Director of Dining Services

Upper Crust Food Service is looking for an experienced and strategic director to lead our campus dining program at a major college in Tuscaloosa. This role oversees dining and catering services for a campus community of more than 500 daily diners, including residential dining, athletics-related food service, and large events. Our program focuses on high-quality food, sustainability, and technology to enhance campus life. 

Key Responsibilities & Scope

• Lead and manage the campus dining program, including residential dining and large-scale catering operations.
• Oversee dining services for a campus community of more than 500 daily diners.
• Ensure excellence in culinary quality, sustainability initiatives, and technology integration across operations.
• Serve as the primary leadership partner for campus dining stakeholders.
• Foster a people-first culture through emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and strong leadership.
• Maintain high standards of ethics, trustworthiness, reliability, accountability, and executive presence.
• Use data-driven insights to guide decision-making and improve operational performance.
• Manage financial performance with strong fiscal discipline.
• Collaborate effectively with diverse and complex stakeholder groups.
• Ensure consistency in service delivery, culinary standards, and overall guest experience.
• Identify and implement opportunities for business growth, operational efficiency, and innovation.

Health, Safety, & Regulatory Compliance

• Operational Excellence: Maintain a "Gold Plate" standard for safety, ensuring a perfect 100% health inspection record across all managed residential, retail, and concession sites.
• Certification Leadership: Hold and maintain an active ServSafe Foodservice Manager Certification; you will be responsible for ensuring all subordinate managers and supervisors are also certified and compliant with state and local health mandates.
• Allergen & Transparency: Oversee the integration of digital menu platforms to ensure 100% accuracy in allergen tracking and nutritional transparency for a diverse student body.
• Risk Mitigation: Implement rigorous HACCP protocols and standardized sanitation schedules to mitigate risk in high-volume, multi-unit production environments.

Strategic Operations & Financial Stewardship

• Directly manage an annual P&L exceeding $10M, ensuring fiscal responsibility through meticulous labor cost optimization and CAPEX planning.
• Campus Engagement & Program Innovations
• Athletics: Lead the strategy and execution for pre or pos athletic events, focusing on speed of service and revenue growth.
• Catering & Events: Manage a premium catering department for everything from high-profile presidential galas to student events.
• Sustainability: Drive "Farm-to-Campus" initiatives to increase local sourcing by at least 20%.
• Leadership & People Development
• Lead and mentor a diverse team of 50 culinary and service professionals.
• Communication: Facilitate clear, effective communication across a diverse workforce; proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Champion DEI workshops and professional development programs to build a high-morale, equitable workplace environment.

Qualifications & Technical Expertise

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership in collegiate or high-volume hospitality operations.
• Systems Proficiency: Advanced expertise in CaterTrax, TouchNet or comparable software is a plus
• Certifications: Active ServSafe Foodservice Manager and Alcohol Service certifications are required or renewed within 30 days
• Attributes: Exceptional conflict resolution skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-unit environment.

Why Join Upper Crust Food Service?

We offer a competitive compensation package, including comprehensive benefits and the opportunity to lead a flagship account within the Seattle collegiate landscape. Ready to lead the next era of campus dining? 

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Apply today to join a team dedicated to culinary excellence and student success.