Restaurant Manager

The Perch Restaurant, Winery & Gardens – Lavers Hill, Victoria

The Perch Restaurant, Winery & Gardens is seeking an experienced and motivated Restaurant Manager to oversee and coordinate the daily operations of our restaurant and hospitality venue. This is an exciting opportunity for a hospitality professional who is passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences, leading high-performing teams, and maintaining operational excellence.

Located in the heart of the Great Ocean Road region, The Perch Restaurant, Winery & Gardens offers a unique dining and hospitality experience to locals, tourists, group bookings, and special event guests. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the restaurant while maintaining high standards of food service, customer satisfaction, and team performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Organise and control the day-to-day operations of the restaurant and dining facilities

• Plan menus in consultation with the Chef, taking into consideration customer preferences, seasonal availability, and business objectives

• Plan and organise special functions, events, group bookings, and catering-related activities

• Arrange the purchasing and pricing of food, beverages, and other goods in accordance with budgets and operational requirements

• Maintain accurate records of stock levels, inventory movements, purchasing activities, and financial transactions

• Monitor stock usage and implement effective inventory control procedures

• Ensure dining facilities comply with all health, food safety, workplace safety, and licensing regulations and are maintained in a clean, functional, and presentable condition

• Confer with customers to assess their satisfaction with meals, service, and overall dining experience, and take appropriate action to address feedback

• Select, train, supervise, and support waiting staff, bar staff, and kitchen staff to ensure efficient service delivery

• Prepare and manage staff rosters, allocate duties, and coordinate staffing requirements to meet operational demands

• Monitor employee performance and foster a positive, productive, and professional workplace culture

• Take reservations, greet guests, and assist in taking orders when required

• Ensure high standards of customer service are consistently maintained across all aspects of restaurant operations

• Work closely with ownership and key stakeholders to support the ongoing success and growth of the business

About You

Experience

• Proven experience as a Restaurant Manager, Venue Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, or similar hospitality management role

• Demonstrated experience managing restaurant operations, staff supervision, stock control, purchasing, and budgeting

• Experience coordinating events, functions, or group bookings within a hospitality environment

• Strong understanding of food safety, hospitality regulations, and workplace compliance requirements

• Experience leading, training, and developing hospitality teams

Skills

• Strong leadership and people-management abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Strong organisational and time-management skills

• Sound financial, budgeting, and inventory management capabilities

• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills

• Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced hospitality environment

This is a full-time position based in Lavers Hill, Victoria, offering a unique opportunity to join a growing hospitality business in one of Australia's most scenic regions.