Operations Manager

G'day Group; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation and meals provided

Exclusive staff discounts on accom., 


Ongoing training and mentoring

Employee Assistance Program

Internal promotion opportunities

Job summary

G'day Group's Discovery Resorts - Undara Experience in Tropical North Queensland is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for a live-in leadership role. You will oversee multiple departments, lead a team of up to 50 during peak season and partner with senior managers to deliver outstanding guest experiences and strong commercial results.

Applicants should bring senior hospitality leadership experience, proven budget and labour management, and the ability to thrive in a remote outback

Qualifications

• Senior hospitality or resort leadership experience required.
• Experience managing diverse departments and budgets.
• Willing to relocate to Undara, remote North Queensland.
• Current valid Australian Driver's license; RSA and RMLV or ability to obtain.
• MR/HR license highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead up to 50 team members during peak season with safety and excellence.
• Oversee daily operations across all departments.
• Coordinate with Activity Manager, Reservations Manager, Head Chef and others to ensure seamless delivery.
• Support food & beverage operations to ensure guest experiences and profitability.
• Maintain facilities and asset performance across the resort.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and cost control.
• Be a visible hands-on leader engaging with guests throughout their stay.
• Ensure safety, compliance and ESG considerations across operations.
• Drive operational improvements in a remote environment.

Skills

Senior hospitality leadership

Operational management

Experience leading large teams

Budgeting and forecasting

Live-in leadership

Driver's license

RSA/RMLV licenses

Job description

G'day Group is Australia's leading regional tourism and hospitality provider, operating over 85 properties and a network of more than 300 holiday parks across the country's most iconic destinations. Through our Discovery Parks, Resorts and Experiences brands, we connect people with extraordinary places, creating unforgettable travel experiences and vibrant communities.

Discovery Resorts - Undara Experience

This is not your typical hospitality leadership role. Located in Tropical North Queensland, Discovery Resorts - Undara is one of Australia's most unique tourism destinations and home to one of the world's longest lava tube cave systems, formed more than 190,000 years ago. Surrounded by vast outback landscapes and rich pioneering history, Undara welcomes guests from around the world seeking an authentic Australian adventure unlike anywhere else.

The property offers a diverse range of accommodation experiences, from beautifully restored railway carriages and premium heritage-style homestead accommodation to pioneer-style huts, caravan and camping facilities, and safari-style tenting. Guests enjoy unforgettable experiences including guided tours through the lava tubes, wildlife encounters, spectacular sunset experiences.

Duties

As an Operations Manager, this live-in leadership opportunity places you at the centre of a large and diverse business where no two days are ever the same. Whether your expertise has been forged through large-scale Food & Beverage operations, resort management, facilities and maintenance leadership, or a combination of both, you'll have the opportunity to broaden your experience and develop into a highly capable tourism and hospitality executive.

Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and operational success of Discovery Resorts - Undara.

As the operational leader of the property, you will oversee multiple departments and a strong leadership team, ensuring every area of the business works collaboratively to deliver exceptional guest experiences and commercial outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, mentor and inspire a diverse team of up to 50 team members during peak season, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, safety and operational excellence.
• Oversee all aspects of the property's daily operations, ensuring departments coordinate effectively and standards are consistently maintained across the business.
• Work closely with the Activity Manager, Reservations Manager, Head Chef, Executive Housekeeper and operational leaders to ensure seamless delivery across all guest touchpoints.
• Support and guide the food and beverage operation to maintain exceptional guest experiences, compliance standards and profitability across multiple outlets and dining experiences.
• Ensure facilities, infrastructure, equipment and grounds are maintained to a high standard, supporting long-term asset performance and guest satisfaction.
• Commercial Performance: Assist with budgeting, forecasting and the achievement of departmental financial targets, including labour management, cost control and revenue optimisation.
• Be a visible and hands‑on leader who actively engages with guests and ensures memorable experiences throughout their stay.
• Maintain food safety, workplace health and safety, environmental and operational compliance standards across the resort.
• Lead operational improvements, overcome challenges in a remote environment and identify opportunities to enhance guest experiences and business performance.

Skills & Experience

We're seeking a hands‑on hospitality leader who thrives in a remote environment and enjoys being visible in the day‑to‑day operation. Whether your background is in Food & Beverage, maintenance, or broader resort operations, you'll be a strong people leader with a passion for driving team performance, exceptional guest experiences and commercial results. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader looking to broaden their expertise and accelerate their career.

To be successful you will have:

• Proven experience in a senior hospitality, tourism, resort or accommodation leadership role.
• Strong operational management capability across multiple departments.
• Experience leading large teams and developing high‑performing leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, labour costs, forecasting and commercial performance.
• Experience using RMS or similar property management systems.
• Current driver’s licence - Essential
• RSA certification (or ability to obtain).
• RMLV certification (or ability to obtain).
• Medium Rigid (MR) or Heavy Rigid (HR) licence highly regarded.
• Experience managing either significant Food & Beverage operations, maintenance and asset management functions, or both.
• Live and work at one of Australia's most unique tourism destinations, surrounded by breathtaking outback landscapes and world‑famous lava tube formations.
• Accommodation and meals provided as part of this live‑in opportunity
• Lead a diverse resort operation, working across accommodation, food & beverage, guest experiences, tours and property operations.
• Accelerate your career growth with exposure to all facets of the business and genuine pathways within G'day Group.
• Exclusive staff discounts on accommodation, tours, flights, vehicle hire, fuel, gym memberships and more.
• Ongoing training, leadership development and mentoring to support your career progression
• Employee Assistance Program, service recognition awards and internal promotion opportunities.

This role includes manual handling tasks including lifting up to 20kg, kneeling, squatting, handling chemicals and operating machinery.

Prior to an offer of employment being made, candidates must provide authority for a Federal Police Clearance to disclose any criminal offences or charges.

The G'day Group acknowledges the increasing global expectation to demonstrate our approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk factors and sustainability in our daily operations and ongoing decision making. Our five‑year ESG strategy is evolving to ensure we are committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace, giving back to the communities we operate in, and protecting our environment.