About The Benson
The Benson is a contemporary boutique hotel in the heart of Cairns, inviting locals and travellers to stay, dine, drink and celebrate. With a vibrant restaurant and bar, an impressive open‑air rooftop bar, and versatile event spaces throughout our Level 3 venue, we pride ourselves on exceptional hospitality and unforgettable experiences.
The Role
We are seeking a dynamic, hands‑on Head of Food & Beverage Operations to lead and elevate our Level 3 venue, encompassing the restaurant, bar and conference facilities. This role blends commercial acumen with operational leadership, focused on driving revenue, improving financial performance, and positioning The Benson as a signature destination for both locals and visiting guests.
You will define the service vision, curate the program and events calendar, and lead the delivery of exceptional dining and event experiences. In close collaboration with the kitchen and events teams, you will shape the venue’s identity and play a pivotal role in the success of our food and beverage operations.
This is a standout opportunity for a driven leader ready to take ownership, accelerate revenue growth and deliver strong financial outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
* Own the Level 3 venue strategy across the restaurant, bar and conference facilities, ensuring a cohesive and commercially focused approach.
* Drive strong financial performance by managing key P&L levers including labour, COGS, GP, cost control, promotional ROI and event profitability.
* Strengthen the brand and grow visitation through repeat‑customer initiatives, loyalty‑style offers, targeted promotions and operational optimisation.
* Develop compelling event packages alongside targeted social media content and community partnership initiatives to grow market reach.
* Oversee purchasing and stock control, including stocktakes, product mix optimisation and supplier negotiations.
* Maintain exceptional venue presentation, ensuring table layouts, visual merchandising to reinforce the brand experience.
* Recruit, roster, train and coach a high‑performing team to drive alignment, accountability and service excellence.
* Lead end‑to‑end event delivery, from site inspections and planning through to execution and pack down, ensuring AV, room setup and run sheets meet specification and timing.
* Partner with the Events Team to nurture client relationships, respond to feedback and build sustainable repeat business.
* Collaborate with hotel departments and Leaders to ensure seamless integration and cohesion across all hotel operations.
What You Will Bring
* 5+ years’ experience in venue, events or F&B leadership, ideally within hotels or destination-style venues.
* Commercial mindset with a track record to increase revenue and profit.
* Strong operational expertise and event planning.
* Creative marketing capability to elevate venue operations.
* A proactive leadership style with excellent communication and coaching capability.
* Calmness under pressure with strong problem‑solving skills, resilience and a genuine sense of ownership.
* Strong systems literacy, including POS and rostering platforms, with confidence in reporting and Excel/Sheets.
* Flexibility to work nights, weekends and key event periods as required.
* Current RSA essential.
If you're excited by the opportunity of taking the lead to elevate a sophisticated venue, we encourage you to APPLY NOW.
Please note you will only be contacted if you have made the shortlist for an interview.