VENUE MANAGER — New Flagship Coastal Venue

VENUE MANAGER — New Flagship Coastal Venue | The Esplanade Torquay, VIC

We're creating something truly special — a new flagship restaurant for the Torquay community, inspired by the Surf Coast lifestyle and fuelled by creativity, excellence, and the best of fresh, local produce. As Venue Manager, you'll have the opportunity to build and lead the opening team, curate unforgettable guest experiences, and shape a venue designed to become a destination. This is an exciting opportunity to set the tone, culture, and identity of a flagship coastal venue in a premium location, backed by a passionate and experienced hospitality group.

Role: Venue Manager – Full Time
Location: 35 The Esplanade Torquay VIC 3228
Reports to: Directors
Salary Range: $90,000 – $120,000

Summary: The Venue Manager will oversee the strategic, financial, and operational performance of the restaurant and front-of-house operations, including dining, bar, events, and guest experiences. The role focuses on service excellence, revenue growth, cost controls, and fostering a high-performance team culture. This is a leadership role with opportunities for career progression within a dynamic hospitality and accommodation provider.

• Oversee all day-to-day venue operations, ensuring seamless service across floor, bar, and events.
• Maintain consistency, efficiency, and excellence in every aspect of the guest experience.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, workplace health, and safety standards.
• Collaborate with culinary and bar teams to curate seasonal food and beverage offerings.
• Oversee tastings, wine and cocktail lists, and ensure premium standards for dining and bar experiences.
• Provide ongoing training to staff to elevate product knowledge and service delivery.
• Build and lead a high-performing FOH team.
• Mentor and develop staff, fostering a positive, accountable, and collaborative culture.
• Act as a communication bridge across FOH, bar, events, and senior management to ensure seamless coordination.
• Develop and implement short- and long-term strategies to enhance venue performance.
• Prepare, manage, and monitor budgets, forecasts, and financial reports.
• Set and achieve team KPIs; track and manage revenue, labour, beverage, and food costs.
• Reduce wastage, optimise inventory, and drive sustainable, profitable decisions.
• Hire, mentor, and support FOH team members; foster a culture focused on service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, train, and evaluate performance to ensure engagement and retention.
• Monitor guest satisfaction levels and act on feedback; collaborate across departments to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Ensure service standards align with brand values and guest expectations.
• Lead marketing activations, partnerships, and in-venue events; analyse sales trends to maximise profitability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and partners; negotiate contracts for quality, consistency, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee procurement to ensure alignment with brand standards.
• Ensure gold-standard guest service, workplace safety, and licensing compliance; lead internal audits and maintain accurate reporting.
• Stay current with hospitality trends and opportunities to elevate the venue's profile.

• Contribute to due diligence and expansion planning alongside Blackwood's directors.
• Potential progression to overseeing multiple venues and ultimately GM of Food & Beverage as Blackwood grows.

• 4+ years' experience in senior venue or restaurant management roles.
• Strong P&L knowledge with proven ability to meet financial targets.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong organisational and time management abilities.
• Passion for training and developing team members.
• High-level familiarity with POS, booking systems, and back-office admin.
• RSA certification (essential), plus working knowledge of food safety and licensing.

• Full-time role based in Torquay.
• Flexibility to work weekends and peak periods is essential.
• Be part of a flagship opening that values team culture, local connection, and genuine hospitality.

Established 18 months ago, Blackwood has a fast-growing portfolio of hospitality and accommodation venues across Australia's East Coast, including this 90–100 seat restaurant paired with a 17-room boutique hotel set to be one of the best offerings on the Surf Coast of Victoria. Located at the start of the Great Ocean Road in Torquay, the venue blends sophisticated coastal dining with elevated accommodation, creating a destination that appeals to both locals and travellers. With a strong emphasis on premium local produce, thoughtful design, and exceptional service, Blackwood is earning a reputation for venues that are welcoming and memorable.

Send your CV and a short introduction to: [emailprotected]

Salary match | Number of applicants | Skills match

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• How many years' experience do you have as a venue manager?
• How many years of people management experience do you have?
• Do you hold a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate?
• Do you have customer service experience?
• How many years' experience do you have with forecasting for businesses?

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