What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Manager - Campus Dining position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
Syracuse University’s Campus Dining operation is one of the largest and most dynamic auxiliary services on campus – serving thousands of students, faculty, and staff across multiple dining units every single day. We’re looking for an experienced Food Service Purchasing Manager to sit at the center of it all.
This isn’t a back-office purchasing role. You’ll be the primary driver of procurement strategy for our entire Campus Dining operation – managing food and supply purchasing, building vendor relationships, keeping inventory moving efficiently, and making sure our dining teams have exactly what they need to serve our community at the highest level. You’ll work directly with Campus Dining leadership, our Executive Chefs, and our external buying cooperative to make smart, timely purchasing decisions that impact quality and cost of goods across the board.
If you’ve built your career in food service purchasing, whether in university dining, large-scale hospitality, foodservice distribution, or a high-volume food and beverage operation, and you’re looking for a role with institutional stability, meaningful scope, and a team that values what you bring, we’d love for you to apply.
Education and Experience
What We’re Looking For
What You’ll Do
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.
Syracuse University’s Campus Dining operation is one of the largest and most dynamic auxiliary services on campus – serving thousands of students, faculty, and staff across multiple dining units every single day. We’re looking for an experienced Food Service Purchasing Manager to sit at the center of it all.
This isn’t a back-office purchasing role. You’ll be the primary driver of procurement strategy for our entire Campus Dining operation – managing food and supply purchasing, building vendor relationships, keeping inventory moving efficiently, and making sure our dining teams have exactly what they need to serve our community at the highest level. You’ll work directly with Campus Dining leadership, our Executive Chefs, and our external buying cooperative to make smart, timely purchasing decisions that impact quality and cost of goods across the board.
If you’ve built your career in food service purchasing, whether in university dining, large-scale hospitality, foodservice distribution, or a high-volume food and beverage operation, and you’re looking for a role with institutional stability, meaningful scope, and a team that values what you bring, we’d love for you to apply.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or culinary arts and 5 years of experience operating in a high-volume food service operation.
- Considerable experience in food production is necessary.
- ServSafe and AllerTrain certification necessary upon hire.
What We’re Looking For
- Experience managing purchasing in a high-volume food service environment — university or institutional dining, hotel or resort food and beverage, large-scale catering, foodservice distribution, or a comparable operation
- Strong working knowledge of inventory management and procurement systems; FoodPro experience is a significant plus, but candidates with experience in comparable ERP or inventory platforms (Birchstreet, Compeat, CBORD, Eagle, HIMPACT, SAP, or similar)
- Demonstrated experience applying JIT (Just-in-Time) and Economies of Scale purchasing principles
- A track record of building vendor relationships, negotiating effectively, and managing supply issues with confidence
- Strong analytical skills — comfortable reviewing purchasing data, tracking cost of goods, identifying trends, and making decisions based on what the numbers tell you
- Excellent communication and organizational skills; this role is highly cross-functional and relationship-driven
- ServSafe and AllerTrain certification required — while these certifications are required, they do not need to be in hand at the time of application. Strong candidates who do not currently hold these certifications will be expected to obtain them upon hire
What You’ll Do
- Manage end-to-end food and supply purchasing for Syracuse University Campus Dining, including purchase order processing, vendor coordination, and receiving documentation
- Determine inventory needs and delivery schedules based on current stock levels, storage capacity, projected usage, and menu demands
- Use FoodPro ERP (or comparable inventory management system) to maintain accurate inventory, track turnover, and support purchasing decisions — we’ll invest in getting you up to speed on FoodPro if you’re coming from a comparable system
- Serve as the primary point of contact for our external buying cooperative vendor, Campus Dining leadership, and Executive Chefs
- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships; negotiate pricing and contracts; resolve quality and supply issues quickly and effectively
- Collaborate with partner institutions to maximize buying volume and drive cost-effective sourcing strategies
- Monitor and analyze market trends to make informed, proactive purchasing decisions
- Identify supply chain gaps, research alternative vendors, and implement strategies to protect against shortfalls
- Inspect products for compliance with specifications and food safety code requirements
- Ensure full compliance with state and federal food regulatory standards and University purchasing policies
- Prepare bids, purchase orders, and all required vendor documentation including nutritional information, food safety certifications, insurance, and conflict-of-interest forms
- Support quality assurance and inventory control across warehouse, logistics, and food service locations
- Align product purchasing with menu planning to maximize quality, control cost of goods, and drive continuous improvement
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.