Director of Dining Services

Upper Crust Food Service, LLC; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Personal Leave

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service, LLC is seeking an experienced and strategic director to lead our campus dining program at a major college in Tuscaloosa. You will oversee residential dining, athletics-related food service, and large events, serving a campus community of 500+ daily diners.

Focused on high-quality food, sustainability, and technology, you will lead a team of 50 culinary and service professionals, drive DEI initiatives, and manage a $10M+ annual P&L with strong fiscal discipline.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive leadership in collegiate or high-volume hospitality operations.
• Active ServSafe Foodservice Manager and Alcohol Service certifications required or renewed within 30 days.
• Strong communication and people-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• 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 and proactive leadership.
• Use data-driven insights to guide decision-making and improve operations and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff development

Stakeholder management

Tools

CaterTrax

TouchNet

Job description

Upper Crust Food Service is a premier hospitality partner delivering high-end, chef-driven dining solutions to over 750+ partners nationwide. While our footprint is expansive, we have intentionally maintained a culture that is small enough to care deeply for our employees and clients. We deliver elevated restaurant-quality culinary experiences, and a hospitality-first culture. At Upper Crust, we believe that great food is the cornerstone of the student experience, and we empower our leadership teams to run their accounts with the entrepreneurial spirit of a boutique restaurant, backed by the robust resources of a national industry leader.

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
• 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)
• Personal Leave