Discovery Room Technician (Updated)

Vancouver Island University; Nanaimo; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate professional to enhance experiential learning in a vibrant training lab. This role involves demonstrating dining room operations, supporting student learning, and ensuring smooth daily operations. You'll collaborate with faculty and staff, contribute to marketing efforts, and create a welcoming environment for students. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hospitality management, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to fostering student success. Join a supportive community that values diversity and professional growth while making a meaningful impact on students' practical experiences.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit plan

Paid holiday time

Professional development opportunities

Desirable pension plan

Well-being initiatives and services

Strategic discounts

Flexible work opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in front-of-house operations in dining environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate dining room operations and management techniques.
• Assist with student learning and evaluate performance.
• Contribute to the daily operation of the Discovery Room.

Skills

Front-of-house operations

Dining room management

Instructional support

Hospitality service

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Post-secondary credential in Hospitality or Culinary Arts

Job description

We’re seeking an enthusiastic and service-oriented professional to support experiential learning in our Discovery Room, a vibrant training lab where Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts students gain practical experience in real service settings.

From demonstrating dining room operations and management techniques to supporting student learning and evaluating performance, you'll help bridge the gap between theory and practice.You’ll also contribute to the smooth daily operation of the Discovery Room—coordinating service, assisting with promotions and marketing, and collaborating with faculty, staff, and university partners to create a welcoming and professional environment.

Duties:

• Demonstrate and explain the applied, experiential laboratory sessions of the courses HOSP 161, Dining Room Operations, HOSP 251, Dining Room Management, and learning outcomes in the Culinary Arts PC1 and PC2. Assist with the instruction, supervision and evaluation of students in laboratory and fieldwork classes under the general supervision of a course professor/instructor and program chair. The majority of these primary assignments are delivered in the Discovery Room learning lab. In this role, the position will demonstrate and explain the applied, experiential laboratory sessions to both Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts students.
• Responsibilities will also include duties associated with the day-to-day operation of the Discovery Room. The Discovery Room technician ultimately reports to the Dean of the Faculty of Management. The day-to-day ongoing reporting structure for this position will consist of working with the Chairs and faculty of Culinary Arts and Tourism, Recreation and Hospitality, with some involvement with VIU's Foundations Office. This position will also participate in a joint governance committee for the Discovery Room.
• Additional duties will include activities pertaining to the marketing and promoting of the Discovery Room, duties required for the day-to-day operation of the Discovery Room, and the active hands-on demonstration of service skills in the Discovery Room. This position will interact with many and multiple university employees and interest holders. Candidates must demonstrate commitment to instructing, learning, and student success through scholarship and institutional service.
• Successful candidates will participate in a wide range of activities, including, student support; institutional, faculty and departmental committee meetings and other initiatives; and professional activities in keeping with their disciplines in and outside the institution.

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in a related field from a recognized institution, combined with a minimum of five years of front-of-house operational and managerial experience in full-service dining environments recognized for excellence in service and quality.

Candidates with a post-secondary credential in Hospitality or Culinary Arts—such as a Red Seal certification or equivalent—along with comparable front-of-house leadership experience, may also be considered.

Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate:

• Recent teaching or instructional support experience in a post-secondary or equivalent adult education setting
• Current and relevant professional experience in hospitality service and dining room management
• Active involvement in hospitality, tourism, or culinary professional associations
• A proven ability to contribute to a collaborative, student-focused academic environment

Successful candidates will be excellent communicators and committed to working in cross-cultural, learning-centred settings.

Please note:

The hours and days of the week may vary over the time of the contract and reflect the learning schedules and demands of the students. Day and evening work is required for these courses, as students are part of the operations in the Discovery Room. The learning laboratory schedule will be dictated by the students' academic timetable and curriculum requirements; it varies by the curriculum of both the Hospitality Management program and the Culinary Arts program.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note:

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.

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