Service Manager

Service Manager (Restaurant)

Fixed term until end of May 2027 | Flockhill, Canterbury high country | Staff accommodation available

Great food. Thoughtful wine. A team that cares about the details.

Flockhill is a luxury lodge on a working high-country station, 90 minutes from Christchurch. Guests dine in our intimate Homestead and at Sugarloaf, our signature restaurant, and they can join hosted lunches and farm events out on the station. Everything is built around what’s on our doorstep: produce from our own garden, lamb from the station, and wines that tell a story about where they come from.

We’re looking for an experienced hospitality professional to join our Front of House leadership team this season. You’ll set the tone in the dining room, bring confidence to our wine service, and help create the personal, warm experiences Flockhill is known for.

The role

This is a hands-on leadership role reporting to our Food & Beverage Manager. You’ll:

Lead Homestead dining: run service day to day, keep standards high and make every guest feel looked after

Deliver F&B activities: bring hosted lunches, farm events and other experiences to life on the day, working with our Activities & Kitchen teams

Step up at Sugarloaf: take charge of Sugarloaf service on the Restaurant Manager’s days off

Be Duty Manager: run rostered services, make the calls on the night and keep things flowing

Champion wine: guide guests through pairings, support wine sales and grow the team’s wine knowledge

Train the team: coach and train staff as you work alongside them

We’re after someone who takes ownership, can adapt from a formal dinner to a picnic lunch in the hills, and leads by example.

What you’ll bring

Senior or supervisory Front of House experience in fine dining, a luxury lodge or a similar premium venue

Strong service skills and a real love of food, wine and pairing

Good knowledge of New Zealand and international wines. WSET Level 3, CMS Certified Sommelier or equivalent knowledge is ideal, and we’re happy to hear from you if you’re working towards a qualification

Confidence leading a team in different settings while giving each guest a personal experience

Commercial awareness, clear communication and a calm, solutions-focused approach when things get busy

Confidence with POS systems, cash handling and operational procedures

A current Manager’s Certificate

A full driver's licence

What we offer

The chance to lead service in one of New Zealand’s most special settings, where luxury hospitality and high-country farming meet

Staff accommodation on site

Staff meals while on shift

A close, supportive team that has each other’s backs, with opportunities to grow your skills over the season

This is a fixed-term role covering our summer season through to the end of May 2027. You’ll need to be flexible with rostered shifts, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. We’re reviewing applications as they come in, so don’t wait to apply.

Applicants must have NZ citizenship or residency, or a valid open NZ work visa covering the full fixed term.