Join an ambitious new team and take the lead in shaping a standout coastal dining experience

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

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

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

The Venue Manager will be responsible for overseeing the strategic, financial, and operational performance of the restaurant and front-of-house operations. This includes dining, bar, events, and guest experiences. The role focuses on excellence in service, drives revenue growth, maintains cost controls, and fosters a high-performance team culture.

This is a leadership position for someone who thrives on new openings, building teams, elevating customer service, and being a visible presence on the floor, with opportunities for career progression alongside a dynamic hospitality and accommodation provider.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

· 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.

Menu & Beverage Leadership

· Collaborate with the culinary and bar teams to curate seasonal food and beverage offerings.

· Oversee tastings, wine and cocktail lists, and ensure both dining and bar experiences meet premium standards.

· Provide ongoing training to staff to elevate product knowledge and service delivery.

People & Culture

· 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.

Strategic Planning & Financial Management

· 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.

Team Leadership & Development

· 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.

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

· Monitor guest satisfaction levels and act proactively on feedback.

· Collaborate across departments to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

· Ensure service standards align with brand values and guest expectations.

Marketing & Revenue Generation

· Lead marketing activations, partnerships, and in-venue events.

· Work with senior leadership to design promotions and packages that drive footfall and revenue.

· Analyse sales trends and adjust offerings to maximise profitability.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

· Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and partners.

· Negotiate contracts to ensure quality, consistency, and cost efficiency.

· Oversee procurement to ensure alignment with brand standards.

Compliance & Quality

· Ensure gold-standard guest service, workplace safety, and licensing compliance.

· Lead internal audits and maintain accurate reporting and documentation.

Growth & Innovation

· Stay current with hospitality trends, guest expectations, and business opportunities.

· Continually seek ways to elevate the venue’s profile and long-term success.

Growth Opportunities

· Contribute to due diligence and expansion planning alongside Blackwood’s directors.

· As Blackwood continues to grow, there is scope for progression into overseeing multiple venues and ultimately stepping into a GM of Food & Beverage.

Requirements

· 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.

The Role

· 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.

About Blackwood Development

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 quickly earning a reputation for curating venues that are as welcoming as they are memorable.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a design-led hospitality group at a formative stage of its journey.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a short introduction to: [email protected]