Live Events Operations Manager

Quayclean; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Quayclean is seeking an experienced Event Manager to lead cleaning, presentation and waste operations at one of Melbourne's major event venues. This hands-on leadership role covers the full event cycle—from pre-event planning and event-day operations through to post-event cleaning and venue changeover.

In a fast-paced live-event environment, you will manage a large casual workforce, stakeholders and budgets, ensuring every area is safe, presentation-ready and delivered on time.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading operational teams within fast-paced venues or events.
• Proven ability to manage large casual workforces across multiple event dates.
• Strong planning, rostering and resource coordination skills.
• Experience managing budgets, labour costs and financial reporting.
• Ability to build relationships with venue staff, promoters and clients.
• Proactive, decisive leadership under pressure with a safety-first approach.

Responsibilities

• 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 workforce.
• Maintain a pool of trained, inducted and accredited team members.
• Lead, coach and develop Supervisors, Team Leaders and staff.
• Build relationships with venue, promoters, hirers and stakeholders.
• Attend event planning, production and debrief meetings as on-site representative.
• Respond quickly to operational issues and customer requests during live events.
• Prepare and manage event labour, equipment and consumable budgets.
• Monitor labour hours vs plans; manage overtime and agency expenditure.
• Identify and approve additional/out-of-scope services.
• Maintain WHS standards, incident reporting and hazard control.
• Oversee waste streams, recycling infrastructure and contractor collections.
• Monitor waste diversion outcomes and sustainability objectives.
• Prepare post-event reports on operations, safety and KPIs.
• Identify opportunities to improve service quality, productivity and performance.

Skills

Operational leadership

Stadium/venue experience

Workforce planning

Budgeting & financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Job description

Quayclean is seeking an experienced Event Manager to lead cleaning, presentation and waste operations at one of Melbourne's major event venues. This hands-on leadership role covers the full event cycle—from pre-event planning and event-day operations through to post-event cleaning and venue changeover.

In a fast-paced live-event environment, you will manage a large casual workforce, stakeholders and budgets, ensuring every area is safe, presentation-ready and delivered on time.