General Manager, Operations

Location:

Melbourne Business School

Documentation:

Position Description - General Manager, Operations

Employment Type:

FP - Full-Time Permanent

Department:

Corporate Services

Closing Date:

07 Sep 2025

• Opportunity to lead the operations of the School
• Convenient Carlton location
• Competitive remuneration package on offer

About Us

The Melbourne Business School (MBS) purpose is to unleash ideas and leaders for a sustainable future. Jointly owned by the business community and the University of Melbourne its vision is to be among the top-ranked providers of business education within the Asia-Pacific, the first choice of students and clients seeking award and non-award educational experiences, and esteemed globally as a leading supplier of academic and business research.

The Opportunity

Lead the successful management of daily operations at MBS. This is a multi-faceted role with a strong focus on catering and cafe operations, onsite accommodation and event space management, facilities and environmental management, conferences, and front of house services; as well as strategising the long term success of these departments in-line with organisational goals.

The position operates in a dynamic service environment, and as such we are seeking a leader that can think quickly, is solution-focused and who presents in a professional manner to represent the School.

A key objective is to provide efficient, cost-effective and customer focused management of daily services and activities and to ensure the various teams that report to this role operate in a coordinated manner.

This is an exciting opportunity to:

• Contribute to superior service delivery and business impact
• Diversify your leadership exposure and experience
• Join a top ranked business education provider

Some key accountabilities will include:

• Develop and lead a high performing and engaged team aligned with the School's purpose, strategy and Guiding Principles
• Foster cross-functional trusted relationships and work collaboratively across all areas of the School to ensure alignment of activities.
• Ensure the catering, venue management, facilities, reception and conferencing services are provided in a coordinated and consistent manner
• Ensure the team (including service providers) are synchronised and working in a coordinated manner providing a seamless service to clients
• Review and manage regular processes to balance the operational needs of both the department and school overall
• Oversee the catering team including the Hub Cafe business to ensure services provided are to the high standards expected
• Manage agreements with third parties to ensure services (and goods) provided are effective and to the high standards expected
• Ensure that strong and productive relationships with internal clients are maintained, acting as an escalation point when client objectives or service delivery issues require higher-level intervention.
• Oversee the resolution of challenges related to space maximisation, room allocation, and facilities bookings, ensuring alignment with business needs and priorities.
• Guarantee that client expectations are captured, managed, and delivered to agreed standards, and intervene where service issues arise.
• Oversee the Assistant Manager, Operations (AOM), Building Managers and Facilities teams to ensure the campus is maintained to appropriate (high) standards;
• Manage the Facilities budgets and P&L's, including capex allocation
• Ensure asset management and capital works are appropriately prioritised, planned and managed to minimise interruptions across the School whilst maximising positive impact
• Support the AOM to provide oversight and support to the reception, weekend concierge and hotel administration team
• Approve all operations costings, invoices and contract labour spending
• Manage annual budget preparation and regular re-forecasting to ensure financial targets are achieved
• Ensure compliance with the School's liquor licence
• Support the AOM to ensure responsibilities are delivered in a safe manner that is consistent with the School's OHSW requirements
• Support the School's strategic direction by ensuring that all operational delivery is aligned with projected planning outcomes
  Work with the Dean's office to plan and develop site upgrades, delivery improvements and provide budgeted options for development

About you

An experienced hospitality/events and/or facilities management or general operations professional, you will have a demonstrated track record and capability across all aspects of the role, including experience managing P & L's, budgets and pricing according to market and margins and having held a similar role preferably in a dynamic professional services or business education environment.

This will be accompanied by:

• Demonstrable Hotel & Conference/event management experience
• Demonstrable catering/hospitality experience
• Demonstrable facilities management experience
• Database and Reservation administration experience
• Demonstrable background requiring a high level of internal and external customer/client service
• Strong administrative and project management skills
• High level of successful relationship management with key clients and contacts
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft applications
• Commitment to high levels of customer service

What's on offer

We value our people and ensure that we can reward you with more than just a salary. Our thanks to you includes:

• Competitive remuneration, including not-for-profit salary packaging options and generous parental leave provisions
• Hybrid and flexible work options
• Subsidised gym membership, health and wellbeing programs and regular social events
• Access to world-class learning and development programs at a discounted rate
• A workplace that promotes diversity, collaboration, and new ideas in the heart of Melbourne's innovation precinct
• Working alongside talented and supportive colleagues who are passionate about innovation and creativity

To apply, please submit your application including a covering letter and a current resume asap. Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and therefore we may appoint sooner than the advertised closed date.