Job Description

Join the revelry at Drifter Christchurch

Drifter is built for curious travellers, free spirits, and people who care about great spaces and great experiences. Across our Australia and New Zealand properties, we blend the comfort of a hotel with the social energy of a modern hostel, creating places where travellers connect, locals drop in, and something's usually happening.

At Drifter Christchurch, that's not just about accommodation. It's also about Rambler and our Leisure Club event spaces. From casual drinks and shared meals to private functions, live events and community gatherings, these spaces help create the atmosphere that makes Drifter feel different.

We're looking for a Venue Manager to lead both. Someone who loves hospitality, enjoys building great teams, and understands that the best venues aren't just well run, they're full of energy, personality and people who genuinely want to be there.

What you'll be doing

This isn't a role where you'll spend your life hidden in an office staring at spreadsheets. You'll be on the floor, chatting with guests, supporting the team, solving problems, jumping into service when things get busy, and helping shape the energy of the venue every day.

Of course, you'll also be responsible for the things that make a great venue successful: building strong teams, managing costs, maintaining standards, running smooth services, and making sure the commercial side of the business stays healthy.

But first and foremost, this is a people role. No two days are the same, and that's exactly how you like it.

You'll probably be a great fit if...

• You've led restaurants, bars or hospitality venues before and understand what good hospitality actually looks like.
• You know how to build a team that enjoys coming to work.
• You can hold people accountable without being a dictator.
• You care about standards, but you're not precious.
• You understand that guest experience and commercial performance go hand in hand.
• Most importantly, you're the type of leader who gets involved. The kind of person who sees a queue forming and jumps in, rather than pointing at someone else to deal with it.

What you can expect at Drifter

You'll join a growing hospitality business that's still small enough for your ideas to matter.

We don't believe in unnecessary hierarchy, endless meetings, or making things harder than they need to be. We trust good people to do good work.

Alongside that you'll get:

• Discounted stays across Drifter properties for you, your family and your travel crew
• Discounts on brands you actually use, including JB Hi-Fi, Uber Eats and more
• Paid birthday leave
• A paid volunteering day each year to support a cause that matters to you
• Enhanced parental leave
• Free counselling and wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Learning and development opportunities
• Opportunities to grow with us as we continue expanding across Australia and New Zealand
• Visa support available for exceptional people looking to build a long-term career with Drifter

Drifter is collaborative, practical and values-led. Professional but not stuffy, we're a welcoming and inclusive workplace and proudly welcome team members from all races, places, gender expressions and beliefs.

One last thing...

When you apply, include a cover letter and tell us a bit about yourself.

What excites you about Drifter? What do you love about working in hospitality? And because we're curious, if a traveller had one night in Christchurch, where would you tell them to eat, drink or hang out?

We're not looking for a summary of your work history. We'll get that from your CV. Skills and experience matter, but we're also looking for people who genuinely connect with our brand and the experiences we create. We'd rather hear a bit about who you are and what draws you to great hospitality.

Any questions? Email us directly at careers@thedrifter.com