Dining and Retail Service Director

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is a major public research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As part of the University of Wisconsin System, UWM serves a diverse community of over 23,000 students and more than 6,000 faculty and staff. The university is committed to providing a dynamic and inclusive educational environment that fosters academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Its campus is a vibrant hub of learning, culture, and discovery, offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. UWM values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create an environment where individuals from various backgrounds can thrive and contribute to the university's mission.

The role of Dining and Retail Service Director at UWM is a critical leadership position reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life. This position provides senior leadership, operational oversight, and financial management for the university’s comprehensive self-operated dining program. The dining services cater primarily to a residential undergraduate population of more than 3,800 students, alongside the wider campus community of students, faculty, and staff. The program encompasses several dining venues including Sandburg Café, Palm Gardens, Cambridge Café, twelve retail dining options, three convenience stores, and a full-service catering operation. Together, these services generate in excess of $20 million in annual revenue and employ approximately 60 full- and part-time staff members as well as around 300 student employees.

The Dining and Retail Service Director will be responsible for shaping the student dining experience with a strong focus on culinary innovation and meeting the diverse preferences and needs of UWM’s student body. The role entails supervising a leadership team dedicated to delivering high-quality food service operations while ensuring robust financial health and sustainability of the dining program. The director will play an integral role in fostering a collaborative culture that champions service excellence, transparency, and accountability. They will also serve as a visible presence on campus, actively seeking and responding to both formal and informal feedback to quickly address operational challenges and opportunities.

This position demands expertise in operational management, including emergency preparedness, strategic planning, staffing, customer service, menu development, and budgeting. The successful candidate will ensure adherence to safety, sanitation, and food quality policies, while leveraging data and feedback to drive continuous improvements. This leadership role also requires strong financial stewardship, with accountability for budget development, revenue management, cost control, and reporting to divisional leadership to align with university priorities.

Salary for this regular full-time limited position ranges from $140,000 to $150,000 annually. The university offers a supportive work environment that values professional growth, staff development, and fostering innovation through culinary and technological enhancements. Qualified candidates are expected to have a bachelor’s degree with significant experience in food service operations, demonstrated budget management skills, and proven ability to lead and develop a diverse team. Preferred candidates will have a master’s degree, university dining leadership experience, and a track record of data-informed decision-making to drive service excellence and operational efficiency.