Head of Hospitality

Lead hospitality. Inspire people. Create futures.

This is not your standard hospitality leadership role.

At The Little Social, every coffee served, every catering event delivered and every happy customer contributes to something bigger – a system that creates real opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop skills and see a brighter future ahead.

We’re looking for an innovative, commercially savvy and people-focused Head of Hospitality to lead our growing social enterprise café and catering services across Greater Melbourne. We are looking for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, builds passionate teams, drives operational excellence and wants their leadership to have a genuine impact.

This role is based out of our Glenroy HQ but will require travel between central and western Melbourne locations. If you are looking for an opportunity to combine hospitality excellence with social impact while leading a business that changes lives every single day, we want to hear from you!

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You’re an experienced hospitality leader who knows how to bring people together, create strong culture and deliver exceptional operational outcomes across multi-site locations.
• You’re commercially minded, calm under pressure and passionate about building environments where both people and business can thrive.
• You understand complex operational systems and use this insight to drive strategic direction.
• You are excited to balance commercial outcomes with social impact and purpose-driven work
• You bring Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills with a genuine passion for people leadership and team development

Experience within social enterprise, community or purpose-led environments is highly regarded – but your leadership style, mindset and passion for impact are what matter most.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• This is a leadership opportunity that supports genuine work-life balance, our cafés operate Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 2.00pm
• Lead and shape the future of a growing multi-site café and catering operation with a purpose and genuine impact that you can be proud of
• Lead passionate, high-performing and values-led teams that prioritise service excellence, social justice and community impact.
• Create and develop opportunities for young people to thrive in an inclusive, supportive and above all, safe space.

About the Role

As Head of Hospitality, you’ll lead all café and catering operations across The Little Social, overseeing the business from both an operational and strategic perspective.

You’ll drive:

• A hospitality operation that delivers outstanding customer experiences across multiple sites
• Continuous improvement, innovation and service excellence across café and catering services
• Sustainable commercial growth that strengthens opportunities for young people
• High-performing, engaged and values-led teams where people feel supported to thrive
• A strong and trusted brand that reflects our purpose, quality and community impact
• Meaningful youth employment, training and development opportunities through hospitality

This role is equal parts hospitality leader, people leader and change maker.

What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)

✅ Seamless Operations

Our cafés and catering services run smoothly, safely and consistently across all locations. Customers experience warm, reliable service every time, with food safety and compliance standards consistently met or exceeded.

💰 Financial Sustainability

Operations are effectively managed within budget, with clear visibility of performance. You’ll strengthen cost control, improve purchasing efficiency and reduce waste while supporting our not-for-profit mission and long-term sustainability.

👥 Empowered People

Teams feel supported, engaged and proud of the work they do. Capability is strong, leaders are confident and proactive, and a positive, high-performing culture is embedded across all sites.

🌱 Youth Impact

Young people feel safe, included and empowered through meaningful hospitality experiences. They build real-world skills, confidence and pathways into employment and future opportunities.

❤️ Values-Led Culture

Our hospitality environments reflect who we are: inclusive, respectful and development-focused. Every interaction with customers, staff and young people reflects the values and purpose that drive our work every day.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

At Youth Projects, we’re lucky to have a passionate, energetic and values-driven team who genuinely care about the work we do and the people we support.

We work hard, support each other and celebrate the impact we create every day. While the work can be challenging, it’s also incredibly meaningful – and you’ll be surrounded by people who are committed, collaborative and driven by purpose.

We’re committed to creating a flexible and supportive workplace where you can thrive professionally and personally. From ongoing learning opportunities to wellbeing initiatives and genuine work-life balance, we invest in our people every step of the way.

Most importantly, the work you do here directly changes lives in the community. Great people deserve great perks, you’ll also enjoy:

• Free locally roasted coffee at the office every day
• Generous salary packaging benefits to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5% annual leave loading to help you make the most of your holidays
• Employee wellbeing initiatives, including access to our Employee Assistance Program
• 15 days of personal/carer’s leave each year, with up to 5 days able to be used for wellbeing or to meet other personal needs.

Ready to Lead Something Bigger?

If you’re still reading, there’s a strong chance you might be exactly who we’re looking for.

We’re searching for someone who brings energy, leadership, commercial thinking and heart – someone ready to lead hospitality differently and create meaningful impact every single day.

👉 Send through your resume and cover letter by clicking “Apply for the Job.” 👈

In your cover letter, tell us about your experience within the hospitality industry, your leadership approach, and the impact you would like to create in this role – both operationally and for the young people and communities we support.

Recruitment for this position will be undertaken as applications are received, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Please note the successful applicant will be required to: Hold or obtain a valid Working with Children Check, National Police Check Current and valid Driver’s Licence as part of the onboarding and recruitment process.

Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging:  Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging: At Youth Projects, we value the unique experiences, perspectives and contributions that a diverse workforce brings. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming workplace for all and actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people of all genders, sexualities and identities, including members of the LGBTIQA+ community

Safety screening: Youth Projects is committed to being a child-safe organisation, providing an environment where children who come into contact with the organisation feel safe. Youth Projects has zero tolerance