Neon, chrome, burgers and milkshakes. Live music in the beer garden, car clubs in the carpark, and three bars that don't wind down early. Rick's Garage is a retro American diner in the heart of Palmwoods — big personality, big weekends, and a team that genuinely likes working here. The Bakehouse runs the mornings. The Garage runs the rest.
We're looking for a Venue Manager to run the lot.
The role
You'll report to the Operations Manager and lead our FOH Manager, Bar Manager and Bakehouse Supervisor. Three department heads, two venues, one standard.
This isn't a role where you get stuck on one section all shift. You'll be building leaders, holding the line on standards, watching labour live, and making sure the Diner floor, the Garden Bar, the Whiskey Bar and the Bakehouse all feel like the same business.
What your week looks like
Leading through your managers - coaching them, backing them, and holding them accountable
Signing off rosters before they're published and keeping labour honest against trade
Working to budget and understanding the numbers behind it - labour, GP, wastage and how your decisions move them
Full ownership of the Bakehouse through your Supervisor
Growing trade through events, live music, promotions and the local community
Weekly venue audits, and actually closing out what you find
Making the calls on shift so your team doesn't have to wait for someone else to
Being visible, mobile and impossible to miss through peak trade
You'll fit here if you
Have run multiple departments or a multi-outlet venue before
Would rather develop a manager than do their job for them
Can read a labour report and know what to do about it before the shift ends
Are calm when it's chaos and direct when it counts
Hold a current RSA and know your WHS and food safety obligations
Want a venue with personality, not a template
Venue Manager in Palmwoods employer: Rick's Garage
Rick's Garage Bar & Diner is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Sunshine Coast hinterland, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity and leadership thrive. With a strong focus on employee development through structured training pathways and opportunities for growth within an expanding business, team members enjoy a supportive culture that values their contributions. The lively atmosphere, coupled with the chance to engage with a diverse clientele and host exciting events, makes working at Rick's Garage both meaningful and rewarding.
