Food & Drink Programming Manager

Job Description

About Us Tennis Australia (TA) is one of the largest rights-holder, sport’s governing body and media production houses in Asia-Pacific and each year we deliver Australia’s premier sports and entertainment event, the Australian Open (AO). Employing passionate innovators from around the world and with the value of imagination underpinning everything we do, we strive to create world-leading, iconic experiences for our fans, patrons, and players. We are looking for a Food & Drink Programming Manager (Parental Leave Cover) to join our innovative team for 12 months, starting in March 2025. Fostering a workplace that is diverse and equitable is a high priority for Tennis Australia. We strongly encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a disability and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. About the Role The Food & Drink Programming Manager will be responsible for developing and executing an engaging, trend-driven food and drink program for the AO. The ideal candidate will combine creative vision with industry knowledge to deliver unforgettable culinary experiences for event-goers. You will help define and design precinct and premium F&B products and experiences collaborating with our catering and operations teams who will then lead the delivery. In this role, you will: Collaborate with industry-leading hospitality brands to deliver innovative food and drink experiences Forecast trends to curate engaging food programs across both retail and premium hospitality spaces Partner with internal teams (marketing, PR, sales) to craft and share the AO food story, supporting go-to-market strategies for AO Reserve and other dining products Manage relationships with key industry stakeholders, including chefs, suppliers, and food and drink talent to enhance the event's profile Support the development and delivery of premium and retail food experiences for AO26, including AO Reserve Restaurants, Bars, and Precinct Food Outlets Work closely with the Commercial Catering Manager to guide product development, menus, pricing, and execution strategies Assist with commercial modelling, budgeting, and vendor contract negotiations in collaboration with the Finance and Legal teams Work closely with our Marketing & PR teams to stimulate engaging content to drive fan engagement and program awareness About You What you’ll bring to the role: Experience: substantial experience in hospitality event marketing management Creative ideation & concept development: uniquely creative with a proven track record of conceptualising, programming and delivering cutting edge innovation and transformational projects/activations Commercial: strong business acumen Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of food trends and a strong industry network Marketing & Content: Background in content creation, copywriting, and PR collaboration Relationship Building: Proven ability to foster and manage partnerships Project Management: Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills Teamwork: Experience working cross-functionally with diverse teams Adaptability: swift troubleshooter and willingness to work extended hours during event periods Positive Attitude and Passion: desire to create unforgettable experiences for our fans, players and workforce What’s to love? Working with a fun and passionate team that thrive on collaboration and thinking differently Working on Australia’s preeminent sporting and entertainment event Career development with a range of formal education and on the job training opportunities Tickets to the Australian Open Superbox tickets to concerts and events at Rod Laver & Melbourne Arenas year-round Monthly health & wellbeing activities through our Thrive program Onsite gym & tennis facilities Flexible working practices Free car parking Salary packaging A range of discounts from our sponsorship partners To Apply If you think you’re up to the challenge, we’d love to hear from you! For more information and a copy of the position description, click here. Submit your resume and cover letter via our online application system. Please note, we will be reviewing regularly so applications may close before the indicated end date so do not delay. If you need assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the application process, please contact Tennis Australia is committed to providing a safe environment for all tennis participants, including children and young people. It is essential everyone involved with delivering tennis in Australia understands their responsibility in relation to child-safety. We believe playing makes life better and we are always on the lookout to talented people to join our team and help us create a playful world through tennis. #J-18808-Ljbffr