Venue Manager - Fairfield Boathouse

Australian Venue Co.; Sydney; On-site; AUD 139,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts across 250+ venues

Career growth opportunities

Centralised support across operations

Renovation journey involvement

Job summary

Australian Venue Co. seeks an experienced Venue Manager to lead a large, multifaceted hospitality operation.

You will oversee food & beverage, events, and waterfront offerings, delivering outstanding guest experiences while driving profitability and labour efficiency. Ideal candidates bring proven leadership of large venues, strong P&L acumen, and the ability to thrive in peak periods and during renovations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large hospitality venues or destination operations.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, labour control, and profitability.
• Exceptional people leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to manage seasonal trade fluctuations and operational complexity.
• Warm, engaging leadership style with strong customer and community focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a large front and back-of-house team.
• Drive venue profitability and optimize operational performance.
• Manage labour, wages and cost controls across fluctuating trade periods.
• Oversee high-volume service operations and large-scale events.
• Deliver exceptional customer experiences across diverse demographics.
• Build strong relationships with locals, tourists, families and community stakeholders.
• Lead the venue through renovations and operational change.

Skills

P&L management

People leadership

Large hospitality venues

Seasonal trade management

Customer focus

Job description

Fairfield Boathouse is one of Melbourne’s most iconic hospitality destinations, a unique waterfront venue combining hospitality, tourism, events, and recreational experiences all in one. With exciting renovations on the horizon, we’re entering a major new chapter and are searching for an experienced Venue Manager to lead the business through its next phase of growth.This is a rare opportunity to take the reins of a large-scale, multifaceted operation with strong local roots, high tourist traffic, a thriving events business, and seasonal trade dynamics that require a highly capable and commercially minded operator.About the RoleAs Venue Manager, you will oversee all aspects of the venue’s operation, leading a large and diverse team across food & beverage, events, and boat hire while ensuring exceptional guest experiences and strong commercial outcomes.This is not a standard hospitality management role. Fairfield Boathouse requires a resilient and adaptable leader who can confidently navigate peak trading periods, seasonal fluctuations, and the complexity that comes with running a destination venue catering to a broad range of clientele.You will play a key role in driving profitability, labour management, operational standards, team culture, and customer engagement while helping shape the venue during an exciting redevelopment period.What You’ll Be Responsible ForLeading and developing a large front and back-of-house teamDriving venue profitability and operational performanceManaging labour, wages, and cost controls across fluctuating trade periodsOverseeing high-volume service operations and large-scale eventsDelivering exceptional customer experiences across diverse demographicsBuilding strong relationships with locals, tourists, families, and community stakeholdersMaintaining high standards across service, presentation, and complianceLeading the venue through upcoming renovations and operational changeCreating a positive, high-performing team cultureAbout YouYou are an experienced hospitality leader who thrives in large, fast-paced, and operationally complex environments. You bring strong commercial acumen, calm leadership under pressure, and the ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on operational involvement.You’ll ideally have:Proven experience managing large hospitality venues or destination operationsStrong understanding of P&L management, labour control, and profitabilityExperience leading high-volume service environments and events operationsExceptional people leadership and team development skillsThe ability to manage seasonal trade fluctuations and operational complexityA warm, engaging leadership style with strong customer and community focusA proactive and solutions-focused mindsetExperience in tourism, waterfront, or multifaceted hospitality operations highly regardedWhy Join Australian Venue Co.?Total package up to $154K (Base salary + super + KPI bonus)Staff discounts across 250+ venues throughout Australia & New ZealandReal career growth opportunities within one of the fastest-growing hospitality groups in ANZStrong centralised support across operations, marketing, people & culture, finance, recruitment, and trainingBe part of an exciting renovation and transformation journeyWork with a business that invests heavily in people development and internal progressionIf you’re a commercially savvy hospitality leader ready for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.