About Us

The Carlton Football Club is one of Australia’s oldest and most prominent sport institutions. Founded in 1864, the Club headquarters and training facilities are located in Carlton at IKON Park, our traditional home ground. Our redevelopment project is now complete and we are proud of our state of the art facilities that supports our high performance environment. The development of IKON Park includes significant upgrades to existing food and beverage facilities, comprising a contemporary Café and Event Space, Players’ Lounge Dining, VIP Business Lounge’s, Private Dining Room, and the spectacular Pavilion Event Centre.

We are passionate about our contribution to the Community and foster an inclusive and welcoming culture where our values are at the core of who we are and what we do.

About the Role

Reporting to the Food and Beverage Coordinator you will work in the Club’s culinary department which involves the venue’s two commercial kitchens and working with a team of Food and Beverage attendants, Chefs, Cooks and Kitchen Porters The role entails comprehensive management of daily operations for both the café and events, with a focus on delivering exceptional service standards and maintaining an inviting atmosphere that consistently exceeds customer expectations.

The Team Lead is responsible for fostering a positive work environment, motivating a high-performing team whilst on shift, and ensuring that all staff members are well-trained in customer service, product knowledge, and safe work practices. Part of the role includes working on team scheduling with the Food and Beverage Coordinator, based on business needs, while also minimising costs and maximising profitability to uphold quality standards.

Occasionally this role will be the primary point of contact for clients on event days and as a result will be proactive in resolving customer issues, continuously seeking feedback to enhance the guest experience. Regular meetings with management will ensure everyone is aligned when it comes to service delivery, commitment to cleanliness and operational excellent throughout the café and event spaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily café and event operations on shift, delivering exceptional service and a positive guest experience.
• Supervise, coach, and support team members during service, providing clear direction and real-time problem solving.
• Ensure service standards, SOPs, brand guidelines, and hygiene and safety requirements are consistently met.
• Coordinate pre-service briefings, team communication, and task allocation in partnership with the F&B Coordinator to ensure operational readiness.
• Monitor venue setup, cleanliness, maintenance, and safety, identifying and addressing risks or operational issues as they arise.
• Support the planning and delivery of events and functions, including setup, service delivery, pack-down, and vendor coordination.
• Act as the primary on-the-day contact for clients, internal stakeholders, and venue suppliers to ensure smooth event execution.
• Review event orders, menus, and service requirements, and ensure teams are well briefed on responsibilities and changes.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvement and provide feedback to enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction.
• Contribute to the development of a motivated, high-performing team through training, supervision, and continuous feedback.

Experience, Skills and Attributes

• Proven experience in large, high-volume café and/or event environments.
• A strong customer-focused mindset, with the ability to consistently deliver high-quality service.
• Confident working collaboratively with culinary and food & beverage teams.
• A positive, engaging leadership style, with the ability to supervise, coach, and support team members.
• Sound operational knowledge, including service delivery and Point-of-Sale systems.
• Willingness to learn, take on feedback, and continuously develop skills and knowledge.
• Ability to work flexible hours in line with venue operational requirements.
• Strong alignment with Carlton Football Club values and the ability to build positive, trusting working relationships across the F&B team.

Benefits and Culture

Carlton’s values underpin how the Club operates, describing how our people work together, interact and behave. The Club is passionate about its culture, focused on cultivating a unique sense of belonging and connection. In addition, we offer our people flexible working, learning and development opportunities, as well as employee benefits such as membership, café and retail discounts, working in a world-class sporting amenity.