About the Opportunity An established and highly respected hospitality group is seeking an experienced Venue Manager / Licensee to lead one of its flagship operations located within a thriving regional hub bordering Canberra. This is a rare opportunity to join a long-standing family-owned hospitality business with a reputation for operational excellence, strong community engagement, and exceptional staff retention. Recently expanded and continuing to evolve, the venue operates across premium food, beverage, gaming, and events revenue streams, servicing thousands of guests weekly. The business includes a strong F&B offering, dedicated event facilities, strong gaming performance, and an ambitious leadership team focused on growth, innovation, and elevating service standards even further. Backed by experienced ownership and a deeply loyal workforce, this role is designed for a genuine hospitality operator — somebody who thrives on the floor, builds culture organically, understands commercial drivers, and leads from the front. The Role The successful candidate will take ownership of day-to-day venue performance while helping shape the next phase of operational growth. This is not a desk-bound management role. You will be a visible and energetic leader across service periods, driving standards, mentoring teams, refining systems, and identifying commercial opportunities across food, beverage, gaming, and functions. Key Responsibilities Lead daily operations across high-volume hospitality service areas Drive gaming, beverage, and food performance through proactive leadership Maintain exceptional service standards across all departments Manage labour, wages, rostering, and productivity performance Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 40 staff Partner closely with senior chefs, functions teams, and operational leadership Oversee compliance, licensing, RSA, and venue operational standards Improve forecasting, staffing efficiencies, and trading performance Support large-scale events, functions, and community engagement initiatives Build a strong team culture focused on accountability, humility, and performance Identify operational improvements and growth opportunities across the business About You You are an experienced hospitality professional who understands the balance between culture, commerciality, and operational excellence. You’ve likely worked within large-format pubs, integrated hospitality venues, or high-volume operations where food, beverage, gaming, and functions all operate simultaneously. Most importantly, you lead from the front. The Ideal Candidate Will Bring: Previous experience as a Venue Manager, General Manager, Licensee, or Operations Manager Strong understanding of gaming operations and compliance Experience managing large hospitality teams within fast-paced environments Proven ability to influence labour performance, rostering, and venue profitability Exceptional leadership and communication skills A hands-on leadership style with strong floor presence High emotional intelligence and the ability to integrate into established teams Strong operational and financial acumen A passion for community-focused hospitality Understanding of awards, compliance, and wage management A calm, solutions-focused approach under pressure Why This Role? Join a stable, highly respected hospitality group with long-term vision Work within a venue with significant weekly turnover and established clientele Opportunity to influence gaming growth and operational evolution Strong support structure from ownership and senior leadership Genuine autonomy without micromanagement Clear pathway toward broader operational leadership opportunities High-performing existing team and strong venue reputation Performance incentives and long-term growth potential Culture & Environment This business values: Honesty and integrity Team-first leadership Community connection Operational accountability Hard work without ego Leaders who can perform every task they ask of their team The successful candidate will be expected to immerse themselves within the operation, especially during peak trade periods, while helping strengthen an already successful business. Lead a premium hospitality venue near Canberra overseeing gaming, events, food & beverage within a respected family-owned group.
