Ballarat Wildlife Park are seeking a suitably qualified Food and Beverage Manager to take our cafe and catering to the next level!
The successful candidate will lead and develop the Food & Beverage team across all operational areas, including Cafe, Kiosk, Functions & Events Catering, Tour & School Group Catering and seasonal food offerings.
This role is crucial to maintaining and elevating the guest experience at Ballarat Wildlife Park, ensuring high quality food, exceptional coffee, efficient service, and commercially strong outcomes.
Essential criteria:
* Previous experience in a supervisory or management role in hospitality
* Barista skills and knowledge of specialty coffee standards
* Experience in food & beverage industry operating in fast-paced service environments
* Event or function catering coordination experience
* Food Safety Supervisor certificate & RSA
Key Skills and Attributes:
* Strong leadership with the ability to inspire and support a small team
* Initiative and a proactive approach to problem 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-spoken, clear and confident
* Professional presentation and behaviour
Skills Required
Leadership & Team Management
* Lead, motivate and support a small, diverse Food & Beverage team
* Foster a positive, energetic and customer focused culture
* Provide coaching, performance feedback, training and support
* Manage rostering, time management and daily task allocation
* Adhere to all HR Policies
Operational Management
* Oversee day-to-day running of the Food and Beverage operations
* Ensure consistent food and beverage quality, presentation and service delivery
* Maintain high standards in coffee preparation and simple but high quality food offerings
* Ensure compliance with all food safety regulations, hygiene practices and WHS requirements
Customer experience
* Deliver exceptional guest experiences with warm professional service
* Ensure the presentation of all Food & Beverage operations 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 food and beverage experience and expand offerings
Events, Functions and 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.
Collaboration & Communication
* 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 Food & Beverage 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 MS Office suite and POS system to support daily operations
* Maintain accurate financial staff and compliance records
Application Process
Please email cover letter and resume to the HR Manager at Ballarat Wildlife Park:
Applications close 5:00pm Monday 16th March 2026.
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