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Food & Beverage Manager - Student Programs & Impact

06/11/2026
04/12/2026
Permanent - Full Time
Kensington Campus
Customer Service,Operations

From our bustling campus Canteen to free food programs, catering and food truck activations, we're delivering over 4,000 meals every week to support students at UNSW. We're looking for a hands-on Food & Beverage Manager to lead the operation and help us take it to the next level. This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced hospitality or catering manager who's ready to take ownership of something bigger.

You'll oversee everything from kitchen production and menus to people, finances and customer experience, leading a diverse operation that balances great food, affordability and sustainability. We're looking for someone who loves being in the kitchen as much as they love making an operation run well. Someone who can jump into cooking and prep when needed, knows their food costs and numbers, and can lead a team to deliver great outcomes.

Job Description

KEY TASKS & ACCOUNTABILITIES 

1. Food Production & Operational Management 

  • Oversee high-volume food production across Canteen, UNSW Meals, Checkpoint Breakfasts, catering and food truck activations, ensuring efficient coordination of production schedules, kitchen resources, preparation, cooking and storage across multiple services. 

  • Lead menu development and food production standards, ensuring consistent quality, appropriate portioning and offerings that balance student preferences, affordability and operational efficiency. 

  • Maintain a daily presence in the kitchen, providing hands-on leadership and actively supporting food preparation, cooking and service as required. 

  • Take overall responsibility for food safety, allergen management, stock control, kitchen compliance and the safe and effective operation of kitchen facilities and equipment. 

2. Financial & Commercial Performance 

  • Take ownership of the financial performance of food and beverage operations, including budget management, menu costing, COGS, labour efficiency and waste reduction. 

  • Actively monitor and analyse financial and operational performance, maintaining an accurate understanding of costs, margins, sales and wastage to inform decisions and drive improvements. 

  • Manage procurement, suppliers and purchasing arrangements to achieve quality, reliability and value for money. 

  • Oversee financial planning and reporting, identifying and addressing financial risks while balancing commercial sustainability with student affordability. 

3. People Leadership & Team Management 

  • Lead and manage kitchen, front-of-house and other food and beverage staff, fostering a positive, collaborative and accountable team culture. 

  • Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, training, rostering, performance management and staff development to ensure effective service delivery. 

  • Build a capable and accountable team through effective leadership, delegation and development, empowering staff to deliver consistent positive performance across all services. 

4. Service Delivery & Student Experience 

  • Oversee the operation and performance of Canteen, ensuring a welcoming venue, efficient service delivery and a consistently positive student experience. 

  • Lead the delivery of Arc's food programs, student catering services and food truck activations, working collaboratively with internal teams to meet program objectives, student needs and budgets. 

  • Monitor customer demand, sales performance and student feedback to identify opportunities to improve services, increase engagement and respond to changing student needs. 

  • Collaborate with Arc's Marketing team to develop promotions, activations and initiatives that strengthen the visibility and performance of food and beverage services. 

5. Strategy, Stakeholder Relationships & Continuous Improvement 

  • Drive continuous improvement across food and beverage operations, developing effective systems and processes that strengthen efficiency, service quality and financial sustainability. 

  • Maintain strong relationships with UNSW stakeholders, Arc teams, suppliers and other partners, ensuring effective collaboration and communication. 

  • Monitor and report on operational performance, outcomes and risks, ensuring services meet relevant organisational, contractual and compliance requirements. 

  • Support the ongoing development of food and beverage services in alignment with Arc's strategic objectives, including opportunities for sustainability, waste reduction and collaboration with the Food Hub. 

Desired Skills and Experience

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Proven ability to independently manage complex food and beverage operations, with strong judgement, initiative and accountability.

• Experience in high-volume food production, bulk cooking or catering, with strong commercial kitchen knowledge.

• Ability to develop and improve operational systems, processes and workflows.

• Strong financial acumen, including COGS, menu costing, waste management, labour costs and budgeting.

• Practical cooking and food preparation skills, with a willingness to work hands-on in the kitchen.

• Experience leading and developing teams, including workforce planning and performance management.

• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.

• Sound knowledge of food safety, allergen management, WHS and relevant compliance requirements.

• Strong communication, stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with a commitment to affordable, high-quality student food services.

• A hands-on, collaborative leadership style and positive, people-first attitude.

Desirable

• Experience in a social enterprise, community, or not-for-profit environment.

• Knowledge of circular economy or sustainable food systems.

• Food Safety Supervisor qualification

What's in it for you?

• Mostly daytime hours, with very minimal nights and weekends.

• Four extra days of leave at the end of the year.

• A flexible, people-first working environment.

• The opportunity to lead a diverse food operation, with real ownership and room to make improvements.

• A chance to be part of a purpose-driven organisation making a genuine difference to student wellbeing and cost of living.

Sound like you?

We're looking for someone who's as practical as they are passionate. Someone who knows how to run a kitchen, understands the numbers behind it, brings out the best in their team and takes pride in making things run well. If you've got the creativity of a chef, the commercial mindset of a manager and the heart of a community builder, we'd love to hear from you.

To Apply Submit your resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Join Arc and help create exceptional experiences for the UNSW student community. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

If you have any questions, please contact hr@arc.unsw.edu.au

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