Restaurant Manager

• Full time vacancy on a 3-year fixed term contract commencing January 2026
• Unique opportunity, based in the riverside precinct for a hospitality professional
• Lead and elevate the guest experience at Adelaide Festival Centre's new signature restaurant
• $95,600 per annum plus 12% superannuation

About Adelaide Festival Centre

Established in 1973, Adelaide Festival Centre is South Australia's principal performing arts venue and a leading Asia Pacific cultural centre. Adelaide Festival Centre produces a bold, exciting and extensive program of festivals, events and performances all year round, to inspire educate and entertain audiences from a variety of ages and cultures. Adelaide Festival Centre prides itself on providing support and development and maintaining a positive work environment for all employees.  As the home of performing arts in South Australia, we aim to uphold exceptional customer service to external organisations and patrons.

Adelaide Festival Centre operates four theatres in the Adelaide CBD – the Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre and the newly redeveloped Her Majesty's Theatre.

About the vacancy

Join us as Restaurant Manager – Lead the next chapter of dining at Adelaide Festival Centre.

Adelaide Festival Centre is opening a brand-new signature restaurant in February 2026. We seek an accomplished Restaurant Manager to lead the front-of-house team and deliver exceptional, memorable service for every guest.

Starting in January 2026, this is a rare opportunity to help shape the culture, standards, and style of a restaurant from day one – working alongside our new Executive Chef to define a fresh hospitality experience that celebrates South Australian food, wine, and creativity.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the daily operations of our new signature restaurant, ensuring seamless, polished service from a la carte dining to special events.
• Recruit, train, and inspire a passionate service team with a culture of excellence, warmth, and professionalism.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Chef and hospitality leadership to create distinctive dining experiences that complement the Festival Centre's artistic energy.
• Oversee wine and beverage programs, service standards, and guest relations.
• Manage performance, costs, and efficiencies to support profitability while maintaining quality. Identify unique upsell opportunities that help drive revenue targets.
• Uphold the highest standards of safety, presentation, and responsible service.
• Represent the restaurant and Adelaide Festival Centre with pride, ensuring every guest leaves delighted and eager to return.

What we're looking for:

• A polished hospitality professional with 3–5 years of leadership experience in fine dining or luxury restaurant environments.
• A hands-on leader with exceptional people and communication skills who thrives under pressure.
• Deep knowledge of food, wine, and formal service techniques, with a passion for creating memorable guest experiences.
• Proven ability to manage labour, stock, and service flow in a fast-paced environment, supported by solid commercial insight and a focus on profitability.
• A positive, collaborative attitude and the drive to set new standards in service excellence.
• Current RSA and Responsible Person accreditation (Sommelier or Barista training highly regarded).

Why join us:

• Be part of a defining moment for Adelaide Festival Centre, launching a flagship restaurant at the heart of South Australia's premier arts destination. You'll lead with creativity and care, supported by a passionate customer experience team and surrounded by the energy of world-class arts and performance.
• If you're ready to make your mark and bring your expertise to one of Adelaide's most exciting new dining destinations, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits and Culture

Adelaide Festival Centre employs over 350 people in Lighting, Sound, Staging, Wardrobe, Production Management, Patron Services, Hospitality, Merchandise, Marketing, Programming, Education, Sponsorship, Philanthropy and Corporate Services.

Joining our team means sharing our ambition to be the arts and entertainment heart of the festival state, to entertain, engage, educate and inspire, and to be a national and international cultural leader and collaborator.

At Adelaide Festival Centre, we value our employees and offer a range of benefits which include:

• Access to $15 staff tickets to performances in all our venues
• Access to 10% staff discount in all our food and beverage outlets
• Participating in our biannual Bring Your Dog to Work Day
• Having a free annual flu vaccination
• Accessing our free Employee Assistance Program
• Working in a breast-feeding friendly workplace
• Working in an approved Child Safe Environment

Adelaide Festival Centre is located on Kaurna Yarta. We respect First Nations people around Australia and acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. We honour their spiritual relationship with their country, and we do so in the spirit of reconciliation. Adelaide Festival Centre has an ambitious Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan in place approved by Reconciliation Australia and is committed to being an inclusive, supportive workplace and an employer of choice for First Nations people.

The public sector is diverse and desires to increase in diversity and to create opportunities for more South Australians. Adelaide Festival Centre is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.

If you want to help shape the next chapter of South Australia's premiere performing arts centre and bring a bold, fresh hospitality vision to life, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications

All applications will be treated in strict confidence and must include a cover letter stating your potential contribution to this role, the relevant skills and experience you can offer Adelaide Festival Centre, together with a current resume identifying relevant career, personal and educational achievements.

For more information about Adelaide Festival Centre and a copy of the position description, please visit the 'employment page' on our website: Enquires can be directed to Jeff Owens, Manager, Hospitality, via email to  

Please submit all applications via SEEK by 4:00pm Tuesday 25 November 2025.