Director of Dining Services - Bay Area, CA

Compass Group USA; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Compass Group USA, a leading foodservice and support services company, is seeking a Director of Dining Services in San Francisco. The role oversees daily dining operations, finances, team leadership, and client satisfaction to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

The ideal candidate brings strategic, hands-on leadership with a passion for food service excellence, develops teams, and collaborates with culinary professionals to implement seasonal menus and programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business or related field.
• 3-5 years of progressive food service management experience in contract dining, hospitality, catering, or high-volume environments.
• Proven experience managing budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Strong background in catering, events, and high-volume food production.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including retail dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, guests, and key stakeholders to ensure exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design seasonal menus and culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account, including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, and period-end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre-service meetings to align the team on expectations and standards.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Drive customer engagement and business growth through marketing initiatives, menu innovation, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining and hospitality areas.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Compass Corporate

Other Forms of Compensation

Comprehensive Benefits Program

A Family Of Companies And Experiences

As the leading foodservice and support services company, Compass Group USA is known for our great people, great service and our great results. If you’ve been hungry and away from home, chances are you’ve tasted Compass Group’s delicious food and experienced our outstanding service. We have over 284,000 US associates who work in award-winning restaurants, corporate cafes, hospitals, schools, arenas, museums, and more in all 50 states. Our reach is constantly expanding to shape the industry and create new opportunities for innovation. Join the Compass family today!

great people. great services. great results.

Each and every individual plays a key role in the growth and legacy of our company. We know the next big idea can come from anyone. We encourage developing and attracting expertise that differentiates us as a company as we continue to raise the bar.

Job Summary

The Director of Dining Services is responsible for leading all aspects of dining operations, ensuring outstanding service, food quality, and client satisfaction. This role oversees daily operations, financial performance, team leadership, and relationship management. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands‑on leader with a passion for food service excellence, team development, and creating an exceptional dining experience for guests.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including retail dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, guests, and key stakeholders, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and innovative culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account, including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period‑end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre‑service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Conduct mid‑year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Drive customer engagement and business growth through marketing initiatives, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining and hospitality areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of progressive food service management experience, preferably in contract dining, hospitality, catering, or other high‑volume food service environments.
• Proven experience managing budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Strong background in catering, special events, and high‑volume food production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams, manage competing priorities, and execute key initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Compass Corporate maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates At Corporate Are Offered Many Fantastic Benefits.

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

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_CorpAndFoodbuy.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Compass Corporate