Assistant Director for Dining Operations and Services

The University Of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading urban research university in Chicago seeks an Assistant Director for Dining Operations and Services. The ideal candidate will manage relationships with campus partners, lead marketing and student engagement, and ensure compliance with dining quality standards. Applicants should have 5-7 years in hospitality and experience in multi-site operations. Strong communication skills and a focus on sustainability are essential. Flexible schedule required, with work from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive experience in hospitality, dining services or large-scale food service operations.
• Experience managing multi-site operations and leading teams.
• Ability to handle fast-paced demands and operational disruptions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for campus partners.
• Lead marketing coordination and student engagement initiatives.
• Oversee the Campus Dining Advisory Board meetings.

Skills

Multi-site operations coordination

Customer service skills

Project management on collaboration platforms

Excellent oral and written communication

Sustainability initiatives knowledge

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Survey tools

Project management tools

Job description

* Serve as the primary relationship manager for campus partners including Housing & Residence Life, Student Wellness, Student Disability Services, Athletics, UChicago Grad, academic groups, and other campus cohorts, to help maintain and build university-wide support for dining on campus.* Lead marketing coordination and student engagement initiatives in partnerships with campus and vendor marketing teams.* Oversee the Campus Dining Advisory Board (CDAB) meetings and participate in other student feedback forums to gather insights and drive continuous improvement.* Assist in providing strategic direction for retail dining on campus, including concept development, menu creation, and sales analysis.* Work in close partnership with the Campus Dietitian to support dietary accommodations, allergen management, wellness initiatives, and nutrition-related programming.* Lead the dining team during Orientation Week including planning, logistics, communication and coordinating all major receptions, cultural programming, and high-profile campus events.* Assist the Associate Director in ensuring that the dining vendor participates in and supports all University diversity, social justice, and sustainability initiatives.* Support sustainability, food waste diversion, and educational initiatives in collaboration with campus partners and contract vendors.* Support dietetic internship partnerships with participating universities.* Keep well-informed and current on new concepts, practices, and trends in food service technology as they relate to institutions of higher education.* Coordinate with the vendor in maintaining all certification for Kosher, Halal, and Gluten Free options.* Visit dining locations daily, and perform spot checks on service, contract compliance, food quality, labeling, and practices.* Uses in-depth knowledge and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries such as communicating with programs sponsors and academic advising for undergraduate students.* Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.* Performs other related work as needed.* 5–7 years of progressive experience in hospitality, dining services, or large‐scale food service operations, with at least 2 years in a lead/supervisory capacity (e.g., managing programs, people, or cross‐functional initiatives).* Demonstrated experience coordinating multi‐site operations**.*** Proficiency with Windows based computers, including the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook).* Exposure to sustainability initiatives (food waste diversion, composting, responsible sourcing) and continuous improvement frameworks.* Proven ability to lead departmental communications.* Experience managing multi‐site operations using checklists, SOPs, and performance metrics across diverse dining venues.* Comfort with survey tools and feedback systems (e.g., Qualtrics/Google Forms) to synthesize student, parent, and partner input for continuous improvement.* Familiarity with Kosher/Halal certification processes and gluten‐free/special diet best practices; able to coordinate with credentialing partners.* Proficient with project management and collaboration platforms (e.g., Teams, SharePoint, Asana/Trello) for tracking initiatives, timelines, etc.* Ability to craft clear, empathetic messages for student‐facing updates and executive‐level briefs; navigates sensitive issues calmly.* Prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and responsiveness in daily operations and program design.* Use feedback and analytics to iterate programs, enhance service outcomes, and steward contract commitments.* Ability to handle fast‐paced demands, escalations, and operational disruptions with calm, structured solutions.* Demonstrate knowledge of proficient customer service skills.* Excellent multi-tasking skills. Ability to work on multiple(non-connected) projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.* Excellent oral and written communication skills.* Excellent organizing skills, detail oriented, focused, and proficient in time management.* Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative, yet a team player.* Eating at the various dining venues of UChicago Dining is a requirement of this position. The Assistant Director for Dining Operations and Services will be provided with a meal plan that will enable them to be part of the team that ensures that the dining vendor is following contract expectations and is attaining the quality standards expected by the campus.* Ability to bend, crouch, or sit.* Ability to stand, sit, or walk for 4 hours or more.* Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5pm.* Ability to work a flexible schedule.When applying, the document(s) **MUST** be uploaded via the **My Experience** page, in the section titled **Application Documents** of the application.The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world.We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.To learn more about the university click here