Residential Food Service Director - UW Oshkosh

Aramark is a global leader in food services, facilities management, and uniform services, proudly serving millions of guests daily in 15 countries. The company is deeply rooted in service and united by a strong sense of purpose, striving to make a positive impact for its employees, partners, communities, and the planet. Aramark believes in fostering a work environment where every employee enjoys equal employment opportunities and inclusion regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. This inclusive culture, combined with the company’s commitment to sustainability and operational excellence, creates a dynamic workplace where talent development, passion, and professional growth are highly encouraged.

The Food Service Director role at Aramark is a critical management position focused on developing and executing innovative dining solutions tailored to meet customer needs and preferences. This role involves overseeing and managing dining operations where customers order from a prepared menu, ensuring optimal service delivery in a fast-paced and customer-centric environment. The Food Service Director leads, mentors, and engages diverse teams to maximize their contributions by recruiting, assessing, training, coaching, and managing performance effectively. In addition to leadership responsibilities, the director ensures food safety and sanitation standards are strictly maintained throughout operations, while fostering a culture aligned with Aramark’s Executional Framework.

Key aspects of the Food Service Director’s role include driving financial performance by managing budgets, controlling food and labor costs, and ensuring the completion and maintenance of profit and loss statements. The director is also responsible for adopting Aramark processes and systems to build revenue and meet labor and food targets, all while maintaining high-quality food services and cost efficiency. This role requires the daily implementation of labor and food initiative agendas, directing operations related to production, distribution, and food service. Compliance with all company policies, safety regulations, health standards, wage and hour laws is mandatory to maintain a safe and healthy environment for clients, customers, and employees alike.

In addition to operational oversight, the Food Service Director establishes and maintains procedures for ordering, receiving, storing, preparing, and serving food products, including menu planning and development. The director forecasts operational components, manages inventory, and ensures adherence to sanitation and safety levels. Overseeing merchandising, quality control, labor management, and continuous employee training are also essential to this role. The ability to develop and maintain effective client and customer relationships is vital, as the director frequently interacts with client management and may participate in sales processes and contract negotiations. Part of the role’s vision includes introducing new products and services that support sales growth and client retention.

The Food Service Director also manages front-of-house dining operations, such as cafeterias or residential dining facilities, and develops food service plans aligned with the client’s mission and vision, emphasizing sustainable practices. Aramark values adaptability and encourages employees to continuously develop their skills and take proactive steps to meet business commitments, acknowledging that duties may evolve to support the company’s goals.

This position requires a minimum of four years of experience in food service and at least one to three years in a management role. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is necessary, coupled with strong communication skills and the ability to build and maintain productive client and customer relationships based on outstanding customer service models. Physical requirements include occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 pounds and standing for extended periods. Aramark offers a supportive environment where individuals are empowered to grow and succeed in a meaningful career that balances operational excellence with a commitment to people and the planet.