Director of Dining Services

Upper Crust Food Service; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking an experienced director to lead our campus dining program at a major college in Tuscaloosa. You will manage residential dining, athletics-related food service, and large events for 500+ daily diners, with a focus on high-quality food, sustainability, and technology enhancements.

You will oversee operations, build partnerships with diverse stakeholders, mentor a team of roughly 50 professionals, and drive data-driven decision making to improve performance and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive leadership in large-scale campus dining or high-volume hospitality.
• Active ServSafe Foodservice Manager certification (and Alcohol Service) required or renewed within 30 days.
• Experience implementing HACCP, allergen tracking, and nutrition transparency programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the campus dining program, including residential dining and large-scale catering operations.
• Oversee dining services for a campus community of 500+ daily diners.
• Drive culinary quality, sustainability, and technology integration across operations.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Change management

Spanish language (optional)

Tools

CaterTrax

TouchNet

Job description

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