Restaurant Manager

Next Door Restaurant & Bar is looking for an experienced, hands-on Restaurant Manager to lead our front-of-house team and take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the venue.

Located in the heart of Sydney CBD, Next Door is a busy Italian restaurant and bar focused on great food, drinks and genuine hospitality. We are looking for a manager who understands that running a successful restaurant is about more than managing a shift, it's about leading people, creating a great customer experience and driving the performance of the venue.

The Role

You will be responsible for the overall front-of-house operation of the restaurant, including:

• Leading, training and motivating the FOH team
• Managing daily restaurant service and ensuring consistently high standards
• Preparing and managing staff rosters
• Managing labour costs and staffing levels
• Recruiting, onboarding and developing team members
• Maintaining strong service standards and staff presentation
• Managing reservations and ensuring efficient table utilisation
• Handling customer feedback and resolving issues professionally
• Driving beverage sales, upselling and average spend per customer
• Maintaining restaurant presentation and cleanliness
• Managing opening and closing procedures
• Working closely with the owners and kitchen team
• Monitoring key restaurant KPIs and helping improve overall venue performance

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has previous experience as a Restaurant Manager, Venue Manager or strong Assistant Restaurant Manager
• Has experience in a busy full-service restaurant environment
• Is confident leading and holding a team accountable
• Is highly organised and comfortable managing rosters and staffing
• Understands restaurant costs, labour percentages and commercial performance
• Has excellent customer service and communication skills
• Can train staff in service, sales and upselling
• Remains calm and professional during busy services
• Takes genuine ownership of the restaurant rather than simply managing their shift
• Is reliable, proactive and leads by example

Experience in an Italian restaurant, premium casual dining or restaurant/bar environment would be highly regarded.

What We Offer

• Full-time management position
• Competitive salary package based on experience
• Established Sydney hospitality business
• Genuine responsibility and autonomy
• Opportunity to make the venue your own and build a strong team
• Long-term opportunity for the right person

We are looking for someone who wants to become an important part of the business and help take Next Door to the next level.

If you're an experienced hospitality manager — or an exceptional Assistant Manager ready to step up — we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a short introduction outlining your restaurant management experience.

Pay: $85,000.00 – $90,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person