Executive Director of Retail Management and Campus Hospitality

Hendrix College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas, dedicated to providing an exceptional educational experience. Renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement, Hendrix College fosters an inclusive environment where students grow intellectually, socially, and personally. With a rich history and a strong focus on developing leadership and critical thinking skills, the College has built a reputation for nurturing well-rounded graduates prepared to make a positive impact in the world. As a vibrant campus community, Hendrix offers a variety of services and facilities designed to enhance the student experience beyond the classroom, including retail, dining, hospitality, and event management. The institution values innovation, diversity, and sustainability as cornerstones of its mission, striving to maintain an engaging and supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Hendrix College is currently seeking a full-time, 12-month Executive Director of Retail Management and Campus Hospitality. This pivotal role reports directly to the Vice President for Finance and Operations/Chief Financial Officer and functions as the College's chief hospitality and retail executive. The Executive Director leads multiple auxiliary business units by steering strategic planning, financial stewardship, operational excellence, customer service innovation, and staff development.

This position holds significant responsibility for overseeing various auxiliary retail enterprises, such as Dining Services, The Burrow (a social hub), the Campus Market, which includes the Spirit Store and Convenience Store, Vending Services, Concessions, Conferences and Events, Catering, and the Post Office. The Executive Director is charged with developing a cohesive campus hospitality strategy that not only enhances the student experience but also supports recruitment and retention efforts, bolsters the institution's branding, and ensures sustainable auxiliary revenue generation. Unlike a traditional food service director, this role is designed as a senior business executive position accountable for a diversified portfolio of enterprises. Each unit is expected to contribute financially to the College's sustainability while enriching campus life and academic reputation.

Key aspects of the role include strategic leadership involving long-term vision setting that aligns retail and hospitality operations with the College's strategic goals, identifying new revenue opportunities, benchmarking against peer institutions, and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Financial management is central to the role, encompassing budget development, profit and loss analysis, pricing strategies, labor and food cost management, and capital investment recommendations across multiple business units.

The Executive Director provides executive oversight for the campus dining operations, ensuring residential dining services, meal plans, menu development, food quality, nutrition, and sustainability initiatives meet the highest standards of student satisfaction and compliance. Leadership of The Burrow aims to transform it into the premier campus gathering place by overseeing brand development, menu strategy, student engagement activities, and technology integration.

Management of the Campus Market includes retail merchandise such as campus apparel and graduation items alongside convenience store offerings like fresh grab-and-go meals, snacks, beverages, and personal care products, all optimized for customer traffic and profitability. The role also involves strategic oversight of conferences, events, catering, concessions, and vending services to maximize utilization, customer experience, and revenue growth.

Marketing and brand development efforts require the Executive Director to establish a unified brand strategy supported by promotions, loyalty programs, social media engagement, and community outreach in collaboration with the Office of Communications. Equally important is establishing a campus-wide hospitality culture with measurable service standards to enhance the experience of students, alumni, parents, and guests.

Personnel leadership includes staffing, performance and succession planning, training, and the creation of a student leadership program for experiential learning. In addition, the Executive Director leads technology initiatives encompassing point-of-sale systems, mobile ordering, inventory management, and data analytics to drive operational improvements.

Compliance with health, safety, accessibility, and employment regulations, along with risk management, is meticulously maintained. The College values candidates with a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields and significant leadership experience in hospitality or auxiliary services. Preferred qualifications include advanced degrees and specific experience in higher education auxiliary management.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute at a strategic level within a respected educational institution, with salary commensurate with education and experience. Interested applicants should submit a letter of application and resume with professional references. Hendrix College is an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-free environment where respect and dignity are paramount.