Dining Retail Manager

Tufts Dining is a self-operated, mission-driven dining service organization that serves the Medford/Somerville and SMFA/Fenway campuses of Tufts University. Established with the goal of delivering high-quality, contemporary, and inclusive dining and hospitality services, Tufts Dining caters to a diverse community of more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and guests. The program consists of two residential dining centers, seven retail venues, a central production kitchen, and a comprehensive catering program. With a commitment to culinary excellence, cultural diversity, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility, Tufts Dining carefully crafts its menus to reflect the lived experiences and dietary needs of the community it serves. The operations are grounded in innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, making it a leader in campus dining services.

The Retail Manager role at Tufts Dining is a critical leadership position responsible for managing multiple retail dining units across the campuses. This individual ensures operational excellence through financial accountability, staff management and development, marketing initiatives, and guest satisfaction. The Retail Manager leads with a focus on hospitality, ensuring that each dining outlet is a welcoming space offering delicious food and beverages and high-quality service. Responsibilities include overseeing food production, menu development, quality control, sanitation and housekeeping, merchandising, and promotional activities. The role demands an individual adept at coordinating a team of food service employees, including full-time, temporary, and student workers, to operate efficiently under high-volume, fast-paced conditions.

The Retail Manager acts as both a hands-on leader and mentor, providing training and coaching to front-of-the-house staff to promote teamwork, morale, and operational efficiency. Maintaining exceptional customer service standards is paramount, including managing cash handling procedures and POS system operations. The Retail Manager is also responsible for inventory management, ordering, forecasting, scheduling, product evaluation, and attending regular meetings to align unit operations with organizational goals. This on-site position requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays and usually involves a 50-hour workweek spread over five days with two days off. Occasional travel opportunities exist for professional development, training, and seminars.

This role offers a competitive salary range starting at $55,600, midpoint at $69,500, and maximum at $83,400. Tufts Dining emphasizes a customer-service-oriented approach in all staff, and the Retail Manager is expected to uphold these values while leading multiple units to success in a university dining environment committed to service excellence and community engagement. Candidates are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in retail, dining, hospitality, staff supervision, and customer service when applying. This position is ideal for energetic, organized, and empathetic leaders passionate about creating exceptional dining experiences in a diverse educational community.