Dickinson College invites applications for the position of director of dining services. The college seeks a leader for our comprehensive and self-operated dining program that includes our residential dining hall and kitchen, retail dining operations, catering, and on-campus convenience store.
Dickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal-arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. We prepare our graduates to face the world’s challenges so they are always equipped and eager to collaborate with others to make an impact. The college is located in the historic borough of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Reporting to the associate vice president of campus operations the director of dining services will provide innovative, strategic, and comprehensive leadership for all dining operations. The director leads a management team and staff, employing approximately 100 full- and part-time regular employees plus student workers.
The director will model the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging by collaborating and demonstrating excellent communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to be effective with diverse groups of students, colleagues, and community members. The successful candidate must be a visionary in the collegiate dining field, demonstrating quality leadership, innovation, culinary excellence, outstanding customer service and delivery, operational efficiencies, and excellent student-centered dining programs.
Essential Functions:
- Operate a food service program that provides nutritious, quality foods in a timely manner and in ways that meet changing customer demographics. Develop plans and provide leadership to meet the dietary needs of students with allergies, dietary restrictions and other special dietary needs. Work with staff to provide an outstanding student-centered dining program and an environment that demonstrates excellence in hospitality.
- Recruit, develop, train and retain a team of qualified and productive dining service employees. Promote a professional and productive work environment that is respectful and appreciative of diverse cultures. Ensure that the dining work environment promotes accountability and productivity.
- Work collaboratively with the rest of the Dickinson College community (including but not limited to the offices of the President, admissions, advancement, conferences and special events, and student life) to deliver dining services, events, and experiences that further the mission of the college.
- Work collaboratively with the facilities management department, to ensure that all dining facilities and equipment are clean and well-maintained while ensuring that there is a comprehensive plan for maintaining and replacing all equipment related to the delivery of dining services.
- Develop and implement financial plans for dining services which include not only annual budgets, but also long-range capital planning, establishment and management of pricing structures, and deployment of resources to ensure that Dickinson’s dining services are managed as efficiently and effectively as possible.
- Develop and implement systems for obtaining continuous feedback from customers to ensure that Dickinson’s dining services are meeting customer wants and needs while ensuring that a culture of excellent customer service pervades Dickinson’s dining services.
- Remain knowledgeable about dining programs offered by other institutions of higher education, as well as trends in the food service industry overall, to ensure that Dickinson’s dining services are competitive, dynamic, and a positive part of the Dickinson experience for students.
- Maximize the use of Dickinson College organic farm products in dining service menus, and integrate dining services operations with those of the college farm while promoting local and sustainable sources of products not produced by the farm to maximize the college’s desired levels of sustainability and local vendor partnerships
Bachelor’s degree required.
Master’s degree preferred.
Master’s degree preferred.
· Minimum of eight years of relevant experience.
· ServSafe food safety certificate.
