About Us
Set on Newcastle’s iconic waterfront, Customs House is a landmark venue offering exceptional dining, vibrant bar service, and memorable functions & events. With a rich heritage and a passion for hospitality, we pride ourselves on delivering outstanding experiences across all areas of the business. We open from 11:30am and close between 10pm and midnight so no late nights or early mornings.

The role

As we gear up for another busy Summer at Customs House Hotel Newcastle, we’re looking to add a new dimension to our leadership with an experienced Operations Manager / 2IC to join our team and help drive the venue forward.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a high-volume F&B; environment, knows how to lead a team, and understands what it takes to deliver great service while keeping operations sharp, compliant and profitable.

Reporting to the General Manager, you'll be the second in charge — the person who runs the venue when the General Manager isn't on-site, and the one the team looks to on a busy shift. It's a genuine leadership role with ownership of beverage performance, compliance and day-to-day operations.

What you'll be doing

- Running trade end to end — opening, closing, service flow and duty management across peak periods.

- Leading, rostering and developing a team of front-of-house staff and supervisors.

- Owning beverage performance: promotional calendar, range and pricing,



supplier programs and post-promotion review.

- Driving stock and cost control — stocktakes, variance investigation, wastage, pour cost and GP targets.

- Holding the line on compliance: liquor licensing conditions, RSA, incident registers, security and house policy.

- Recruiting, inducting and training new starters, and keeping performance conversations happening regularly.

- Working with the General Manager on budgets, weekly reporting and the summer trading plan.

- Stepping up as the senior on site during the manager's absence, including full accountability for the venue.

What we're looking for

Three things matter most to us:

- Three to five years' experience leading teams in high-volume food and beverage venues — you've managed real numbers, real crowds and real pressure.

- A proven track record in successfully implementing beverage promotions and controls — you can point to promotions you built and ran, and the stock and cost controls that made them profitable.

- A strong liquor compliance background — confident with licensing conditions, RSA obligations, incident management and dealing with regulators and police.

Beyond that: current RSA, robust communication, and the kind of calm presence that steadies a room on a busy night.

You must have the right to work in Australia. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

📌 Operations Manager / 2IC (Newcastle)
🏢 Customs House Newcastle
📍 Newcastle