General Manager for Student Dining

Stanford University is a prestigious research and teaching institution located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, between San Francisco and San Jose. Established in 1891, Stanford has grown into one of the world's leading universities, dedicated to fostering academic excellence and innovation across multiple disciplines including business, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, education, and sustainability. The university boasts world-class scholars, and its campus spans a scenic 8,180 acres, providing an inspiring environment that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and engaged citizenship among students. It serves as a hub for innovation by blending theoretical knowledge with practical application to generate impactful discoveries that benefit society globally.

Within Stanford University, Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) serves as the largest auxiliary organization supporting the academic mission by delivering high-quality services to students and the broader university community. R&DE operates with an annual budget of $400 million and manages a $3 billion asset portfolio encompassing over seven million square feet, accounting for one-third of the campus footprint. Serving 16,000 students and dependents by providing housing, R&DE also manages 48 student dining venues and 32 culinary enterprises serving over 8 million meals annually. Additionally, R&DE offers executive services, conference operations, and guest lodging. This highly diverse team consists of more than 1,200 employees organized across several divisions, including Student Housing Operations & Stanford Conferences, Stanford Dining and Hospitality & Auxiliaries, Maintenance Operations and Capital Projects, and strategic business partners in Finance & Administration, IT, Human Resources, and Strategic Communications.

The Dining Hall Manager role within R&DE is a vital leadership position reporting to the Senior Director of Student Dining. This role is designated essential and requires on-site presence, including working weekends and dinner service hours. The Manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations of residential student dining meal programs and late-night retail services within a designated dining hall. They ensure food quality, service excellence, cleanliness, and operational reliability align with Stanford’s standards. A key focus is delivering a dining experience that supports student success, well-being, and community connection.

The manager leads and develops frontline teams by managing staffing, training, and operational flow to meet student demand across all meal periods. This includes real-time problem-solving, responding to student feedback, and ensuring compliance with all applicable food safety, ADA, and university policies. Beyond daily management, the Dining Hall Manager actively drives financial and operational goals by controlling labor, food costs, and waste. They serve as a primary contact for customer inquiries and complaints, fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment that strengthens student engagement.

Other responsibilities include business optimization through data analysis to guide operational decisions, contributing to strategic goal setting, talent management, and local marketing initiatives. The Manager leads health and safety compliance by conducting inspections of food quality, sanitation, equipment maintenance, and staffing standards. This role commands a standalone unit with revenue targets over $750,000 and manages 5 to 15 full-time equivalent staff, often collaborating in larger leadership teams for multiple units. The position is integral to delivering a seamless, high-quality dining experience consistent with Stanford’s commitment to excellence and hospitality.

Stanford University offers competitive compensation for this role with an expected pay range from $76,735 to $100,000 annually. The university provides exceptional benefits encompassing career development programs, tuition reimbursement, health care, retirement plans, generous paid time off, and opportunities to engage with its vibrant intellectual and cultural community. The university is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace culture that values diversity, operational excellence, and employee well-being. This role is ideal for a dynamic leader with extensive food service management experience, a passion for student-centered service, and a dedication to creating a positive impact within a world-class institution.