Demo

Dining Operations Associate

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Other
POSTED ON 10/28/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/27/2025
Department

CSL UChicago Dining Facilities

About The Department

UChicago Dining is a department formed to administer all foodservice contracts between campus entities (clients) and the University. It serves as communications conduit between contractor and client, and as the primary contact for all 'One Card' dining initiatives and dining program maintenance. UChicago Dining coordinates all proposed feasibility analysis, remodeling and new projects in conjunction with Facilities Services, the Campus Architect and client organizations. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the person assigned to this job.

Job Summary

The job provides oversight at the direction of the management team of food service operations for students. This position would conduct a broad range of operational activities for the dining program for the University, perform assignments in accordance with existing procedures to solve routine or standard problems and perform other related work as needed.

Responsibilities

  • Provide support to management in the daily oversight of key functions and employees during the normal course of business
  • Assist in ensuring a safe working environment throughout the facility for all employees.
  • Assist in creating a vibrant and culinary diverse dining program that fosters community throughout the campus.
  • Oversee department vehicle maintenance ensuring appropriate licenses, fueling, and protocol.
  • Aid in monitoring facility service requests, work orders, maintenance, inventory, and daily Maximo input.
  • Aid in scheduling of facility preventative maintenance and coordinate contractors to perform work within budget.
  • Communicate directly with Campus Facility Services and Outside contractors on work orders.
  • Monitor Pest Management activities at all dining locations (residential, retail, catering, commissary).
  • Provide guidance and support for the execution of all catering events including RSOs, O Week, and high-profile campus events.
  • Assist with any clerical, administrative, or recording work that will support the department in operations and services.
  • Independently provide oversight to the operations, primarily on nights and weekends.
  • Visit units daily to assess, monitor, and ensure the maintenance of industry compliance standards at all dining venues.
  • Assist in the maintenance and servicing of programmatic benchmarks, surveys (such as NACUFS and Mystery Diners, etc.), goals and objectives for UChicago Dining and the vendor.
  • Provide oversight of the vendor and directly communicate compliance standards with all health department, HACCP, OSHA, and university policies and procedures.
  • Keep abreast of new concepts, practices, and trends in food service technology as they relate to institutions of higher education.
  • Communicates primarily to internal clients, occasionally vendors, developed either through job-related training and some on-the-job experience.
  • With direction, assists in tracking progress and identifying obstacles for project completion.
  • Perform other related work as needed.

Education

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Experience

  • Two or more years of related work experience in hospitality services including restaurants, fast food, catering services, institutional services.
  • A culinary background.
  • Food service management experience in a contract-services, healthcare, campus dining, or high-volume hospitality environment.
  • Previous supervisory experience.

Certification

  • ServSafe® certified.

Preferred Competencies

  • Maintain a professional relationship with all coworkers, vendor representatives, supervisors, managers, and customers.
  • Willingness to be open to learning and growing.
  • Well organized, detail-oriented, focused, timely, and efficient skills.
  • Must have excellent and efficient communication skills, both orally and in written form.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of customer service skills and functions in a hospitality setting.
  • Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines independently and/or with little supervision.
  • Knowledge of the University of Chicago, or the higher education field.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the developmental objectives of the college student residential environment.
  • Strong computer skills including knowledge of spreadsheets and database applications.
  • Experience with client/PC workstation applications.
  • Proficiency with Windows based computers, including the Microsoft Office Suite 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook).

Working Conditions

  • Eating at the various dining venues of UChicago Dining is a requirement of this position. The Dining Operations Associate will be provided a meal plan that will enable s\he to be part of the team that ensures that the dining vendor is in compliance with contract expectations and is attaining the quality standards expected by the campus.
  • Ability to bend, crouch, or sit. Ability to stand, sit, or walk for 4 hours or more.
  • This position requires quite a bit walking to assess the dining operations at venues across campus.
  • This position requires working primarily on evenings and weekends.
  • Requires the ability to work independently for periods of 6 hours or more.

Application Documents

  • Resume/CV (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Range

$26.00 - $32.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Salary : $26 - $32

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