Event Manager - Melbourne Cricket Ground

Quay clean; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Quayclean is seeking an experienced Event Manager to lead cleaning, presentation and waste operations at Melbourne's major event venue. You will oversee pre-event planning, event-day execution and post-event changeover, managing a large casual workforce and budgets.

You will drive safe, presentation-ready environments, build stakeholder relationships and deliver within tight event deadlines, while maintaining high standards of WHS and service quality.

Qualifications

• Experience leading operational teams within fast-paced venues.
• Experience managing a large casual workforce across events.
• Budgeting, labour management and financial reporting experience.
• Strong leadership, coaching and problem-solving skills.
• Valid Australian driver's licence and willingness to obtain checks.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed operational plans for each event (labour, equipment, consumables, waste).
• Lead pre-event, event-day and post-event cleaning and waste operations.
• Ensure areas are presentation-ready and signed off before gates open.
• Forecast workforce requirements and coordinate rosters for a large casual/staff calendar.
• Oversee WHS compliance, incident reporting and KPI reporting.
• Build relationships with venue, promoters and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve service quality and productivity.

Skills

Operational leadership

Workforce planning

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Scheduling

Tools

Forklift licence

Job description

Melbourne | Major Event Venue

Quayclean is seeking an experienced Event Manager to lead cleaning, presentation and waste operations at one of Melbourne's major event venues.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role responsible for delivering services across the complete event cycle-from pre-event planning and event-day operations through to post-event cleaning and venue changeover.

Working in a fast-paced live-event environment, you will lead a large and variable workforce, manage customer and stakeholder relationships, oversee event budgets and ensure every area is safe, presentation-ready and delivered within immovable event deadlines.

About the role

Reporting to the Contract Manager, you will:

• Develop detailed operational plans for each event, covering labour, equipment, consumables and waste requirements.
• Lead pre-event, event-day and post-event cleaning and waste operations.
• Ensure all areas are presentation-ready and signed off before gates open.
• Forecast workforce requirements and coordinate rosters across a large casual and seasonal workforce.
• Maintain a reliable pool of trained, inducted and accredited team members.
• Lead, coach and develop Supervisors, Team Leaders and operational staff.
• Build strong working relationships with the venue, promoters, hirers and other event stakeholders.
• Attend event planning, production and debrief meetings as Quayclean's on-site representative.
• Respond quickly and professionally to operational issues and customer requests during live events.
• Prepare and manage event labour, equipment and consumable budgets.
• Monitor actual labour hours against approved event plans and manage overtime, penalty rates and agency expenditure.
• Identify, quote and obtain approval for additional or out-of-scope services.
• Maintain high standards of workplace health and safety, including incident and hazard reporting.
• Oversee waste streaming, recycling infrastructure and contractor collections.
• Monitor waste diversion outcomes and support the venue's sustainability objectives.
• Prepare timely post-event, operational, financial, safety and KPI reports.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve service quality, productivity and commercial performance.

About you

You are an experienced operational leader who remains calm and decisive in high-pressure environments. You understand that successful event delivery depends on detailed planning, disciplined execution and the ability to solve problems in real time.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading operational teams within an event, stadium, major venue or similarly fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing a large and variable casual workforce across a live event calendar.
• Strong workforce planning, rostering and resource coordination skills.
• Proven ability to manage customer and stakeholder relationships.
• Sound commercial acumen, including budgeting, labour management and financial reporting.
• Strong leadership, coaching and team-development capability.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• A practical understanding of workplace health and safety requirements.
• Confidence working to strict deadlines in a dynamic operational environment.
• Strong integrity, resilience and a consistent record of delivering on commitments.
• Proficiency in operational administration and reporting.
• A valid Australian driver's licence.
• A current Police Check, or the ability to obtain one.
• A Working with Children Check and any venue-specific accreditations required for the position.
• A valid forklift licence would be highly regarded.
• Full Australian working rights.

Due to the nature of major events, you must be available to work a flexible roster that includes nights, weekends, public holidays and extended shifts in line with the venue's event calendar.

Why join Quayclean?

Quayclean is a national leader in cleaning, sustainability and specialty services, supported by a team of more than 5,000 people across Australia.

We offer genuine career opportunities and invest in the development of our people through practical training, nationally recognised qualifications and internal development programs. You will join a team committed to delivering outstanding event experiences and Making our Customers look Great.

Quayclean is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from people of all abilities and backgrounds, particularly First Nations Peoples and individuals who may experience diversity or disability-related barriers to employment.

If you are an experienced event operations leader who thrives in a fast-moving major-venue environment, we would welcome your application.