Restaurant Associates has an enviable track record, working with some of the most prestigious venues and corporations in the world. From grand gala events to intimate gatherings, we provide bespoke food solutions and exceptional dining experiences.

The Position:

Restaurant Associates delivers premium hospitality experiences across some of Australia’s most iconic cultural and leisure venues. From the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo, Perth Zoo, and the historic Old Parliament House (OPH), we pride ourselves on innovation, excellence, and creating unforgettable guest experiences.

We are seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial National Operations Manager to oversee our exclusive hospitality contracts at these prestigious locations, as well as our continued growth. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for managing senior client relationships, driving innovation and operational excellence, and ensuring strategic alignment across the sector.

You will lead a team of dedicated Key Account Managers at each venue, supporting them in delivering world-class hospitality experiences. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of hospitality in Australia’s most renowned venues.

The Role:

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Key Account Managers, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategies to enhance client and guest experiences as well as drive profitable revenue growth.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Cultivate relationships with leading hospitality and culinary partners to enhance service offerings and guest experiences. Drive innovation by introducing new concepts, refining current offerings, and implementing operational improvements.
• Client Relationship Management: Act as the liaison for senior clients, building trust and ensuring satisfaction across all venues.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency across all venues, maintaining our reputation for premium service and experiences.
• Financial Performance: Drive profitability through effective cost management, revenue growth, and innovative initiatives.
• Business Growth: Collaborate closely with the Business Development team to drive the expansion of our venues portfolio across Australia, identifying new opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships.

The Person:

• Role is required to be based in Melbourne, with interstate travel required at times
• Extensive experience leading premium venues – leisure and cultural venues, high-profile restaurant and hospitality event groups
• An entrepreneurial forward-thinker with a passion for delivering exceptional, innovative guest experiences
• Extensive experience across all tiers of retail food and beverage - including casual cafés, bistros, and premium restaurants
• Proven experience in leading event sales teams, with a strong track record in developing and implementing successful event sales and marketing strategies
• Highly established within Australia’s food and beverage industry, with the ability to leverage a broad network of industry professionals
• Proven ability to build and maintain complex client relationships at a senior level
• A track record of leading and developing high-performing, multi-site teams
• Exceptional strategic and financial acumen
• Passion for delivering innovative and high-quality guest experiences
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, wellbeing, and engagement
• Able to thrive under pressure and adept at managing multiple priorities and demands concurrently

The Benefits:

Compass Group is an organisation that's proud of its great people. We believe in the opportunity to recognise and develop great talent and offer many diverse opportunities for career advancement. Recognised as an employer of choice we also have an attractive benefits program including a competitive salary and incentive scheme, recognition programs, paid parental leave, team event days, site-based benefits, and company discounts.

Our people’s unique backgrounds, experience, and abilities are at the heart of our vibrant workforce. We strive to create workplaces that reflect the diverse communities that we serve, where everyone feels empowered and valued. By building diverse teams means we are creating inclusive environments for all our people and those we connect with through our day-to-day operation. We welcome & encourage applications from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, gender expressions, gender identity and people with disability.