What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Campus Dining position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
The Director of Campus Dining will have ultimate responsibility for university residential dining hall services, retail dining services, including the Schine Center and campus cafes, and athletic dining. The Director will strive to meet student needs, control costs, drive revenues, work with the culinary leadership to constantly innovate and market effectively to the students. This role will provide tools and training to effectively implement a strategic vision for Syracuse University’s Campus Dining operations.
The Director will be expected to engage with students, campus and culinary leadership and centralized operational support services to execute menus that students value and that speak to our commitment to providing an outstanding student experience. The Director will also be expected to provide resources to support hitting quality and financial targets in each location.
Education and Experience
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
The Director of Campus Dining will have ultimate responsibility for university residential dining hall services, retail dining services, including the Schine Center and campus cafes, and athletic dining. The Director will strive to meet student needs, control costs, drive revenues, work with the culinary leadership to constantly innovate and market effectively to the students. This role will provide tools and training to effectively implement a strategic vision for Syracuse University’s Campus Dining operations.
The Director will be expected to engage with students, campus and culinary leadership and centralized operational support services to execute menus that students value and that speak to our commitment to providing an outstanding student experience. The Director will also be expected to provide resources to support hitting quality and financial targets in each location.
Education and Experience
- Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management or related field or 15 years of related experience.
- Experience in a high-volume multi-unit operation.
- Must be able to teach and motivate supervisory staff, bargaining unit employees, student management, student employees, and temporary staff, to provide safe, nutritious meals for student customers, all while keeping industry, state and local health/sanitation standards.
- Prior experience (10 years) running high-quality food service in a multi-unit, high-volume college/university food services dining program, inclusive of residential and retailing dining.
- Comprehensive knowledge of food service trends.
- Understanding on how to create systems to manage and systematize at scale.
- Administer and strategically direct the operational activities of all residential and retail dining locations, which currently include 6 residential dining centers, Schine Center, 13 cafes and 3 convenience stores.
- Ensure compliance with budget, quality guidelines, safety and standard operating procedures.
- Work with Executive Chef and Centralized Support Services (bakery, commissary, warehouse, purchasing, registered dietitian, marketing, ITS, finance) to develop appropriate menus, direct food purchases, monitor inventory, forecast future purchases in food management system software and maintain current sales while creating strategies to also enhance sales.
- Develop new and exciting themes and concepts, engage students, monitor and maintain budgetary goals and leverage marketing to communicate and promote.
- Support the Athletic Dining team to vision, support and fulfill needs of student athletes, performance nutritionists, and sports trainers
- Develop strategic plans and budget recommendations, leverage hiring and retention strategies, maintain records, review, and adjust staffing and scheduling models and labor budgets and assess food costs to achieve budget and food waste goals.
- Review and approve payroll.
- Develop training programs for all levels of Dining operations.
- Organize training sessions that ensure all employees receive and synthesize training.
- Organize train the trainers for other departmental directors so they effectively and correctly communicate to their staff.
- Ensure training programs are created in dining standards, customer service, hospitality, awareness of food allergies, cross contact, proper food handling and cooking techniques.
- Meet individually and as a team with management members to define operational standards, goals and objectives.
- Pro-actively provide recommendations on future enhancements to the campus dining program.
- Engage with all customers and assure employees do the same.
- Collect feedback and utilize to identify program enhancements.
- Collaborate with University leadership and student support services, offices and programs to drive student participation, engagement and satisfaction.
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.