Job Title

The Navys Anchorage is a non-profit organisation proudly operating cafs on Royal Australian Navy bases across Australia. Our mission is simple but powerful: to deliver exceptional hospitality, welfare and lifestyle services to Navy personnel nationwide. We are passionate about people, purpose-driven in our work, and committed to creating warm, community-focused caf environments on every base we operate. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a hands-on Venue Manager to lead our team at HMAS Encounter SA. This role is full-time and suited to someone who thrives in both management and operational responsibilities. You will lead from the frontworking alongside your team on the caf floor while also overseeing staffing, service quality, financial performance, risk, compliance and stakeholder relationships. As the Venue Manager, you are the heartbeat of the venue: driving standards, supporting your team, ensuring seamless service, and cultivating a welcoming, professional environment for Navy members and guests. WHAT YOULL BE DOING Leadership & People Management Lead, motivate and mentor the caf team to ensure high performance and strong team culture. Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training and performance for all staff up to Assistant Manager level. Run regular team meetings and set clear performance expectations. Create and manage rosters effectively, balancing service needs with labour cost efficiency. Customer Experience Ensure every guest enjoys an exceptional, welcoming and consistent experience. Confidently manage customer feedback, complaints or special requests. Identify opportunities to elevate service and implement improvements. Operational Excellence Oversee daily caf operations, including service delivery, stock control, cleaning and presentation. Work across all stations daily to support the team (barista, pass, service, etc.). Ensure processes and systems are followed and understood by all staff. Coordinate with kitchen and front-of-house teams to maintain seamless operations. Financial & Business Management Monitor and analyse sales, labour costs and venue profitability. Drive revenue through strong service, product knowledge, events and upselling. Manage budgets, control costs and ensure efficient ordering and stock management. Partner with the Regional Manager to set and achieve financial and operational targets. Events & Stakeholder Engagement Build sales through proactive event coordination and relationship management. Execute venue events in collaboration with kitchen and FOH teams. Liaise professionally with Defence stakeholders and senior management. Risk, Compliance & Safety Ensure venue compliance with health, safety, food handling and security requirements. Conduct regular safety checks, maintain incident records and oversee corrective actions. Uphold company standards and Defence base requirements at all times. ABOUT YOU Youre someone who gets the job done whether its by rolling up your sleeves or inspiring your team to deliver their best. You thrive in a fastpaced, customerfocused environment and pride yourself on maintaining composure, professionalism and positivity under pressure. You understand caf operations, know how to identify problems early, and act quickly to resolve them. Youre proactive, organised and naturally driven to achieve strong results. You build genuine rapport with people, motivate teams, and create environments where staff feel supported and guests feel valued. WHAT YOU BRING Experience in cooking, barista work, labour management and stakeholder engagement Strong leadership and communication skills A proactive, adaptable and cando attitude Ability to build sales and drive events High attention to detail and strong organisational ability Financial awareness, including rostering, cost control and revenue management Flexibility to travel interstate for training, meetings or venue support when required Physical ability to work in a fastpaced hospitality environment Please Note: Due to Defence security requirements, you must be an Australian Citizen and be able to obtain a Baseline Security Clearance (paid for by us). WHY JOIN US? Purposedriven organisation supporting Royal Australian Navy welfare Supportive leadership team and strong operational systems Opportunities for growth across multiple bases nationwide Meaningful work where what you do directly impacts the wellbeing of Defence members Strong peoplefirst culture and stable fulltime employment HOW TO APPLY Please submit your current resume and a short cover letter outlining why you''re a great fit. Your application will include the following questions: Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia? How many years'' experience do you have as a venue manager? Which of the following types of coffee do you have experience preparing? Do you have a current Australian driver''s licence? Are you available to travel for this role when required? Do you hold Australian Security Clearance? How many years'' experience do you have in event management? How many years of people management experience do you have? #J-18808-Ljbffr