Business Development Manager - Events & Catering

About us

We’re a trio of bold, creative hospitality brands doing things differently and we’re looking for our new Business Development Manager.

Alder Road Food Group, led by David O’Brien, is a dynamic collective, passionate about food, drinks, and hospitality. Known for creativity and adaptability, the Group thrives in the evolving hospitality landscape, delivering exceptional experiences across a number of brands. High-end event catering brand Cook & Waiter, brings over 20 years of expertise to special events, corporate gigs, weddings, launches and private parties, partnering with top brands and clients to deliver incredible hospitality across Sydney and select interstate work. Food Rascal specialises in delivering workplace hospitality for our corporate clients while also focusing on consulting, mentoring, retail, venue operations and product development. Our newest brand, Saltbox, is our first sole-operated event venue that elevates the event experience with outstanding food and drinks, housed within the Wunderlich Lane precinct and opened in May 2025.

Our culture is driven by our values: Everyone has a seat at our table, Plant the Seed, Flip the Raspberry and Stay Humble Apple Crumble. We are creative and we think big. Check out more about us here: www.cookandwaiter.com.au www.saltboxvenue.com.au

About us

We're not your average Sydney-based hospitality group. We're all about shaking things up with our diverse brands, from our premium catering business Cook & Waiter, to Food Rascal where we partner with organisations to provide their in-house workplace hospitality catering experiences, to our fresh-out-of-the-oven Rascal Bakehouse, and new Sydney venue Saltbox.

As we expand like freshly proofed dough, we're on the hunt for a Business Development Manager who's as passionate about good food and great partnerships as we are. This isn't just any desk job, you'll be out there, forming new connections, boosting our buzz, and bringing home the bacon (literally, sometimes).

This role is primarily based out there building relationships, however our office locations are at our Alexandria catering kitchen and office, and our events venue Saltbox in Surry Hills, with parking available and only a 10 minute drive between the two.

Your mission: spice up our brand presence, cook up some killer partnerships for in-venue hospitality catering, corporate contracts, premium events and major events. Help us serve up success like never before within the Australian hospitality and events landscape. If you've got a taste for innovation, a knack for growth, and a side of hustle, you're the missing ingredient we're looking for.

High level overview of your day-to-day:

• You’ll spot opportunity like it’s a sixth sense.  With a focus on premium event catering, workplace hospitality and contract catering you’ll seamlessly weave in the broader brand story of our dynamic businesses.

• Build strategic partnerships, enhance brand presence, and generate new revenue.

• Collaborate with our partner venues, clients, and internal teams to drive growth.

• You’ll create powerful pitch and response to tender documents, knowing the key ingredients to answer the brief and win the business.

• Be out there meeting, greeting and networking, building relationships is your superpower.

• Develop and execute a proactive and strategic sales strategy to meet revenue targets and secure new contracts.

• Build industry connections and nurture client relationships.

• Conduct site inspections, meetings, presentations, and represent us at industry events.

What you bring to the table:

• Demonstrated experience (minimum 2 years) as a Business Development Manager in contract catering, hospitality, or events with a successful sales track record.

• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to uncover multiple opportunities from a single interaction.

• You speak fluent brand and numbers; you understand commercial drivers but also get what makes a brand tick.

• Flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to representing our brand values.

• Initiative and drive to deliver positive outcomes for clients and colleagues.

• Experience with Momentus or similar Event Management Software will be highly regarded but not essential.

Ready to shake up the hospitality industry and have some fun doing it? Join our team and be part of something extraordinary!