Venue Operations Manager

About our client
  
Our client operates a fully licensed private function vessel on the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. The vessel caters for up to 200 guests across a range of events, including corporate dinners, birthday celebrations, cocktail receptions, dinner and dancing events, and school cruises. All events are pre-booked, which means there is clear forward visibility across the season and a predictable rhythm to each working week.
  
The business is seasonal, with demand building from October through to summer. At peak, up to two events per day can run. The vessel features a fully enclosed, temperature-controlled interior, external deck access and a self-sufficient galley. The client has a loyal, repeat-booking client base, a tenured and reliable casual team, and a fully documented set of operating procedures built up over five years. The business is part of a broader private portfolio managed by an engaged ownership group.
  
About the opportunity
  
A highly experienced operations professional is stepping down after five years in the role. Our client is seeking a replacement who can step into a fully set-up operation and maintain the standard that has been built. This is a hands-on, autonomous role with full responsibility for all front-of-house venue operations on board.
  
In this role, you will:
  
Plan and execute all charter events to the venue's presentation and service standards
Manage compliance with WA liquor licensing legislation, food safety requirements and maritime safety obligations
Maintain supplier accounts, stock levels and the casual front-of-house team roster
Oversee all venue administration, including email, purchase orders and general enquiries
  
Day-to-day, you will manage all pre-event setup and vessel preparation, lead the front-of-house team during events, oversee post-event reset, place orders across multiple supplier accounts and maintain all regulatory records. The role works in close partnership with the Functions Coordinator, the Skipper and an external maritime operations advisory firm that provides day-to-day support on vessel-specific questions. Hours are structured around the charter schedule - you will typically work across a mix of weekday and weekend shifts depending on the week's events, with the roster confirmed a month in advance.
  
About you
  
This role suits a venue or function centre operations professional who is equally comfortable in a planning and compliance role during the week and leading a team on event days. You set high personal standards, manage competing priorities calmly and are content working independently without close supervision.
  
To be successful in this role, you will have:
  
Venue, function centre or hospitality operations management experience, with hands-on event execution

Experience managing a casual or seasonal team, including rostering

Supplier management and stock control across multiple accounts

A current RSA Certificate and Approved Manager's Licence (WA), or eligibility and willingness to obtain both prior to commencement

A current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate, or eligibility to obtain one prior to commencement

Comfort with physical work - post-event cleaning, stock handling and venue setup are part of the role

Availability for weekend and evening event shifts, as required by the charter schedule
  
Maritime experience is not required - the role comes with full operational documentation, experienced crew and access to specialist maritime advisory support from day one.
  
What's on offer
  
This is a full-time, permanent role offering genuine day-to-day operational autonomy in an unusual and engaging workplace. Hours are structured around the event schedule, not a fixed nine-to-five pattern. Events finish by midnight, and days off are typically taken mid-week to balance the weekend and evening charter load. The quieter winter months allow banked time to be taken, and the ownership group accommodates planned leave with reasonable notice.
  
The incoming person will benefit from a thorough handover from the five-year incumbent, including full access to documented SOPs, supplier contacts, compliance records and operational systems. The casual front-of-house team is experienced and largely self-sufficient at event level, with three approved managers available to lead lower-value events independently. Day-to-day support is available from an internal project manager and an external maritime operations advisory firm that understands the time-sensitive nature of the business.
  
The role comes with direct exposure to an engaged ownership group through regular scheduled meetings. The client base is loyal, the repeat booking rate is high, and the forward event schedule provides a clear view of what is ahead from week to week.
  
How to apply
  
Submit your CV outlining your experience and suitability for the role. Applications are welcome from candidates based locally or interstate. Your application will be handled according to our privacy policy: https://11recruitment.com.au/privacy-policy.
  
Please note
  
This is a permanent role, and applicants must have working rights that align with long-term employment requirements in Australia.
  
Sponsorship will not be provided.