Director, Campus Dining
About The Position
The Director of Campus Dining serves as a member of the Housing and Residential Education senior leadership team and directly reports to the Assistant Vice Chancellor. Provides strategic leadership for campus dining, in partnership with food service contractor (Sodexo) and leadership, ensuring services align with Student Affairs priorities and deliver a high-quality, student-centered experience. This role leads long-term planning, pricing strategy, and contract implementation while collaborating on facility improvements and maintaining safe, inclusive dining environments. Serving as the primary liaison among students, staff, faculty, and dining partners, the position fosters clear communication, gathers stakeholder feedback, and drives continuous service enhancements. The role also manages escalated concerns, monitors satisfaction and performance data, and uses analytics to guide marketing, meal plan participation, and support revenue growth and program innovation. This position summary is not designed to capture all activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this position. Responsibilities may change, or new duties may be assigned at any time.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field with ten (10) years of progressive professional experience leading dining operations, large-scale programs or service-oriented operations within a university or comparable environment.
- Demonstrated success managing complex service departments with a strong emphasis on customer experience, stakeholder engagement, and continuous service improvement.
- 5-7 years of progressive managerial experience, including staff supervision, team development, performance management, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
- Proven ability to resolve conflicts effectively, navigate sensitive situations, and build consensus among diverse groups
- Strong background in operational oversight, including facility coordination, and ensuring efficient, high-quality service delivery.
- Demonstrated commitment to collaboration across departments and the ability to build partnerships that enhance the overall campus experience.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in a related field with five (5) years of senior-level leadership experience in higher education or similarly complex organizations.
- 3+ years of direct experience in dining, food service management, restaurant management, or catering and events, preferably on a college/university campus
- Advanced experience guiding cross-functional services with institutional goals and student success priorities
Responsibilities
- Represent Student Affairs priorities and student-centered values in all dining initiatives and decisions
- Develop and implement long-term dining strategies, including concepts, service models, financial planning, and facility and dining plan growth
- Partner with vendor leadership, and AVC Business and Planning, on developing pricing strategy, or other food service RFP opportunities
- Contribute to university policy development and ensure alignment with institutional goals
- Oversee dining operations to ensure efficient, high-quality service across all residential and retail locations
- Collaborate on facility maintenance, capital improvements, and operational logistics
- Ensure dining spaces are safe, functional, and inclusive
- Maintain knowledge of health regulations, dietary needs, food allergies, and religious accommodation(s)
- Serve as the primary liaison between students, staff, faculty, leadership, and dining partners
- Facilitate clear, consistent communication across all stakeholders
- Lead advisory groups and feedback channels to gather and act on input
- Represent Student Affairs in dining-related initiatives and discussions in conjunction with AVC
- Act as the escalation point for dining concerns and complaints
- Ensure timely, professional, and solution-focused resolution
- Monitor feedback, satisfaction trends, and service performance
- Drive continuous improvement of the dining experience
- Lead efforts to increase meal plan participation, meal plan utilization, and overall revenue
- Use data and analytics to inform marketing, sales, and program development
- Apply insights to improve services, introduce new concepts, and enhance engagement
- Support assessment, reporting, and administrative functions related to dining performance
Benefits
- medical
- dental
- retirement
- paid time off
- tuition benefit
- ECO pass
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
