Food Operations Manager 3

Sodexo•Waltham, MA

About The Position

Success is yours when you collaborate and work hard in our team-based culture. Sodexo's Campus Segment is seeking a highly impactful Food Operations Manager 3 role supporting Bentley University. As a key leader within our Universities segment, you will serve as the Director of Residential Dining, shaping a best-in-class campus dining experience that reflects Bentley’s academic excellence, global mindset, and commitment to student well-being. Bentley University houses approximately 4,000 students, with 2,500 on the meal plan, and this position oversees all operations within the primary residential dining facility. The role reports to the Director of Operations and requires one weekend day per week, with some evenings and holidays. The Food Operations Manager 3 of Residential Dining is a dynamic, creative, and strategic leader responsible for elevating food quality, student experience, and operational excellence across a high-volume dining environment. This role blends culinary innovation, hospitality forward-thinking, team development, and strong business acumen to create an engaging and seamless dining program that serves as a cornerstone of campus life. At Sodexo, you will find the ingredients for a great career—including work-life balance, professional growth, and meaningful work that impacts students every day.

Requirements

A strong leadership track record with experience managing large teams in food service or hospitality environments.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing needs, and step in where needed to maintain smooth operations.
Excellent communication skills, professionalism, and a passion for delivering top-tier customer service.
Experience working in a unionized environment.
Strong business acumen with the ability to achieve financial goals and support long-term planning.
Proficiency with Sodexo management systems, or the ability to quickly learn FMS, MSC, and other reporting tools.
A collaborative, innovative mindset that values continuous improvement, team development, and creating exceptional student experiences.
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 3 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.

Responsibilities

Oversee all day-to-day residential dining operations, ensuring excellence in food quality, service, and hospitality.
Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team, fostering a positive culture and high performance.
Maintain strong client and customer relationships, ensuring alignment with Bentley University’s goals and expectations.
Drive financial performance, meeting company and client targets through effective cost controls and operational strategies.
Ensure full compliance with Sodexo standards, safety protocols, HACCP guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
Develop and execute strategic plans that elevate the dining experience, support student well-being, and enhance campus engagement.
Manage within a union environment with professionalism, fairness, and consistency.
Utilize Sodexo systems such as Food Management Systems (FMS) and Market Connections (MSC) to streamline operations and reporting.
Support a high-touch, high-volume dining program requiring operational presence on a weekend day plus occasional evenings/holidays.