Associate Director, Senior Leadership - UNT Dining Services, Eagle Landing

The University of North Texas (UNT) System stands as a premier educational institution in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, encompassing multiple campuses including the University of North Texas in Denton and Frisco, the University of North Texas at Dallas and its College of Law, as well as the University of North Texas Health Fort Worth. As the only university system established exclusively in this vibrant metropolitan area, UNT plays a significant role in shaping the educational, cultural, and economic landscape of North Texas. Employing over 14,000 individuals and educating more than 49,000 students across its campuses, UNT awards nearly 12,000 degrees annually, underscoring its commitment to excellence in higher education. The UNT System operates with a values-driven culture that emphasizes curiosity, innovation, integrity, and a strong sense of community, reflected in its mission to transform lives and create economic opportunities through education. The university fosters an environment of respect, belonging, and access for all, encouraging its members to engage ethically and courageously with the challenges and opportunities around them. Learn more about its values and initiatives at www.UNTSystem.edu.

Within this vibrant university system, UNT Dining Services represents the largest self-supported food service department in North Texas, setting the benchmark for campus dining experiences. Consisting of five dining halls, over twenty retail outlets, an upscale restaurant, a hydroponic garden, a central scratch bakery, and comprehensive catering services, UNT Dining is led by a team of professionally trained chefs and hospitality specialists. The department is nationally recognized for its innovative and trend-setting approach to collegiate dining, receiving accolades such as the Loyal E. Horton Award and Vegan Recipe Award. Notably, UNT Dining operates Mean Greens Cafe, the nation's first fully vegan collegiate dining hall, and Kitchen West, Texas' only university dining hall certified free from the Big 8 allergens and gluten. In 2021, UNT launched Eagle Landing, the university's first standalone dining hall inspired by urban food halls featuring seven distinct restaurant concepts available to students under a single Meal Plan swipe.

The Associate Director, Senior Leadership for UNT Dining Services at Eagle Landing is a pivotal senior leadership position responsible for overseeing one of the university's flagship, high-volume dining facilities. This role demands a strategic and operational focus to ensure excellence in culinary operations, guest experiences, financial performance, and team leadership. Serving thousands of students daily in an all-you-care-to-eat setting, the Associate Director ensures the seamless management of menu innovation, food production, and service delivery, aligning culinary strategy with daily operational execution. A key responsibility includes driving continuous improvement to maintain high standards of food quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction, while supporting UNT Dining's commitments to sustainability, wellness, and student engagement.

In addition to operational leadership, the position champions compliance with health, safety, and dietary regulations, promoting responsible sourcing and sustainable practices across all dining platforms. It also plays a vital role in building and developing high-performing teams through recruitment, training, performance management, and succession planning, fostering a collaborative and customer-focused workplace culture. Financial stewardship is critical to this role, as the Associate Director manages budgets, forecasting, cost control, and operational data to support strategic growth. Candidates should bring extensive experience in high-volume food service environments, strong financial acumen, and a passion for innovative, student-centered dining experiences. This role operates in a dynamic environment that values quality, inclusivity, and operational excellence, making it an excellent opportunity for an experienced food service leader eager to contribute to a nationally recognized university dining program. The position offers a full-time employment classification with salary commensurate with experience and eligibility for the Teachers Retirement System (TRS).