Residential Dining Manager

Rice University, located on a picturesque 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. Consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Rice offers a unique educational environment characterized by a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio. This low ratio allows for personalized attention and fosters close relationships between students and professors, significantly enhancing the learning experience. The university employs a distinctive residential college system that integrates intellectual, emotional, and cultural support for students. This system encourages an active community life through social events, intramural sports, student theater productions, lecture series, specialized courses, and student government participation. Rice’s commitment to developing tight-knit, diverse college communities contributes to its high rankings for quality of life and value among private universities. Beyond its commitment to students, Rice is also recognized as a supportive and inclusive workplace. This is reflected in the university’s core values, summarized by the acronym RICE: Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence. These guiding principles shape the university’s culture, influencing daily interactions and the welcoming attitude extended to visitors and employees alike. Working at Rice means joining a community that values collaboration, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The Residential Dining Manager role at Rice University offers a dynamic leadership opportunity within the university’s vibrant dining services. This management position oversees the residential dining operation, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services aligned with both university standards and financial objectives. The manager’s responsibilities involve strategic planning, organization, and supervision of dining staff, including cooks, dishwashers, cashiers, and temporary employees. This role is pivotal in maintaining excellent communication with students, faculty, and staff to foster a satisfying dining experience throughout the residential college system. Emphasizing proactive problem-solving and adaptability, the ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment that often involves juggling multiple priorities and managing frequent interruptions. With knowledge of the residential college system and a robust customer service orientation, the Residential Dining Manager serves as a key liaison, facilitating effective cooperation between dining services and the university community. The position requires hands-on daily oversight on-site, encompassing a range of duties from staff supervision to budget and financial transaction management, event coordination, and quality assurance activities. The manager also plays an essential role in enforcing safety standards, conducting performance evaluations, and contributing to strategic planning efforts that align with both departmental and university-wide goals. This role reports to the Hospitality Manager and is classified as an essential on-campus position, underscoring the importance of on-site presence for operational continuity and effective crisis response. The hiring salary starts at $49,187, with actual compensation commensurate to the candidate’s experience and qualifications. This exempt salaried position does not qualify for overtime. Overall, this opportunity combines leadership, operational management, and community engagement within one of the nation’s premier academic institutions, making it an ideal fit for individuals dedicated to excellence and service in a collegiate dining environment.