Venue Manager

District 101; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + incentives

Job summary

District 101 in Ballarat, Victoria, is seeking a skilled Venue Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations and drive the venue's performance. You will work closely with the owners to set standards, recruit and develop a high-performing team, and deliver consistently outstanding service across arcade, sensory experiences, bowling, darts, pool, and café elements.

You will lead multi-department operations, manage budgets and events, and ensure safety, guest satisfaction and operational excellence

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a venue, leisure centre, entertainment facility, hospitality business, bowling venue or comparable multi-department operation.
• Experience recruiting, leading and developing a diverse team, including casual and part-time employees.
• Strong commercial awareness, including labour budgeting, rostering, cost control and revenue performance.
• Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Confidence managing busy weekends, school holidays, functions and unexpected operational challenges.
• A strong understanding of workplace health and safety, risk management and operational compliance.
• Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills.
• A proactive, accountable and solutions-focused approach.
• Experience with pre-opening a venue, managing birthday parties or operating a family entertainment centre will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Help prepare the venue for opening, establish operating procedures and coordinate staff recruitment, onboarding and training.
• Recruit, develop, roster and motivate a team of permanent and casual employees across multiple departments.
• Create a welcoming, safe and premium environment for families, birthday parties, corporate groups and general visitors.
• Manage labour costs, operating expenses, revenue targets and departmental performance.
• Oversee arcade operations, play areas, bowling, darts, pool, café service, cleaning and general presentation.
• Ensure birthday celebrations, group bookings and corporate events run smoothly and meet customer expectations.
• Maintain high standards of workplace safety, child safeguarding, food safety where applicable, equipment checks and incident management.
• Monitor bookings, sales, customer feedback, staffing efficiency and operational performance, providing regular reports to the owners.
• Identify opportunities to increase visitation, improve service, grow repeat business and strengthen the venue's reputation in the Ballarat community.

Skills

Venue management

Team leadership

Customer service

Budgeting

Staff rostering

Health & safety

Operations

Event coordination

Communication

Job description

As Venue Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operation and overall performance of an exciting new family entertainment destination in Ballarat, Victoria. Working closely with the owners, you will help bring the venue to life, establish operational standards and build a team that delivers consistently outstanding service. The venue brings together arcade entertainment, immersive sensory and sand play, bowling, darts, pool, birthday celebrations and a café.

Key responsibilities

Help prepare the venue for opening, establish operating procedures and coordinate staff recruitment, onboarding and training

Recruit, develop, roster and motivate a team of permanent and casual employees across multiple departments

Create a welcoming, safe and premium environment for families, birthday parties, corporate groups and general visitors

Manage labour costs, operating expenses, revenue targets and departmental performance

Oversee arcade operations, play areas, bowling, darts, pool, café service, cleaning and general presentation

Ensure birthday celebrations, group bookings and corporate events run smoothly and meet customer expectations

Maintain high standards of workplace safety, child safeguarding, food safety where applicable, equipment checks and incident management

Monitor bookings, sales, customer feedback, staffing efficiency and operational performance, providing regular reports to the owners

Identify opportunities to increase visitation, improve service, grow repeat business and strengthen the venue's reputation in the Ballarat community

About you

Proven experience managing a venue, leisure centre, entertainment facility, hospitality business, bowling venue or comparable multi-department operation

Experience recruiting, leading and developing a diverse team, including casual and part-time employees

Strong commercial awareness, including labour budgeting, rostering, cost control and revenue performance

Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills

Confidence managing busy weekends, school holidays, functions and unexpected operational challenges

A strong understanding of workplace health and safety, risk management and operational compliance

Excellent communication, organisation and decision-making skills

A proactive, accountable and solutions-focused approach

Experience with pre-opening a venue, managing birthday parties or operating a family entertainment centre will be highly regarded

About us

We are creating a premium family entertainment destination in Ballarat, Victoria, where families, friends and businesses can come together to play, celebrate and connect.

The opportunity to lead a brand-new entertainment destination in Ballarat

A key role in shaping the venue's culture, systems and customer experience

The ability to build and develop your own team

A varied leadership role spanning entertainment, hospitality, events and family experiences

A collaborative working relationship with the owners

A competitive salary package (commensurate with experience) plus incentives.