Venue Manager | National Portrait Gallery Canberra

At The Fresh Collective, we create hospitality experiences that feel considered, welcoming and memorable — in some of Australia’s most iconic cultural venues.We’re looking for an experienced and people-focused Venue Manager to lead hospitality operations at the National Portrait Gallery Canberra, overseeing the Portrait Café, events and offsite catering.This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives on autonomy, genuinely loves guest service, and knows how to build strong relationships with both clients and teams. You’ll need to be confident running the venue independently, making sound decisions, and maintaining exceptional standards day to day.You’ll lead a small team across café trade, functions and premium events, while working closely with the National Portrait Gallery to deliver seamless hospitality experiences that reflect the quality and creativity of the venue.Why You’ll Love This RoleA diverse role spanning café trade, premium events, cultural activations and catering Day / night balance compared to traditional late-night hospitality venues (with event flexibility) Work in one of Canberra’s most respected and inspiring cultural institutions Freedom to bring ideas to life and genuinely influence the guest experience Be trusted to run the venue like it’s your own Join a hospitality group known for creativity, quality and unique venues across Australia Opportunities to grow within a wider national hospitality group Staff discounts and group-wide perks A genuinely supportive leadership team that values initiative and individuality What You’ll Be DoingLeading daily operations across café, events and catering Driving a warm, professional and guest-focused culture Managing rostering, labour, stock control and reporting Training and developing a confident, service-driven team Building strong relationships with Gallery stakeholders Delivering exceptional functions and hospitality experiences Maintaining operational systems, procedures and WHS standards Identifying opportunities to grow trade and improve service and elevate the guest experience We’re Looking For Someone Who:Has strong hospitality leadership experience Is organised, proactive and highly self-motivated Thrives working autonomously Loves developing teams and creating positive culture Has excellent communication and stakeholder management skills Is passionate about hospitality, people and guest experience Experienced in café, restaurant or event operations Financially and operationally savvy A natural communicator who builds trusted relationships Hands-on, adaptable and solutions-focused Genuinely excited by hospitality within arts and cultural spaces If you’re an experienced hospitality leader who loves creating great experiences and wants to be part of a venue with creativity, culture and community at its heart, we’d love to hear from you. AUD Australia - ACT ACT Canberra 2600

Venue Manager | National Portrait Gallery Canberra

At The Fresh Collective, we create hospitality experiences that feel considered, welcoming and memorable — in some of Australia’s most iconic cultural venues.

We’re looking for an experienced and people-focused Venue Manager to lead hospitality operations at the National Portrait Gallery Canberra, overseeing the Portrait Café, events and offsite catering.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives on autonomy, genuinely loves guest service, and knows how to build strong relationships with both clients and teams. You’ll need to be confident running the venue independently, making sound decisions, and maintaining exceptional standards day to day.

You’ll lead a small team across café trade, functions and premium events, while working closely with the National Portrait Gallery to deliver seamless hospitality experiences that reflect the quality and creativity of the venue.

Why You’ll Love This Role

  • A diverse role spanning café trade, premium events, cultural activations and catering
  • Day / night balance compared to traditional late-night hospitality venues (with event flexibility)
  • Work in one of Canberra’s most respected and inspiring cultural institutions
  • Freedom to bring ideas to life and genuinely influence the guest experience
  • Be trusted to run the venue like it’s your own
  • Join a hospitality group known for creativity, quality and unique venues across Australia
  • Opportunities to grow within a wider national hospitality group
  • Staff discounts and group-wide perks
  • A genuinely supportive leadership team that values initiative and individuality

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Leading daily operations across café, events and catering
  • Driving a warm, professional and guest-focused culture
  • Managing rostering, labour, stock control and reporting
  • Training and developing a confident, service-driven team
  • Building strong relationships with Gallery stakeholders
  • Delivering exceptional functions and hospitality experiences
  • Maintaining operational systems, procedures and WHS standards
  • Identifying opportunities to grow trade and improve service and elevate the guest experience

We’re Looking For Someone Who:

  • Has strong hospitality leadership experience
  • Is organised, proactive and highly self-motivated
  • Thrives working autonomously
  • Loves developing teams and creating positive culture
  • Has excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Is passionate about hospitality, people and guest experience
  • Experienced in café, restaurant or event operations
  • Financially and operationally savvy
  • A natural communicator who builds trusted relationships
  • Hands-on, adaptable and solutions-focused
  • Genuinely excited by hospitality within arts and cultural spaces

If you’re an experienced hospitality leader who loves creating great experiences and wants to be part of a venue with creativity, culture and community at its heart, we’d love to hear from you.

 

To apply online, please click on the appropriate link below. 

Job Search


hour | year