Front of House Manager Trofeo Estate – Dromana, Mornington Peninsula - Permanent, full time

Trofeo Estate is seeking an experienced and passionate Front of House Manager to lead our Front of House restaurant and Events teams in the Food and Beverage department.

Set amongst 50 acres of scenic vineyards and housed in a beautifully restored 1930s passionfruit cannery, Trofeo Estate specialises in terracotta-aged wines (Amphora) and are proudly one of the largest producers of terracotta wines in the southern hemisphere and operate a restaurant, cellar door and a busy calendar of events and private functions.

About the Role

You will take full ownership of front‑of‑house operations across our Restaurant and Events, including our casual outdoor dining offers. This leadership role combines guest‑facing excellence with commercial accountability: you will manage daily operations, drive sales and service KPIs, lead recruitment and training, and work closely with the kitchen and cellar teams to create memorable dining and wine experiences that reflect the quality and character of Trofeo Estate.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead, train and mentor the front‑of‑house team to consistently high standards; inspire and develop staff through ongoing coaching and performance feedback.
- Recruit, hire, onboard and roster casual and permanent FOH staff; manage staffing levels and a large pool of casuals to meet service demands.
- Own the FOH numbers: monitor and drive sales, labour, speed of service and wastage; use basic reporting to improve commercial performance.
- Deliver outstanding customer service with a genuine, warm and professional approach; handle guest enquiries, feedback and complaints promptly and effectively, including guest recovery.
- Manage bookings, floor plans, seating and guest flow across multiple dining areas during busy service periods.
- Manage and execute a diverse calendar of functions, weddings and private estate events; coordinate logistics, staffing and service delivery for events of varying scale.




- Drive wine engagement and foster a deep understanding of our amphora/terracotta wine production across the team; upsell wine and experiences with knowledgeable recommendations.
- Oversee POS operations, cash handling, end‑of‑day reconciliations and basic reporting.
- Maintain impeccable presentation, cleanliness and ambience throughout dining and event spaces.
- Monitor and maintain FOH stock levels including beverage, consumables and event supplies.
- Uphold all compliance requirements including RSA, liquor licensing, food safety, health and safety and local council regulations.
- Coordinate closely with the kitchen and cellar teams to ensure smooth, integrated service and consistent guest experiences.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of service standards, processes and guest satisfaction; identify and fix weak points before they become complaints.
- Create a coherent “welcome‑to‑table” narrative that feels intentional and consistent across all guest touchpoints.

About You

- Proven experience as a Front of House Manager, Restaurant Manager or similar senior hospitality role.
- Strong commercial focus with experience managing sales, labour and service KPIs.
- Confident leader who can motivate, mentor and develop a team.
- Experienced in rostering and managing a large pool of casual staff.
- Excellent communication, organisational and problem‑solving skills.
- Strong food and beverage knowledge and premium wine knowledge; winery experience is highly desirable.
- Up‑to‑date RSA and Food Handlers certificates.
- Experience with restaurant software systems (e.g., OpenTable, SevenRooms or similar) is highly advantageous.
- Comfortable working varied hours across Thursday–Monday with guest‑facing leadership on peak service days.
- A genuine passion for hospitality, quality and heritage

If you are passionate about hospitality, thrive in a leadership role and want to be part of a unique winery restaurant that values quality, heritage and a genuine passion for hospitality, we would love to hear from you.

📌 Front of House Manager (Dromana)
🏢 Trofeo Estate
📍 Dromana