Restaurant Manager — Copper Bar & Grill, Cairns
Location: Cairns waterfront, QLD
Employment type: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: Owner / Director
Remuneration: $70000 to 80000+ super+Tips
Award: Restaurant Industry Award 2020 (MA000119)
About us
Copper Bar & Grill is a waterfront restaurant in Cairns built around a serious steak program — quality cuts, proper cooking, and a bar and floor team that knows how to run a busy service. We trade to a mix of locals, repeat regulars and visitors, with a strong seasonal swing between peak and green season.
About the role
This is a hands-on leadership role. The owner is locally based, so the Restaurant Manager runs the venue day to day and is accountable for guest experience, team performance and numbers.
We're looking for someone who leads from the floor during service and have experience with admin— rosters, ordering, stocktakes, compliance, and the weekly P&L conversation.
Key responsibilities: Guest experience and service
- Lead service on the floor across lunch and dinner, setting the standard for pace, presentation and hospitality
- Manage the guest journey from booking to his departure, including reservations, walk-in management and table turns
- Handle complaints and service recovery personally and promptly
- Monitor online reviews; protect and lift the venue's reputation
Team leadership
- Recruit, induct, train and develop front of house staff, including bar
- Build weekly rosters that meet trade demand while holding wage cost to target
- Manage performance issues fairly and in line with Fair Work obligations
- Work with the Head Chef to keep front and back of house aligned.
Financial performance
- Take accountability for weekly and monthly results: revenue, COGS, beverage GP, wage percentage and controllable costs
- Complete accurate stocktakes; investigate and act on variances
- Manage supplier relationships and ordering
- Review daily and weekly reporting and use it to drive decisions on menu mix, pricing and staffing
Compliance and venue operations
- Ensure full compliance with liquor licensing and RSA obligations
- Maintain food safety standards, temperature records and cleaning schedules
- Meet WHS obligations and keep incident reporting current
- Ensure employment records, time and attendance, and award conditions are correctly applied
- Coordinate maintenance and repairs of venue plant and equipment
Selection criteria
Essential
- Minimum 3 years in a Restaurant Manager, Venue Manager or Assistant Manager role in a full-service venue
- Proven ability to lead a floor team through high-volume service
- Demonstrated commercial accountability — rostering to a wage budget, managing COGS, reading a P&L
- Current Queensland RSA certification
- Solid working knowledge of Australian employment obligations under the Restaurant Industry Award
- Strong POS and reporting literacy; comfortable working with data
- Availability for nights, weekends and public holidays
Desirable
- Food Safety Supervisor certification
- Experience in a steak-led or premium à la carte venue
- Wine and spirits knowledge, and experience building a beverage list
- Functions and events experience
What we offer
- Opportunity of sponsorship for Visa 494.
- Waterfront location in one of Australia's best lifestyle cities
- Direct line to the owner and a real say in the venue's direction
How to apply
Send your CV and a short cover note outlining how you've improved a venue's performance to [email protected].
Copper Bar & Grill is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must have the right to work in Australia.
Pay: $70,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Salary packaging
- Visa sponsorship
Work Location: In person
