LDA UT Creamery Store Manager & Bulk Sales Coordinator - UTK

The University of Tennessee Creamery is an esteemed student experiential learning retail business program operating both on and off campus. The Creamery is known for its premium ice cream products along with a variety of branded merchandise that connects strongly with the University of Tennessee (UT) community. Operated under the Department of Food Science at the Herbert College of Agriculture, the Creamery provides students with comprehensive hands-on opportunities in retail operations, food production, marketing, logistics, and customer relations. The Creamery serves as a vital interface between the university’s food science academic programs and real-world commerce, offering roles that blend theory, practice, and community engagement in one of Tennessee’s leading land grant institutions. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) supports the Creamery’s mission by emphasizing quality research, teaching, and extension in food science and agriculture, and the Creamery is an exemplary application of these principles in action. This position is a limited duration appointment of up to 12 months with potential future opportunities, positioned at the UT Creamery’s retail locations in Knoxville, TN. The anticipated hiring salary range is $53,000 to $56,000 per year, reflecting UT’s competitive market standards for this job classification.

This position plays a pivotal role in overseeing daily retail operations, catering, and bulk sales coordination across various on-campus and off-campus UT Creamery locations. It requires managing student workers effectively through recruitment, training, scheduling, and mentorship, promoting a positive and productive working environment. The role demands exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, superior communication capabilities, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic retail and catering environment. The employee will be responsible for ensuring all food safety and sanitation standards are met, handling POS systems efficiently, managing finances related to retail and bulk sales operations, and driving business initiatives that align with the University’s branding and mission.

Furthermore, this role acts as a liaison between the Creamery and various internal departments and external partners, building and cultivating strong partnerships to increase in-store sales and enhance off-site bulk catering events. The employee will coordinate logistics for catering, including staffing, transport, set-up, and tear-down, while maintaining the highest level of customer service excellence. This role highlights the importance of progressive experiential learning for college students by helping them develop practical and professional skills such as public speaking, retail management, and customer engagement.

The position regularly involves data analysis to evaluate inventories, track sales, monitor budgets, and generate reports that inform strategic retail business planning and decision-making. Frequent communication and reporting to the Food Science Business Office and other university stakeholders are critical components, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with broader university goals.

Overall, this role represents a unique leadership opportunity for an individual passionate about retail management and education within a vibrant university setting. It promises a rewarding career experience that combines operational excellence, team leadership, strategic marketing, customer service, and community engagement while fostering student development through hands-on learning.