Venue Manager

Ellora St Kilda; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ellora St Kilda in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Venue Manager to lead day-to-day operations of a rooftop cocktail bar, dining and events venue. You'll direct a knowledgeable team across service, bar and kitchen coordination, while collaborating with the owner and offsite Sales Manager to ensure outstanding guest experiences and commercial performance.

The role requires hands-on leadership during busy services, strong cost awareness, staff development, and a warm, professional hospitality

Qualifications

• Proven hospitality management experience across venues.
• Ability to lead busy service periods and complex events.
• Strong beverage knowledge and food service coordination understanding.
• Commercial acumen in labour, stock, margins and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across cocktails, dining, brunch and private functions.
• Maintain warm, attentive, professional guest experience.
• Oversee rostering, ordering, and cost control to meet targets.
• Develop and coach Assistant Venue Manager, Bar Manager and FOH staff.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and offsite Sales Manager on menus and events.
• Ensure compliance and presentation across all venue areas.

Skills

Hospitality management

Staff leadership

Customer service

Budgeting & costings

Beverage knowledge

Operations management

Food service coordination

Communication

Job description

Rooftop Cocktail Bar, Dining & Functions

Recently renovated and home to some of St Kilda’s best sunsets, Ellora is an independently owned cocktail bar, dining and functions venue at 1 Fitzroy Street.

Across our rooftop balcony, Beachside Room and courtyard, we host sunset cocktails, bottomless brunches, private celebrations, corporate functions and special events.

Following strong year-on-year growth, we’re looking for an experienced Venue Manager to lead Ellora’s day-to-day operations and help take the venue forward.

The team and structure

You’ll lead an established team that includes an experienced Assistant Venue Manager, Bar Manager and Head Chef.

These department leaders already manage roster preparation, weekly reporting, bar ordering and kitchen operations. Your role is to oversee and support them, strengthen coordination between departments and take accountability for the venue’s overall performance.

You’ll also work closely with our offsite Senior Sales & Functions Manager, who manages enquiries, sales, bookings and client coordination, providing detailed run sheets and event handovers.

This structure gives you autonomy to lead Ellora day to day, supported by an established management team and a hands‑on owner who is regularly on site.

The role

You’ll be a visible leader on the floor, welcoming guests, supporting staff, leading busy services and ensuring functions run smoothly across the venue.

Alongside service and event shifts, you’ll have allocated time to review performance, plan ahead and progress agreed improvements.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leading daily operations across cocktails, dining, brunch and private functions.

Maintaining a consistently warm, attentive and professional guest experience.

Managing the on‑site delivery of functions following detailed event handovers.

Leading and developing the Assistant Venue Manager, Bar Manager and front‑of‑house team while working collaboratively with the Head Chef.

Setting clear expectations, maintaining accountability and supporting staff during busy services.

Reviewing labour, margins, stock, costings and wastage to identify practical improvements.

Ensuring rostering, ordering and departmental decisions support service standards and financial targets.

Working with the management team and owner on menus, suppliers and agreed business improvements.

Building guest relationships and local partnerships to encourage repeat visits and function referrals.

Identifying maintenance issues, organising approved solutions and following them through, while maintaining venue presentation and compliance.

We’re proud of the team and culture already established at Ellora. We want someone who respects that experience, takes time to understand what works and helps people perform at their best through encouragement, coaching and clear communication.

About you

You have proven hospitality management experience, ideally across restaurant service, cocktail bars and private functions.

You’ll bring:

A warm, professional and personable approach to hospitality.

Experience leading busy services and events across multiple spaces.

A collaborative leadership style that builds trust and develops people.

Strong beverage knowledge and an understanding of food service and kitchen coordination.

Commercial experience across labour, costings, stock control, margins and profitability.

The confidence to make decisions, maintain accountability and address issues fairly.

Initiative, attention to detail and reliable follow-through.

Experience with POS, reservation, rostering and reporting systems.

A current Victorian RSA.

Working week

The anticipated working week is up for discussion but will involve working weekends.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are core service days, and regular Sunday work is essential. The roster will combine hands‑on service, event delivery and planning time, including evening and closing shifts as required.

Why join Ellora?

A recently renovated venue with spectacular sunsets and a strong St Kilda identity.

A capable and friendly team with established department leaders.

The autonomy to lead day‑to‑day operations with support.

A varied role where your impact on the team, guest experience and business performance will be visible.

The opportunity to help shape the next stage of an established and growing venue.