key pillar of the leadership team, bridging strategy and execution while maintaining a constant presence on the floor.

You are responsible for end-to-end guest experience, driving a positive team culture and upholding standards across all departments.

Pre-Opening & Operations

• Support venue setup, systems rollout, and opening execution
• Assist in recruitment, onboarding, and structured team training
• Embed service standards, workflows, and daily operational discipline
• Lead services with confidence, ensuring flow, timing, and consistency
• Act as escalation point for guest feedback and service recovery

Team Development

• Coach and mentor supervisors and FOH team members
• Reinforce accountability, performance standards, and team culture
• Lead briefings and continuous training initiatives
• Assist with rostering, labour control, and shift costing
• Drive upselling, productivity, and service efficiency
• Support stock control and cost awareness across FOH

Systems & Compliance

• Ensure effective use of Lightspeed, OpenTable, and Deputy
• Maintain operational compliance and reporting standards

We Are Looking For

• Proven Assistant Manager experience in hatted or premium venues
• Strong operational knowledge with hands-on leadership style
• High-level service standards and attention to detail
• Ability to perform under pressure in high-volume environments

What Success Looks Like

• Services run smoothly with consistent pacing, flow, and team placement
• Team members are coached, engaged, and held to a clear standard on every shift
• Guest experience is elevated at every touchpoint, with issues resolved swiftly and professionally
• Operational tasks including opens, closes, logs, and rostering are completed accurately and on time
• The Venue Manager can trust the floor is in capable hands when they are not present

Why Join the Opening Team

This is not just another role - it is an opportunity to be part of building a flagship venue from day one.

You will work alongside experienced leadership, shape the team culture, and play a key role in delivering one of Sydney's most exciting new dining experiences.