Event Lead

Foundation And Friends Of The Botanic Gardens; Sydney; On-site; AUD 117,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted accommodation

Training and development

Annual leave loading

Free flu vaccinations

Employee discounts across Marriott

Job summary

Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection, is seeking a Director of Catering and Events to lead a team of Events Managers and Executives. You will forecast monthly catering and AV revenue and work on major events around Sydney.

You will drive client relationships, manage proposals and contracts, and partner with culinary, food & beverage, and rooms divisions to maximise profitability and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management.
• 5 years’ experience in planning sales, events and groups.
• Experience in leadership, management and coaching of a team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee event delivery for large-scale events and conferences.
• Forecast monthly catering and AV revenue for the hotel.
• Develop relationships with clients to meet service standards and budgets.
• Ensure profitable proposals and contracts are accurate.
• Lead and develop the events team to maximise revenue opportunities.
• Coordinate with Culinary, F&B and Rooms to deliver guest satisfaction.

Skills

Event planning

Leadership

Sales

Coaching

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (Business Administration or Marketing or Hotel/Restaurant Management)

Tools

Event management software

Job description

Additional Information

Job Number

Job Category Event Management

Location 11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

VIEW ON MAP ( Full Time

Located Remotely? N

Position Type Management

JOB SUMMARY

There is a key position to be filled at one of Sydney’s most iconic waterfront hotels, Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection. Set on a 1912 heritage wharf built over the water at Walsh Bay, directly beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pier One offers 189 guest rooms and suites, a collection of waterfront event spaces including the Water Room, the Bridge Room and clear‑roofed Bridge Marquee, and the Dawes Point Rooms, with capacity for up to 1,500 guests across the pier, plus PIER dining and PIER BAR on the water. With panoramic harbour views and a heritage setting that simply cannot be replicated, this is a hotel where every event tells a story.

There is no better time to join Pier One Sydney Harbour and the Marriott International family!

+ Be part of Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott’s portfolio of independent, one‑of‑a‑kind hotels that are Exactly Like Nothing Else, and help shape Sydney’s most experiential waterfront hotel.

+ Great Places To Work. Marriott is one of the top places to work in 2025, being certified by Great Places To Work. The Trust Index featured words such as Family, People, Benefits, Culture, Care and Opportunity all stated by Marriott employees globally.

+ Forbes Top 100 companies to work at, Marriott features as number 29

+ Fortune Top 100 companies to work at, ranking number 8.

+ When you join Pier One Sydney Harbour, you are giving yourself the chance to grow, as we invest in you, with the backing of Marriott International’s global platform.

+ You will have the opportunity to travel and live in other destinations across Marriott’s global portfolio should you wish.

As the Director of Catering and Events you will be responsible for managing a team of Events Managers and Executives. You will be responsible for accurately forecasting monthly catering and AV revenue to the hotel and you will work on some of the most exciting events to come to Sydney (Rugby Union World Cup, Sydney Marathon, Sydney Festival and Vivid to name but a few).

You have a passion for exceeding your client’s expectation, whilst also being instrumental in delivering events, leading the team, negotiating pre and post event phases of all residential conferences, meetings, incentives, social events and weddings.

You will oversee the day to day running of the events team, ensuring the team maximises revenue opportunities and accurately forecasts (catering and group rooms) all events. The position is responsible for achieving guest and employee satisfaction in the event sales team.

About the role:

• Responsible for conducting site inspections for prospective clients to the hotel
• Management of the event delivery process for large‑scale events and residential conference opportunities for the hotel
• Develop and sustain relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards, responding to guest feedback in a timely and efficient manner
• Ensures profitable and accurate proposals and contracts
• Champion for hotel’s event management event system, ensuring all team are fully proficient and accredited for use
• Working closely with the Culinary and Food and Beverage team to ensure guest satisfaction on the event and maximum profitability
• Close liaison with Rooms Division, Groups Department and Proactive Sales Team
• Supporting a strong team by identifying career progression opportunities for talent and future development opportunities
• Responsible for accurate forecasting and budgeting of catering and event revenue

About you:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Marketing, Hotel and Restaurant Management.
• 5 years' experience in planning sales, events and groups.
• Experience in leadership, management and coaching of a team
• Able to lead discussions to review event complexity and proactively avoid service challenges and failures
• Has a strong business acumen and understands and utilises information and data to ensure property financial performance

In return we will provide:

• A workplace like no other: a heritage wharf on Sydney Harbour, steps from The Rocks and Barangaroo
• Discounted accommodation and food and beverage at Marriott International hotels worldwide, including Autograph Collection properties
• Rewards and recognition program celebrating the people who bring the Pier One experience to life
• Training and development opportunities within Marriott International, with a clear pathway to your next career step
• Discounted parking onsite
• Discounted staff meals

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non‑discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.

Package up to $146,768.24 pa. Package includes salary range ($116,981.00pa to $129,429.00pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Plan, coordinate and deliver FRNSW corporate events, ceremonies and honours/awards programs, providing protocol advice and ensuring alignment with organisational standards to support effective stakeholder engagement and recognition outcomes.

Experience coordinating events, ceremonies or similar activities, including stakeholder liaison, logistics management and delivery to agreed standards and timeframes.

Strong organisational, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, prepare clear written material and maintain attention to detail in a high‑volume environment.

Tertiary qualifications in event management, communications, public administration or a related discipline and/or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Capacity to work outside standard hours and travel as required to support events and ceremonies.

Current NSW Class C driver’s licence, to facilitate on‑site event coordination and travel in the course of performing the role.

Partnership with Fitness Passport for ongoing staff and their families to access more than 390 gyms and pools at a discounted rate.

Study assistance for approved courses.

Ongoing training and development.

Rewards for your hard work through service awards and recognition.

Heavily discounted gym memberships.

Free annual flu vaccinations.

Professional memberships.

Recognition programs.

Benefits for health and financial wellness.

Employee discount platform.

Annual wellness allowance.

Annual leave loading.

Free flu vaccinations.

Employee discounts on products.

Additional paid parental leave.

Retirement savings plans.

Competitive compensation programs.

Career and development planning for continuous growth and learning.

Annual salary reviews.

Plus much much more!

Viatris is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale, currently supplying high‑quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually and touching all of life's moments, from birth to the end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases.

We have been included on a number of award lists that demonstrate the impact we are making.

We are a certified Great Place To Work for 2025, and have been named in Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2022 list. We have now received this recognition in each of our first two years – and for 2022, we are ranked in the top 10% of the 800 global employers who made the ranking.

We strive to create a positive, productive work environment where integrity, dignity and mutual respect for all is ingrained each and every one of us.

Together, we are building a highly inclusive organisation where employees are welcome to bring their best, authentic selves to work every day.

Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive community where employees feel they belong and can use their unique experiences, perspectives and skills to make a difference in the lives of others.

Position Title: Meeting & Event Manager

Location: Sydney

Employment: 12 Month Maternity Leave contract

Viatris is an Equal Opportunity Employer.