Food and Beverage Manager - Crowne Plaza Geelong (Pre-Opening)

Be part of a landmark hotel opening in one of Victoria’s most exciting waterfront destinations!

In partnership with Plenary Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is bringing its world-class Crowne Plaza brand to the Victorian regional city of Geelong. Scheduled to open in early 2026, Crowne Plaza Geelong will redefine premium accommodation, offering a sophisticated stay for both leisure and corporate travellers. It will form part of the highly anticipated Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct, a transformative development featuring a 1,000-seat convention centre, exhibition spaces, and a vibrant retail and hospitality hub. Located in the heart of the emerging precinct, this 200-room hotel will feature spacious suites, an extensive restaurant and bar offering, pool, gym, and meeting facilities.

The moment a guest steps into one of our hotels, they walk into a genuinely memorable experience. To help deliver this, we’re looking for a Food & Beverage Manager (pre-opening) to join our team, preparing the food and beverage operations of the hotel for a successful opening (and beyond!), delivering a high level of service to our guests. The Hotel will consist of three Food & Beverage outlets including: 120-seat all day dining restaurant & 50-seat hotel bar, 24-seat lobby café and a 90-seat rooftop bar. 

A little taste of your day-to-day

Every day is different, but as part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in: 

• Creating and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the food & beverage department, including service standards, food handling protocols, sanitation procedures, and customer service guidelines.
• Hiring and training of food & beverage team including supervisors, waitstaff and bar attendants. 
• Overseeing the setup of facilities including, kitchen, dining and bar areas, coordinating with contractors, designers, and other relevant parties to ensure functionality and aesthetics.
• Identifying and establishing relationships with suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that deliveries are in line with quality standards and budgetary constraints.
• Procuring all necessary equipment, utensils, glassware, and other supplies required for food and beverage service, ensuring equipment is properly installed and in working order before opening.
• Collaborating with the Executive Chef and culinary team to create menus that align with the hotel's concept, target market, and budget.
• Work with the management team to establish pricing strategies for food and beverage items that are competitive yet profitable.
• Collaborate closely with other departments, such as kitchen, events, and front office, to ensure seamless operations, communicating F&B needs and requirements effectively to other teams.
• Manage day-to-day staffing needs, plan and assign work and establish performance and development goals for team members. Provide mentoring, coaching and regular feedback.
• Help prepare annual departmental operating budget and financial plans.
• Foster positive stakeholder relationships if applicable and assist in providing ongoing information and status reports. 
• Ensuring that all food and beverage operations comply with relevant health, safety, and sanitation regulations, obtaining necessary permits and licenses and conducting regular inspections to maintain compliance.

What we need from you

• At least 5 years of related experience in multiple outlet venues, including management experience.
• Proven success in similar roles within hotels, resorts, or hospitality venues.
• Hold a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification and Food Handling Certificate.
• A demonstrated capability of collaborating with multiple stakeholders and managing competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills and passionate about delivering exceptional service and developing your team.
• Strategic thinking, the ability to explore new ways of working and have an open mind around how we can drive the Hotel forward.
• Must be fluent in English.
• Full working rights in Australia without restrictions.

What you can expect from us

We give our people everything they need to succeed. From a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work to a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life – including a impressive room discounts and some of the best training in the business. 

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate difference and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.