Food Service Manager

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is seeking a Food Service Manager to oversee dining operations in Cambridge Commons, supervising full-time, part-time, and student staff while ensuring food quality, safety, and sanitation standards.

The role involves planning, coordinating, service delivery, front-of-house responsibilities, and monitoring unit inventory and budgets. Compensation ranges from $65,000 to $70,000 annually with benefits and opportunities for advancement.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent education and/or work experience required.
• Three (3) years' experience in a variety of foodservice operations (e.g., cafeterias, catering, fast food, concessions).
• Valid Driver's License and ability to qualify to drive state vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations management including staff scheduling, floor operations, and adherence to food quality and sanitation procedures.
• Lead onboarding, training, and development of staff; recruit, hire, and discipline as needed.
• Ensure consistent customer service, monitor surveys, and assist in marketing and special functions.

Skills

Valid Driver's License

3 years foodservice experience

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent education/work experience

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title

Food Service Manager

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Food Service Manager

Job Duties

Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Residential Dining Services, UW-Milwaukee's Dining and Retail Services Department is hiring a dynamic and team-focused Food Service Manager. This position oversees food service operations for the dining facilities in Cambridge Commons, supervises full time, part time, and student staff, and facilitates adherence to Dining food quality, handling, and sanitation procedures.

The Food Service Manager in Cambridge Commons is responsible for the planning, coordinating, service, and delivery of all food and all related activities for these operations and special events. This position has overall responsibility for front-of-the-house final food preparation, food distribution, operation systems and registers, and monitoring unit inventory and budgets

Key Job Responsibilities

Operations Management 40%

• Establish operating and staff schedules for all units.
• Effectively oversee daily floor operations to meet the ever-changing demands and needs of the unit.
• Plans and directs staff implementation of operating policies and procedures to ensure adherence to safe food quality, handling, and sanitation processes and procedures.
• Performs duties, including payroll, budgeting, billing, and sales, register, product movement, attendance, and equipment maintenance reports.

Staff Onboarding, Training, and Development 25%

• Coach, lead and mentor staff to help them maximize their potential by creating an environment that provides motivation, participation, and opportunities for employee engagement.
• Provides leadership to employees, sets performance expectations, communicates specific instructions, and teaches procedures, with appropriate follow-through.
• Assists with oversight of kitchen cleaner staff, including scheduling and assigning tasks.
• Recruit, hire, develop, and discipline as needed

Consistent and Outstanding Customer Service 20%

• Solicits and responds to information from customers; responds to online and other surveys.
• Informs leadership about customer service issues and follow-up actions.
• Ensures consistency and quality; oversees adherence to standards, policies, and procedures.
• Assists in the planning and implementation of marketing, advertising, and special functions.

Administrative Duties 15%

• Creates required financial and related reports.
• Monitors food and labor records and review financial transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Leads departmental walkthroughs with vendors, health departments, facilities, and other supportive reviews of programs and services.

Department

Dining and Retail Services is a self-operated dining venture on campus with a $18 million operating budget. The department has three facilities that provide food services across campus, retail offerings in the Student Union including catering unit, Grind coffee locations, convenience stores, and concessions operations. The department includes a dynamic management team and about fifty resolute permanent staff. Our department includes over three hundred student employees in all areas of our operations.

Compensation

$65,000 - $70,000 Annually

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree or equivalent education and/or work experience
• Three (3) years\' experience in a variety of foodservice operations (examples: cafeterias, catering, fast food, convenience services, food courts, concessions)
• Valid Driver's License and ability to qualify to drive state vehicles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years’ full time management experience in foodservice operations
• Experience with institutional food sourcing, inventory control and purchasing
• Experience with menu management and Point of Sale software systems
• Experience managing food, labor, and supply budgets
• Experience with standardized recipe and menu development
• ServSafe certification or equivalent state certification
• Two (2) years of full-time food service management experience in a University/College or similar setting
• Successful completion of State of Wisconsin Restaurant Manager Certification
• Bachelor\'s degree or equivalent in a culinary related field

How To Apply

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide BOTH cover letter and resume addressing your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates\' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Finalist candidates(s) will be asked to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

This is a continuous recruitment with an initial review date of 08/07/2026. To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted by 08/06/2026. Applications submitted after 08/06/2026 may not be reviewed.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to Amy Rehfeldt ([e-mail])

Reasonable Accommodations

Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [e-mail] or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at [phone] for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization

In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.