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 Role

As 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 For

Leading and developing a large front and back-of-house team
Driving venue profitability and operational performance
Managing labour, wages, and cost controls across fluctuating trade periods
Overseeing high-volume service operations and large-scale events
Delivering exceptional customer experiences across diverse demographics
Building strong relationships with locals, tourists, families, and community stakeholders
Maintaining high standards across service, presentation, and compliance
Leading the venue through upcoming renovations and operational change
Creating a positive, high-performing team culture

About You

You 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 operations
Strong understanding of P&L management, labour control, and profitability
Experience leading high-volume service environments and events operations
Exceptional people leadership and team development skills
The ability to manage seasonal trade fluctuations and operational complexity
A warm, engaging leadership style with strong customer and community focus
A proactive and solutions-focused mindset
Experience in tourism, waterfront, or multifaceted hospitality operations highly regarded

Why Join Australian Venue Co.?

Total package up to $154K (Base salary + super + KPI bonus)
Staff discounts across 250+ venues throughout Australia & New Zealand
Real career growth opportunities within one of the fastest-growing hospitality groups in ANZ
Strong centralised support across operations, marketing, people & culture, finance, recruitment, and training
Be part of an exciting renovation and transformation journey
Work with a business that invests heavily in people development and internal progression

If you’re a commercially savvy hospitality leader ready for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.