Venue Manager Courtyard Café

USU; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily $15 meal allowance

USU Rewards membership

17.5% Annual Leave Loading

20 days Annual Leave + 8 extra days

Job summary

USU is Australia’s largest and oldest not-for-profit student organisation located at the University of Sydney campus. As Venue Manager for Courtyard Café & Bar, you will lead a large team, run daily operations and shape the venue’s future.

You’ll balance hands-on leadership with commercial focus to optimise experience and cost control. You’ll work closely with kitchen and operations teams, build strong campus relationships, and drive growth across customer experience, events and services.

Qualifications

• 2+ years venue management in busy hospitality
• Strong people leadership and customer service skills
• Experience managing large teams and daily venue operations
• Experience rostering, labour, stock and inventory management
• Understanding of high-volume cafe service and bar operations
• Current RSA and Food Safety certificates
• Knowledge of HACCP or food safety requirements
• Organised, proactive and calm under pressure
• Genuine passion for hospitality and developing people

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations and a high-performing team at Courtyard Café & Bar
• Be visible on the floor, coach and develop staff during busy service
• Drive customer experience, events, sales and venue growth
• Manage labour, stock, rostering and costs, improve processes
• Collaborate with kitchen and operations teams and university community

Skills

Venue management

People leadership

Customer service

Roster management

Stock management

Bar operations

RSA / Food Safety

HACCP knowledge

Team development

Education

Bachelors in Hospitality or related

Job description

• Lead one of USU's flagship hospitality venues in the heart of Sydney Uni
• Build and develop a high-performing team in a fast-paced, vibrant environment
• Make a real impact across customer experience, events, sales and venue growth

WHO WE ARE

We are Australia’s largest and oldest Student Union, right at the heart of life on the University of Sydney campus. As the primary provider of coffee and food on campus, we operate a diverse range of cafés, bars and quick-service venues serving students, staff and visitors every day.

We’re here to create vibrant campus experiences, and our venues play a huge part in that. We’re also committed to a sustainable future and embedding sustainability into everything we do — from our cafés and events to our student programs and facilities.

WHO YOU ARE

You’re an experienced hospitality leader who thrives in a busy environment and knows how to create a great experience for both customers and your team.

As Venue Manager of Courtyard Café & Bar, you’ll take ownership of one of USU’s key food and beverage venues. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you’ll lead a large team, drive the day-to-day operation and help shape the future of the venue.

You’ll be someone who enjoys being visible on the floor, supporting your team through busy service, coaching and developing people, and keeping standards high. At the same time, you’ll be commercially minded - comfortable managing labour, stock, rostering and costs, and always looking for opportunities to improve the customer experience and grow the business.

You’ll work closely with our kitchen and Operations teams across coffee, food, bar, catering and events, while building strong relationships across USU and the wider University community. The role has genuine scope to make an impact on the team culture, the customer experience and the overall success of the venue.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• At least 2 years’ venue management experience in a busy café, restaurant or similar hospitality environment
• Strong people leadership and customer service skills
• Confidence managing large teams and day-to-day venue operations
• Experience with rostering, labour, stock and inventory management
• Experience in high-volume café service and an understanding of bar operations
• Current RSA and Food Safety Certificate
• Good understanding of HACCP or food safety requirements
• Organised, proactive and calm under pressure
• Genuine passion for hospitality and developing people

THE PERKS

• Daily $15 meal allowance and USU-wide discounts.
• Free USU Rewards membership from commencement.
• 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• 20 days Annual Leave + 8 extra days ( Life Leave, Christmas Break and Easter)

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Tertiary qualifications in hospitality, catering or a related field
• Experience with events and catering
• Knowledge of WHS and/or the University or student-union environment

HOURS OF WORK

38 hours per week, with some flexibility required depending on business needs, including occasional evenings and weekends.

START DATE

ASAP

ABOUT THE USU

The USU (University of Sydney Union) is proudly Australia’s oldest and largest not-for-profit student organisation, dedicated to providing students with the best possible university experience.

Led by a student board elected by our members, the USU delivers festivals, events, student programs and volunteering opportunities, supports more than 200 Clubs and Societies, and operates bars, cafés, food and retail outlets across campus.

USU is committed to promoting a workplace of equal opportunity. We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from people from all walks of life. Help make us better by joining our team.

We do not accept unsolicited agency applications.

Due to the volume of applications received, shortlisted applicants will be contacted within approximately four weeks of the role’s closing date, or four weeks from the date of application if no closing date is specified.