Overview
Ballarat Wildlife Park, located in regional Victoria, is a family-owned zoo dedicated to the conservation and ethical care of Australian native and select exotic animals. The Park is renowned for its successful breeding programs for endangered species like Tasmanian devils, contributing significantly to global conservation efforts. With a strong focus on education and sustainability, it offers immersive wildlife experiences, such as hand-feeding kangaroos and close interactions with koalas. The Park is celebrated for its hands-on approach, fostering awareness and connection between visitors and wildlife. As a leader in wildlife conservation, it continually innovates in animal care, breeding, and environmental stewardship.
Position Title: Manager: Food & Beverage
Reports To: General Manager - Operations
Department: Operations
Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000 pa + Super
Position Details
Position Purpose
The Food & Beverage Manager is responsible for leading and developing the Food & Beverage team across all operational areas, including the Café, Kiosk, Functions & Events Catering, Tour & School Group Catering and seasonal food offerings.
This role is critical to maintaining and elevating the guest experience at Ballarat Wildlife Park, ensuring high quality food, exceptional coffee, efficient service and commercially strong outcomes. The Food & Beverage Manager plays a key role in shaping the vision of our hospitality services to complement and enhance the broader visitor experience.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
* Lead, motivate and support a small, diverse Food & Beverage team.
* Foster a positive, energetic and customer focused‐focused culture.
* Provide coaching, performance feedback, training and support.
* Manage rostering, time management, and daily task allocation.
Operational Management
* Oversee day to‐to‐day running of the Café, Kiosk, Functions and Catering operations.
* Ensure consistent food and beverage quality, presentation and service delivery.
* Maintain high standards in coffee preparation and simple but high quality‐quality food offerings.
* Ensure compliance with all food safety regulations, hygiene practices, and WHS requirements.
* Manage stock control, ordering, inventory rotation and supplier relationships.
Customer Experience
* Deliver exceptional guest experiences with warm, professional service.
* Ensure the presentation of all F&B outlets reflects Ballarat Wildlife Park's standards.
* Handle customer feedback professionally and implement continuous improvement.
Commercial & Business Performance
* Drive commercial outcomes including revenue growth and cost control.
* Contribute to menu development, pricing, purchasing and product selection.
* Monitor financial performance, margins and wastage.
* Identify and implement opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
* Support strategic projects to enhance the F&B experience and expand offerings.
Events, Functions & Group Catering
* Oversee food and beverage delivery for school groups, tour groups, private functions and events.
* Work with the Executive Team, Entrance & Bookings Team and external stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination.
* Plan and execute catering that meets operational needs and guest expectations.
* Work closely with the Executive Team on strategic direction and service improvements.
* Collaborate with the Entrance & Bookings team to manage group bookings, visitor flows and F&B capacity.
* Communicate clearly and professionally across the organisation.
Administration & Systems
* Complete daily, weekly, and monthly reporting as required.
* Complete weekly rostering ensuring this is within budget.
* Manage email communication, documentation and operational logs.
* Use Microsoft Office Suite and POS systems to support daily operations.
* Maintain accurate financial, staffing and compliance records.
Key Skills & Attributes
* Strong leadership with the ability to inspire and support a small team.
* Initiative and a proactive approach to problem solving‐solving.
* Ability to drive change and improve existing systems and processes.
* Commercial awareness with the ability to balance cost, quality, and customer needs.
* Excellent communication skills: well s‐spoken, clear and confident.
* Professional presentation and behaviour.
* Strong customer service focus and passion for hospitality.
* Basic to mid‐level computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite, email, POS).
* Good time management skills and ability to prioritise competing tasks.
* Outgoing, positive, and approachable personality.
* Ability to work weekends and support peak periods.
* Understanding of how hospitality integrates into the overall Ballarat Wildlife Park visitor experience.
* Knowledge of food safety standards and ability to maintain compliant practices.
Qualifications & Experience (Highly Desirable)
* Previous experience in a supervisory or management role in hospitality.
* Barista skills and knowledge of specialty coffee standards.
* Experience in café, kiosk, catering, or fast paced‐paced service environments.
* Event or function catering coordination experience.
* Food Safety Supervisor certificate.
* Leads by example through professionalism, enthusiasm, and reliability.
* Demonstrates care for both people and animals, aligning with the values of Ballarat Wildlife Park.
* Takes ownership of outcomes and continually seeks improvement.
* Maintains calm under pressure and adapts to changing operational demands.
Applications: Please send resume and cover letter to HR@wildlifepark.com.au
Applications Close: Thursday 05 March 2026 at 5pm AEDT
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