Director of Dining Services

Upper Crust Food Service•Tuscaloosa, AL

3h•Onsite

About The Position

Upper Crust Food Service is looking for an experienced and strategic director to lead our campus dining program at a major college in Tuscaloosa. This role oversees dining and catering services for a campus community of more than 500 daily diners, including residential dining, athletics-related food service, and large events. Our program focuses on high-quality food, sustainability, and technology to enhance campus life.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive leadership in collegiate or high-volume hospitality operations.
Active ServSafe Foodservice Manager and Alcohol Service certifications are required or renewed within 30 days
Exceptional conflict resolution skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-unit environment.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Advanced expertise in CaterTrax, TouchNet or comparable software is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the campus dining program, including residential dining and large-scale catering operations.
Oversee dining services for a campus community of more than 500 daily diners.
Ensure excellence in culinary quality, sustainability initiatives, and technology integration across operations.
Serve as the primary leadership partner for campus dining stakeholders.
Foster a people-first culture through emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and strong leadership.
Maintain high standards of ethics, trustworthiness, reliability, accountability, and executive presence.
Use data-driven insights to guide decision-making and improve operational performance.
Manage financial performance with strong fiscal discipline.
Collaborate effectively with diverse and complex stakeholder groups.
Ensure consistency in service delivery, culinary standards, and overall guest experience.
Identify and implement opportunities for business growth, operational efficiency, and innovation.
Maintain a "Gold Plate" standard for safety, ensuring a perfect 100% health inspection record across all managed residential, retail, and concession sites.
Hold and maintain an active ServSafe Foodservice Manager Certification; you will be responsible for ensuring all subordinate managers and supervisors are also certified and compliant with state and local health mandates.
Oversee the integration of digital menu platforms to ensure 100% accuracy in allergen tracking and nutritional transparency for a diverse student body.
Implement rigorous HACCP protocols and standardized sanitation schedules to mitigate risk in high-volume, multi-unit production environments.
Directly manage an annual P&L exceeding $10M, ensuring fiscal responsibility through meticulous labor cost optimization and CAPEX planning.
Lead the strategy and execution for pre or pos athletic events, focusing on speed of service and revenue growth.
Manage a premium catering department for everything from high-profile presidential galas to student events.
Drive "Farm-to-Campus" initiatives to increase local sourcing by at least 20%.
Lead and mentor a diverse team of 50 culinary and service professionals.
Facilitate clear, effective communication across a diverse workforce; proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Champion DEI workshops and professional development programs to build a high-morale, equitable workplace environment.