Food Service Manager

Bellevue College is a vibrant, student-centered institution located just 10 miles east of Seattle, Washington. It serves one of the most diverse student populations in the state, reflecting the global community around it. The college prides itself on fostering a supportive, inclusive, and innovative workplace for its employees. As an employer, Bellevue College is dedicated to professional growth, collaboration, and creating an environment where staff members feel valued and empowered. Employees are offered ample opportunities to expand their skills, contribute to meaningful work that impacts lives, and engage in a community deeply committed to equity and inclusion. This foundation makes Bellevue College not just a workplace, but a place where employees can thrive and grow their careers.

The Food Service Manager position at Bellevue College plays an essential role within the Food and Event Service department, which provides nourishment and catering services campus-wide, supporting both internal and external events. This is a full-time, regular position with a salary range of $78,777 to $114,227 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. The role typically starts no higher than $87,639 annually according to the college's exempt salary schedule. The College offers a comprehensive compensation package, inclusive of multiple medical, dental, life, and disability coverage options, retirement plans, paid holidays, sick leave, vacation time, transit programs, tuition reductions, and various employee discounts and memberships.

As the Food Service Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing daily food service operations across various dining locations on campus. Your primary goal will be to ensure efficient, high-quality service that delivers a positive customer experience. This involves coordinating food production, managing staffing levels, minimizing food waste, and maintaining strict adherence to health and food safety regulations at the local, state, and federal levels. You will have an active presence in dining operations to monitor performance and to support staff in meeting service standards consistently.

Leadership and staff supervision form the backbone of the role. This includes hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating a team consisting of cooks, cashiers, and student employees. You will develop efficient schedules, provide ongoing coaching, and foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented work environment. Customer engagement, menu development, and continuous improvement are key elements of the position. You will collaborate to design menus that meet diverse dietary needs and preferences, introduce new items and promotions based on feedback, and promote a culture centered around customer satisfaction.

Financial and inventory management responsibilities are significant. You will oversee food costs, waste, and labor expenses, handle inventory control and orders, manage relationships with vendors and suppliers, and ensure timely maintenance and repairs of equipment to avoid operational disruption. Monitoring vending machine operations and adjusting offerings based on sales trends are also part of your duties.

The Food Service Manager must demonstrate strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects while ensuring efficient, quality food service delivery. The role requires extensive knowledge of food safety, dietary restrictions, sustainable food practices, and proficiency in software such as Microsoft Office. Holding a King County Food Handler's Permit at the time of hire and obtaining ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification within six months is mandatory.

In summary, this position offers a dynamic work environment at Bellevue College where you can make a substantial impact by supporting campus nourishment and catering operations while leading a diverse team committed to excellence and innovation. The role blends operational oversight, leadership, customer service, and financial stewardship — all within a vibrant academic setting that values and nurtures its employees.