Assistant Restaurant Manager

Gilson is one of Melbourne's most respected neighbourhood restaurants — a high-energy dinner destination sitting opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens in South Yarra. We're part of a growing hospitality group with genuine ambitions, and we're looking for an Assistant Restaurant Manager who's ready to step into a real leadership role and grow with us.

We're backfilling this position with someone who wants more than a job title — someone who wants to be developed, challenged, and genuinely prepared to run a venue of their own.

What You'll Get

• A clear pathway to Venue Manager — we have new venues opening in the next 2–3 years, which means this role is a direct stepping stone to running your own room. We've done it before and we'll do it again — we promote from within.
• Best-in-class management training — you'll have access to external leadership and business training programs, plus regular one-on-one mentoring from experienced operators.
• A salary that reflects the seniority of the role — strong base, superannuation, performance bonus, and a share of tips.
• Finish at a reasonable hour — dinner-focused venue, 11pm close, no 2am finishes and no all-day doubles.
• Staff discounts across the group — generous discounts at all of our venues.
• Owners who are present and invested — an ownership team that cares deeply about hospitality, culture, and the people who deliver it.

The Role

• Lead floor operations during service with authority, presence, and attention to detail
• Support, coach, and formally develop supervisors and floor team members
• Run pre-service briefings that prepare and energise the team
• Own the guest experience end-to-end — including escalations, complaints, and follow-through
• Oversee staff management, shift handovers, and scheduling in the Venue Manager's absence
• Take accountability for stocktakes, cash handling, and shift-level financial reporting

Who We're Looking For

• Proven experience in a supervisory or assistant management role in a quality, busy restaurant
• A floor leader — visible, decisive, and calm under pressure
• Commercially minded — you understand labour, average spend, table turns, and upselling
• Strong food and beverage knowledge with a genuine passion for hospitality
• Ready to step up to Venue Manager — and actively working toward it

Apply with your CV and a short cover letter on where you are in your career and where you want to be.