Cafe Manager – Historic Rivermill

Location: Mount Nathan, Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

About Historic Rivermill

Historic Rivermill is Queensland's premier tourism destination and event venue, nestled on 6.4 hectares of stunning heritage farmland in Mount Nathan. Welcoming over 150,000 visitors annually, we offer an unforgettable experience that combines a bustling café, equestrian activities, farm encounters, weddings, corporate events, and accommodation.

Our vision is to create meaningful connections between people, animals, and the land—delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that celebrate our heritage while embracing innovation. We're passionate about quality, community, and creating memories that last a lifetime.

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced and motivated Cafe Manager to lead our vibrant café and hospitality operations. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll oversee daily café operations, manage private functions, drive service excellence, and contribute to the unique experience that makes Historic Rivermill a beloved destination.

You'll work in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same—from busy weekend brunches to private parties in the Barn, Red Table area, and main dining deck, through to large-scale events and weddings.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Service Delivery

• Lead day-to-day café operations ensuring seamless service across all areas

• Oversee private parties and functions in the Barn, Red Table area, and main dining deck

• Ensure operational efficiency across both the restaurant and wedding ranch operations

• Lead the transition of the café's operational model, experimenting with different structures to optimise performance

• Maintain quality assurance across all service touchpoints

People Management

• Manage rostering of all employees across FOH and BOH

• Lead, train, and develop high-performing FOH and BOH teams

• Provide regular training sessions to staff

• Establish clear communication channels with all team members

• Address and resolve conflicts with a focus on business-forward solutions

• Define and communicate priorities for the team

• Collaborate with neighbouring teams, including the marketing team led by Barbara

Financial Management

• Full P&L responsibility—drive profitability across all operations

• Manage supplies ordering for both FOH and BOH

• Budget planning with direct reporting to the owner

• Equipment oversight including inventory management, equipment quality, and decisions on equipment purchase or lease

• Check for waste reports

Weddings & Events

• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to re-establish the wedding ranch as a primary function, drawing on its historical significance

• Ensure exceptional delivery of private events and functions

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure all operations comply with Queensland state regulations and Gold Coast City Council standards

• Maintain food safety compliance (HACCP) and workplace health and safety requirements

• Ensure follow the Business Acument, SOPs and SOTs

• Collaborate with Marketing team to enhance the business

• Regularly review and update protocols to maintain compliance, including communication with regulators

• Prioritise the safety of both staff and visitors

• Ensure safety protocols exist, especially for horse riding activities, and directly facilitate or inspect their execution

• Strengthen security measures to ensure entrance control

• Maintain high-quality reports and logs to ensure a defensible position in case of injuries or damages

Administration & Documentation

• Guide ADMIN in document maintenance using OneDrive—You'll also guide her to file documents correctly and without miss, following the "Family Office Handbook" standards

• Resolve problems with suppliers and manage vendor relationships

About You

Essential Certifications

• Current RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol)

• Food Safety Supervisor Certificate

• First Aid Certificate (or willingness to obtain prior to commencement)

Experience & Skills

• Has dabbled in operations and change management, preferably while sipping a coffee in hospitality

• Strong leadership and team management skills. Remember, a leader without followers is just a person taking a walk

• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Can talk to a wall and expect a reply

• Ability to handle conflicts with a focus on business-forward solutions. Put every conflict resolution in the context of business goals

• Ability to juggle tasks, teams, and occasionally, ideas. Actual juggling skills are a bonus

The Intangibles

• Trust: Earning trust from team members is essential. It's like the Wi-Fi signal—when it's gone, people start panicking

• Business Goals: Not afraid to be hardnosed about business goals. But remember, it's a nose, not a battering ram

• IT Skills: Must use our IT system to track tasks and manage documents. No, sticky notes on the monitor don't count

• Tech Comfort: Comfortable working with AI, robots, and automatons. No, they won't steal your coffee. But you must use them

What We Offer

• Competitive salary package

• A unique and beautiful working environment in the Gold Coast Hinterland

• Day Shift only (7 AM to 4 PM)

• Work alongside animals, nature, and families who actually enjoy being together

How to Apply

If you're ready to bring your hospitality expertise to one of Queensland's most unique venues, we'd love to hear from you.

Click Apply Now and submit your resume along with a brief cover letter telling us why you'd be a great fit for Historic Rivermill.

Historic Rivermill is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

Learn more about us: https://historicrivermill.au/