Nova Southeastern University logo

Associate Director - Dining Services - 991890

Job Overview

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Employment Type

Full-time
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Work Schedule

Day Shifts
Weekend Shifts
Night Shifts
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Benefits

competitive salary
Tuition waiver
Retirement Plan
Medical insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Time Off
Professional development opportunities

Job Description

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a not-for-profit, independent university established in 1964, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and innovation. Located in Florida, NSU offers a diverse and inclusive environment that supports the educational and professional growth of its students, faculty, and staff. With a strong emphasis on community engagement and continuous improvement, NSU prioritizes a healthy and productive campus life, including its tobacco-free policy that protects the well-being of all its members. The university also provides competitive salaries and an extensive benefits package comprising tuition waivers, retirement plans, and comprehensive medical and dental insurance. NSU fosters a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere that allows individuals to thrive both professionally and personally.

The position at Nova Southeastern University is centered on managing the dining operations across its campuses, a critical role that contributes significantly to the overall campus experience. This exempt, full-time annual position involves overseeing communications, relationship management, project execution, and student engagement to ensure that dining services meet the highest standards. The Dining Operations Manager will serve as a liaison between various campus partners—including academic deans, staff, faculty, and student groups—to build and maintain robust support for campus dining. They will be responsible for establishing programmatic benchmarks and goals, conducting quality assurance reviews, and guaranteeing compliance with contract terms and food safety standards.

Key responsibilities also include budget management for dining services and subcontractors, coordination of maintenance activities, and leadership in marketing and strategic development of retail dining offerings. This role requires an individual who is proactive in developing vibrant, culturally diverse dining programs that enhance the campus community’s sense of belonging. The manager will also lead important outreach initiatives targeting students, parents, and media contacts, and collaborate closely with vendors to promote the dining program effectively. Adaptability to evolving food service trends, negotiation of contracts, and assessment of potential revenue opportunities are also pivotal to this role. The Dining Operations Manager at NSU plays an essential role in creating a dynamic dining experience that aligns with the university’s values and strategic goals, making it an exciting opportunity for candidates eager to contribute to a vibrant academic community and make a tangible impact on campus life.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Minimum five years of direct multi-unit food service management experience
  • At least two years of catering experience
  • Proficiency in MS Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel
  • Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to travel daily or overnight as required
  • Flexibility to work nights or weekends
  • Ability to perform duties involving sitting, standing, and use of office equipment
  • Knowledge of customer service principles
  • Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and nutrition standards
  • Basic skills in negotiation, persuasion, critical thinking, and problem solving

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, business, or a related field
  • At least five years of direct multi-unit food service management experience
  • Minimum two years of applicable catering experience
  • Preferred five years of multi-unit food service management experience in higher education
  • Strong leadership and communication skills
  • Proficiency with MS Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel
  • Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups
  • Effective negotiation and decision-making skills
  • Experience in budget management and financial resource oversight
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively

Job Duties

  • Serve as dining relationship manager for campus partners including academic deans, deans of students, staff, and faculty
  • Establish programmatic benchmarks, goals, and objectives for on-campus dining operator
  • Develop and communicate program priorities, performance standards, and conduct quality assurance reviews
  • Visit dining locations regularly and perform spot checks on service, contract compliance, food quality, labeling, and practices
  • Administer delivery of services to program participants including communication with program sponsors and academic advising for undergraduates
  • Manage dining services budget and monitor subcontractors, develop revenues, and authorize expenditures
  • Communicate with campus partners and vendors to ensure execution of facility preventative maintenance
  • Maintain safety, sanitation, food quality, and nutrition standards within dining services
  • Maintain feedback loop for continual evaluation of customer service standards through team engagement
  • Provide communication leadership including student outreach, parent communication, and media requests
  • Collaborate with vendor marketing teams to create promotional materials for dining programs
  • Assist in strategic development of retail dining including concept development, menu creation, and sales analysis
  • Create and execute events with student groups and campus partners to engage university dining guests
  • Maintain a vibrant and culinary diverse dining program that fosters campus community
  • Provide leadership in meal plan development ensuring portability and flexibility
  • Facilitate sense of belonging among academic units through dining operations
  • Stay informed on food service technology trends related to higher education
  • Seek opportunities for future initiatives, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction
  • Negotiate and administer contracts with suppliers and vendors
  • Approve and submit bills for payment
  • Analyze internal processes and implement improvements
  • Plan and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies
  • Complete special projects as assigned
  • Perform other duties as required

Job Criteria

Experience

Expert Level (7+ years)


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