Hospitality Manager | Dark Sky Project

Full-time | Permanent

Takapo | Tekapo

Lead exceptional hospitality beneath the stars in Takapō.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced hospitality leader to take ownership of hospitality operations across Dark Sky Project’s venues. You’ll lead a talented team, strengthen service and systems, and help create warm, memorable experiences for manuhiri in one of Aotearoa’s most remarkable destinations.

About The Role

Reporting to the Business Manager and working closely with the Head Chef, you’ll be accountable for the safe, compliant, commercially sustainable and consistently high-quality delivery of hospitality operations. From service standards and venue presentation to financial performance, stock control, food safety and liquor licensing, you’ll bring people, systems and commercial thinking together to keep our venues performing at their best.

Please note: This is a hands-on operational leadership role that requires flexibility. You will work a roster across Monday to Sunday, including weekends, with shifts scheduled across the operating window of 8.00am to 5.00am. Your visible leadership across a range of business hours will be key to providing consistent support and oversight for the team.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Leading smooth, resilient day-to-day hospitality operations across all venues.
• Championing manaakitanga and exceptional manuhiri experiences.
• Leading, coaching and developing kaimahi, with clear expectations and effective roster coverage.
• Managing budgets, labour and operating costs while identifying commercial opportunities.
• Overseeing stock, purchasing, point-of-sale systems and accurate operational reporting.
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, liquor licensing, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Using customer feedback, sales information and operational insights to strengthen products, service and team performance.
• Embedding sustainable practices and supporting Ngāi Tahu values across the operation.

What You’ll Bring

• At least five years’ experience leading teams in hospitality or a related service environment.
• A strong track record of building culture, coaching people and growing capability.
• Experience improving operational systems such as rostering, training frameworks and service processes.
• Sound understanding of hospitality compliance, including food safety, health and safety, and licensed-premises requirements.
• Commercial awareness and experience contributing to menu, pricing or other operational decisions.
• A calm, practical and collaborative leadership style, with the flexibility to work across a seven-day roster.
• An understanding of Ngāi Tahu values and bicultural environments, or a genuine commitment to growing your cultural capability.

Why this opportunity?

You’ll have the opportunity to shape hospitality delivery at Dark Sky Project, support kaimahi to thrive and help strengthen an experience that connects our customers, through our people, to our place and to Ngāi Tahu. If you’re ready to bring strong leadership, commercial awareness and a genuine passion for hospitality to this next step, we’d love to hear from you.

How To Apply

Apply online with your up-to-date CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest in the role and the experience you would bring.

Applications close COB Friday, 23 October 2026.