Restaurant Manager

Builders Arms Hotel; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts across Trader HouseVen

Access to WSET Level 2 & 3 training

Ongoing professional development and>

Job summary

Trader House in Melbourne is seeking a hands-on senior leader to own the floor and maintain exceptional service standards across our bistro, public bar and event spaces. You will lead, coach and develop a team, ensuring a calm, decisive atmosphere during busy periods.

We value people who can identify issues early, drive consistency in guest experience, and collaborate with the management team to continually improve operations.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' management experience within high-volume, full-service restaurants or restaurant-led venues.
• Proven experience leading teams of 10–15+ through busy services.
• Confidence running high-volume services without compromising standards.
• Strong understanding of restaurant service, sequence of service and guest experience.
• A sharp eye for detail and the ability to maintain consistency under pressure.
• Strong communication skills and confident leadership instincts.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach to problem solving.
• Genuine interest in food, wine and hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Lead service across our bistro, public bar and event spaces.
• Set the tone through calm, confident and decisive leadership.
• Identify issues early and act before they escalate.
• Drive consistency across service, communication and guest experience.
• Support, direct and develop managers and staff throughout service.
• Work closely with the wider management team to continually improve how we operate.
• Play a key role in shaping service at one of Melbourne’s busiest and most established hospitality venues.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Communication

Guest experience

Decision making

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Wine & food enthusiasm

Job description

If you thrive in the middle of service, reading the room, directing a team and holding standards under pressure then this is an opportunity to step into a key leadership role at Builders Arms Hotel, Australia’s No.1 gastropub in the 2026 Top 50 Gastropubs Awards.

About Trader House

Trader House is a collection of Melbourne and Brisbane’s most distinctive restaurants, bars and specialty food stores, led by chef, author and columnist Andrew McConnell and photographer Jo McGann.

Our Melbourne venues include Gimlet, Côte Basque, Apollo Inn, Cutler, Supernormal, Cumulus Inc., Marion, Builders Arms Hotel, Meatsmith and Morning Market—with Stokehouse, St Kilda joining the group in October 2026. In Brisbane, you’ll find Supernormal and Bar Miette.

Join a team shaping Australia’s hospitality culture across exceptional venues, each with its own identity and a shared commitment to great food, genuine service and memorable experiences.

About the Role

This is a hands-on senior leadership position with a clear objective: owning the floor and maintaining exceptional service standards.

You will:

Lead service across our bistro, public bar and event spaces

Set the tone through calm, confident and decisive leadership

Identify issues early and act before they **escalate**

Drive consistency across service, communication and guest experience

Support, direct and develop managers and staff throughout service

Work closely with the wider management team to continually improve how we operate

You’ll play a key role in shaping service at one of Melbourne’s busiest and most established hospitality venues.

What We’re Looking For

3+ years' management experience within high-volume, full-service restaurants or restaurant-led venues

Proven experience leading teams of 10–15+ through busy services

Confidence running high-volume services without compromising standards

Strong understanding of restaurant service, sequence of service and guest experience

A sharp eye for detail and the ability to maintain consistency under pressure

Strong communication skills and confident leadership instincts

A practical, solutions-focused approach to problem solving

Genuine interest in food, wine and hospitality

We’re looking for someone comfortable making decisions, giving direction and taking ownership of a service.

What You’ll Get

Competitive salary package + weekly tips

Staff discounts across all Trader House venues

Access to WSET Level 2 & 3 training

Ongoing professional development and opportunities for progression across Trader House

The opportunity to work within one of Australia’s most respected hospitality groups

A strong management team that values quality, accountability, development and doing things properly

If you take pride in running a tight service, leading from the front, and delivering a consistently high standard, we want to hear from you.