Program Manager - Penn Dining; Hospitality Services

University of Pennsylvania; United States; On-site; USD 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending

Tuition benefits

Flexible work hours

Discounts and special services

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania is seeking a Program Manager for Penn Dining to lead University Club operations, events, and dining experiences. You will coordinate inquiries, reservations, and special events while driving revenue and maintaining exceptional service for students, staff, and guests.

The role emphasizes program management, budgeting, marketing, and cross-functional collaboration with dining services and campus partners. Evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 2–3 years of related work experience or equivalent.
• Experience in Food & Beverage/Culinary settings and/or program management is highly desirable.
• Strong administrative and customer service background is essential.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and professionalism.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, email, and data management tools.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary customer-facing contact for University Club and Penn Dining events.
• Manage email communications, reservations, inquiries, and client relationships.
• Oversee budgeting, marketing, and revenue growth for the University Club.
• Coordinate and support Penn Dining events and summer conferences.
• Collaborate with the General Manager on summer programs and campus dining initiatives.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Administrative skills

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Word

Excel

Online systems

Data reporting tools

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Program Manager - Penn Dining; Hospitality Services

Job Profile Title

Coordinator B

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director of Dining Operation, the Program Manager, Penn Dining will be the primary point of contact for the University Club, Penn Dining Events, and Summer Conferences. This role will be responsible for responding to all University Club inquiries and requests, as well as support and planning/execution of special events for Penn Dining and Conferencing.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Acts as primary customer-facing role for University Club, with responsibilities including but not limited to membership sales, budgeting, marketing and communications, organizing board meetings, quality assurance, Burrison Art gallery, special events, etc.

• Manages the University Club email account and acts as needed to resolve issues and respond to customer inquiries or concerns.

• Sales responsibility to ensure budgetary compliance and revenue growth/profitability of the University Club.

• Penn Mentor Meal Program- primary contact and direct oversight including responding to all emails, reservations, and support as needed.

• Maximizing revenue, controlling costs, and maintaining customer satisfaction.

• Responsible for oversight and development of Penn Dining Special events including Penn Cooks, Quaker Kitchen, House events, and others as assigned.

• Oversight of University vending machine contract to ensure profitability while driving increased sales based upon customer feedback and usage reports.

• Work to grow locations across the campus to meet the needs of our campus partners.

• Support dining program campus wide to meet needs of students, faculty, and staff.

• Collaborates with General Manager to support summer programs and conferences as assigned.

• Emphasis on growing summer program and increasing profit through voucher sales and dining dollars.

• Technology responsibilities include management and overseeing University Club website, creating custom web registrations for clients and programs.

• Regularly checks in with dining cafés to monitor student satisfaction and successful implementation of dining policies and procedures.

• Contributes efforts in delivering regular marketing/communications of Penn Dining across campus.

• Represents Penn Dining at University fairs/events to positively promote the resources and services of the department.

• Work with a team-focused and collaborative approach, being willing to adapt to changes while remaining focused on department, division, and University missions.

• Alternate work schedule and evening and weekend hours will be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 to 3 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of knowledge, education and experience, is required.

• 2 to 3 years of related work experience strongly preferred, preferably in a university setting.

• Prior Food & Beverage/Culinary experience and /or Program Management experiences are highly desirable.

• Demonstrated experience in an administrative and customer service role is also strongly preferred.

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and customer service skills and a high level of professionalism are all required, as well as having excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Must have strong attention to detail and accuracy and be able to meet deadlines.

• Candidate must possess advanced skills utilizing computer software including web applications, online systems, data management and reporting tools, and standard office packages (Word, Excel, electronic mail), with an ability to learn new software.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, manage several responsibilities at the same time, and resolve problems using initiative and sound judgment are all imperative.

• Must be able to collect and synthesize data and then subsequently package it in a manner that can be presented and understood.

• Lead with a student-centered focus, with a deep appreciation and enjoyment working with college students and parents daily.
  

About the Division of Business Services:

The Division of Business Services (BSD) supports the individual and collective needs of the Penn community by promoting a hospitable, customer-focused campus environment through the delivery of mission-critical services and essential operations. BSD’s mission is to provide high-quality service in a fiscally responsible manner.

The Division is currently focused on three major initiatives:

• Revenue growth and retention through improved marketing, expanded services, and new distribution channels

• Driving productivity for the Division and its customers through enhanced use of technology

• Enhancing service offerings through facility upgrades and expansions

Learn more: https://business-services.upenn.edu

Residential & Hospitality Services:

Residential & Hospitality Services (RHS) is one of seventeen departments reporting to the Division of Business Services. Consistent with the Business Services mission, our underlying philosophy is to provide our clients with high quality services in a fiscally responsible manner. Residential & Hospitality Services is a group of dedicated, innovative, and student-centered staff that oversee the on-campus living and dining, as well as conferences, programs and events hosted at Penn. The team works closely with other partners to provide students and guests with services that support living and learning at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn Dining is made up of talented chefs, managers, cashiers, dishwashers, servers, and administrators who are dedicated to delivering consistent, high-quality food to a diverse on-campus clientele through a wide variety of venues. As the University’s food service professionals, we oversee food operations and dining services and consult on all food-related planning issues. Our mission is to ensure the delivery of consistent, high-quality food to a diverse on-campus clientele.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Residential and Hospitality Services

Pay Range

$55,962.00 - $67,500.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefitsto protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family and whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay