Functions Supervisor

• Fantastic opportunity to grow your hospitality & events leadership career
• Dynamic, hands-on role with high client impact
• Lead premium campus events & functions for HostCo

WHO WE ARE

We are Australia’s largest and oldest Student Union. We are about students on Campus. As the primary provider of coffee & food on campus, we have a wide range of cafes and quick service venues that include our own Food Truck & Coffee Van.

We are committed to a sustainable future for our campus community and have made commitments ensuring sustainability is embedded into everything we provide – from our events and cafés to our student programs and facilities.

WHO YOU ARE

You’re a confident hospitality and events professional who thrives in a fast-paced, operational role. You enjoy taking ownership on event day — coordinating staff, supervising room setups, managing client needs, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience.

As the Functions Supervisor, you will be the key on-site contact for HostCo events, responsible for translating event sheet details into operational delivery, managing staffing and labour, overseeing compliance, and supporting an engaged casual workforce. This role works closely with Sales, Kitchen, Facilities, and Operations to deliver events to a high standard.

Your leadership style is hands-on, organised and solutions-focused, with strong attention to detail and a natural ability to communicate with clients, suppliers, and staff.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervising the setup, delivery and pack-down of events and functions
• Acting as the main contact for clients during events, managing requests and service recovery
• Coordinating staffing levels, rosters and labour control to meet operational demands
• Leading, coaching and developing a casual FOH team
• Ensuring HACCP, WHS, RSA and cash-handling compliance
• Collaborating with Sales and Kitchen teams to ensure seamless event handover and execution
• Managing AV and IT setup, troubleshooting and escalation as needed
• Overseeing inventory, POS and administrative systems, including payroll and invoicing
• Maintaining HostCo standards, presentation and service culture across all venues

This role involves shifts on weekends, nights and public holidays as required by the event schedule.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in hospitality or events
• Demonstrated client-facing communication skills (verbal & written)
• Strong organisational and problem-solving capability
• Working knowledge of spirits, wine and beer
• Experience working with integrated AV systems & basic IT troubleshooting
• Experience managing clients and building ongoing service relationships
• Flexibility to work weekends and nights as part of a rotating roster
• Understanding of HACCP and food safety programs
• Current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) competency photo card
• Current NSW provisional or above driver’s licence

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Tertiary qualifications in hospitality, events, or similar
• Supervisory experience leading teams of 10+ staff
• Experience supervising high-volume functions (weddings, conferences, or similar)
• Management experience in hospitality/event settings
• Stock control and inventory management experience
• Experience working with process, procedure and compliance systems
• Knowledge of industrial relations and WHS legislation
• Understanding of the role of the USU in the university community

THE PERKS

• An $15 meal card per day worked
• Complimentary USU Membership giving discounts on and off campus
• Ongoing paid training and development
• Supportive, collaborative team environment

THE PAY

$70,000 base salary per annum +12% Superannuation

HOURS OF WORK

Full-time, 38 hours per week, rostered across 7 days in line with business requirements.

START DATE

Immediate Start

HOW TO APPLY

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

1. Please read the position description here carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position before applying
2. Scroll down and complete our online application form below
3. Attach your resume. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have commenced your application you cannot save and continue at a later stage.

ABOUT THE USU

The USU (University of Sydney Union) is proudly Australia’s oldest and largest not-for-profit student organisation, dedicated to providing students with the best possible university experience. 

Led by a student board elected by our members, the USU provides fun things on campus, such as festivals, events and parties. We manage a diverse range of programs, including an active volunteering program and a Language Exchange, to name a few. In addition, we support over 200 Clubs and Societies as well as operate bars, food and retail outlets across campus, providing great coffee, affordable fresh food, graduation gown hire and official USYD merchandise. 

We are committed to promoting a workplace of equal opportunities. We promote healthy living and aims to protect the health and safety of staff, members and visitors to the University by providing a Smoke-Free Workplace. We do not accept unsolicited agency applications.

USU is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We’re committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all walks of life. Help make us better by joining our team. 

Due to the volume of applications received, shortlisted applicants will be contacted within approximately 4 weeks of the role’s closing date (or 4 weeks from the date of application if there is no specified closing date).