General Manager - Cookie, Melbourne

Red Rock Venues; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Rock Venues in Melbourne is seeking a seasoned General Manager to lead one of Australia’s iconic venues. You will drive guest experience, oversee the restaurant, beer hall and cocktail bar, and champion a high-performance culture with a focus on staff development.

The role offers a highly competitive base salary with performance bonuses, and a prime CBD location at Curtin House. You will work with an established leadership team to deliver exceptional hospitality in a dynamic, night-time

Qualifications

• Proven Hospitality Leadership: 3+ years of General Manager experience within a high-volume hospitality environment.
• Personality & Presence: infectious enthusiasm for hospitality and the ability to engage guests.
• People Leadership: lead diverse teams with confidence, care and clarity; develop people and culture.
• Diverse Operational Knowledge: strong experience in high-volume food service and premium beverage trends.
• Commercial Acumen: manage labour, COGS and controllable expenses; drive revenue with data.
• Melbourne Knowledge: understanding of Melbourne's dining, bar, music and cultural landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead from the floor with warm and knowledgeable service that makes every guest feel welcome and brings the venue's personality to life.
• Recruit, coach and inspire a world-class team, fostering a high-performance culture with a focus on staff development.
• Take ownership of the details that shape the room—from music and lighting to presentation and service—ensuring a smooth transition from dining to drinks and late-night trade.
• Oversee daily operations across restaurant, beer hall and cocktail bar to ensure flawless execution.
• Manage budgets and P&L performance, control labour, and maintain strict COGS across extensive food and beverage lists.
• Maintain absolute compliance with liquor licensing laws, food safety standards, and OH&S regulations.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

People management

Budgeting & P&L

Operational excellence

Staff development

Melbourne hospitality knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality or Business

Tools

POS systems

Labor cost software

Job description

About the Opportunity

Lead one of Australia's most iconic venues and the talented team behind it.

Highly competitive salary package with strong bonus incentives.

Key Responsibilities

Hospitality & Guest Experience: Lead from the floor with warm and knowledgeable service that makes every guest feel welcome and brings the venue's personality to life.

Leadership & Culture: Recruit, coach and inspire a world-class team, fostering a high-performance culture with a focus on staff development.

Atmosphere & Venue Character: Take ownership of the details that shape the room - from music and lighting to presentation and service - ensuring a natural transition from dining into drinks and late-night trade.

Venue Operations: Oversee daily operations, ensuring flawless execution across the restaurant, beer hall and cocktail bar.

Commercial Performance: Manage budgets and P&L performance, control labour, and maintain strict COGS control across extensive food and beverage lists.

Compliance & Safety: Maintain absolute compliance with liquor licensing laws, food safety standards, and OH&S regulations.

Skills & Experience Required

Proven Hospitality Leadership: 3+ years of General Manager experience within a high-volume hospitality environment.

Personality & Presence: You have an infectious enthusiasm for hospitality. You can read a room, connect with people and bring positive energy to a lively venue.

People Leadership: The ability to lead a team of different personalities with confidence, care and clarity. You develop people, build pride and accountability, and remain calm under pressure.

Diverse Operational Knowledge: Strong experience in high-volume food service, familiarity with premium cocktail trends, and sound beer and wine knowledge.

Commercial Acumen: Strong financial literacy with experience managing labour, COGS and controllable expenses; growing revenue; and adjusting operations based on data.

Melbourne Hospitality Knowledge: An understanding of Melbourne's dining, bar, music and cultural landscape is advantageous.

What's on Offer

A Hospitality Institution: Lead one of Melbourne's most well-known and loved hospitality venues.

Competitive Remuneration: A highly competitive base salary commensurate with your experience, paired with achievable performance bonuses.

Support Network: Work alongside an established leadership team, experienced venue professionals and a supportive head office.

Prime CBD Location: Work out of one of Melbourne's most distinctive hospitality and cultural destinations - Curtin House.