Venue Manager | National Portrait Gallery Canberra

At The Fresh Collective we create hospitality experiences that feel considered welcoming and memorable in some of Australias most iconic cultural venues.

Were 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. Youll need to be confident running the venue independently making sound decisions and maintaining exceptional standards day to day.

Youll 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 Youll 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 Canberras 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 its 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 Youll 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

Were 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 youre 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 wed love to hear from you.