Director of Dining Services

The Director of Dining Services provides visionary leadership for all campus dining operations by blending operational excellence with innovation, student engagement, and culinary creativity. This role is responsible for elevating the campus dining experience through strategic menu development, themed and specialty dining programs, experiential events, and continuous improvement informed by student feedback and data. The Director serves as a strategic partner within the Division of Student Affairs and across the University to ensure dining contributes meaningfully to student satisfaction, sense of belonging, campus culture, and retention, while upholding Saint Leo University’s mission, values, and commitment to excellence.

Job Description

Duties and Tasks:

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative dining concepts, including new menu offerings, rotating features, pop-up dining experiences, and specialty food stations.
• Design, implement, and assess themed dining nights and experiential programs, including cultural celebrations, wellness-focused meals, late-night dining, mission-aligned events, and specialty cuisine nights.
• Partner collaboratively with Student Affairs, Residence Life, Campus Activities, Athletics, Campus Ministry, and other campus stakeholders to deliver co-curricular dining experiences that enhance campus life.
• Establish and maintain structured student feedback mechanisms, including surveys, focus groups, and advisory committees, and use insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure menus are inclusive, culturally responsive, nutritionally balanced, and reflective of student preferences, while aligning with financial and operational goals.
• Monitor trends in higher education dining, sustainability practices, and culinary innovation and incorporate best practices into campus dining operations.

Operational Leadership & Service Excellence

• Direct all daily operations of Dining Services to ensure high standards of quality, service, cleanliness, safety, and hospitality.
• Oversee food preparation, portioning, presentation, and safe storage to ensure consistency and excellence across all dining venues.
• Ensure dining facilities, kitchens, equipment, and storage areas remain sanitary, organized, and compliant with all health and safety regulations.
• Address service concerns and guest feedback promptly and professionally, ensuring a positive dining experience for students, faculty, staff, and guests.
• Coordinate staffing, logistics, and resources for special events, catering services, and campus-wide functions.

Financial Management & Business Operations

• Manage and monitor departmental budgets, including labor, food costs, inventory, and equipment expenditures, ensuring fiscal responsibility and profitability.
• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting, and business planning processes.
• Analyze operational data to inform pricing, menu decisions, staffing models, and service enhancements.
• Implement business practices that align with University goals while maintaining cost efficiency and service quality.

Personnel Management & Team Development

• Recruit, interview, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Dining Services management and staff.
• Provide leadership through coaching, mentoring, performance evaluations, and corrective action as needed.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented work culture that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct and oversee training related to food safety, physical safety, customer service, and team development.
• Establish and maintain a safe work environment through proper training, equipment maintenance, and adherence to safety standards.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including health codes, food safety standards, and University policies.
• Maintain required certifications and ensure departmental compliance with ServSafe and related food safety programs.
• Implement and monitor quality assurance standards and operational improvements across all dining areas.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

            Knowledge:

• Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of four (4) years of relevant management experience.
• Minimum of four (4) years of supervisory or managerial experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of food service or function-specific experience.
• ServSafe Certification (or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe).
• Advanced knowledge of food service operations, culinary practices, safety standards, and hospitality management.

Skills and Abilities

• Innovation & Creativity: Demonstrated ability to design and implement new dining concepts, programs, and experiences in a collegiate or comparable environment.
• Student-Centered Orientation: Ability to view dining as a core component of student life, engagement, and retention.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze operational, financial, and satisfaction data to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Communication & Influence: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.
• Interpersonal Relations: Ability to build trusting, professional relationships with students, faculty, staff, vendors, and partners.
• Customer Focus: Commitment to delivering high-quality service and responding effectively to feedback and concerns.
• Diversity Awareness: Ability to value and integrate diverse cultural perspectives into dining programs and team leadership.
• Planning & Organization: Ability to set priorities, develop strategic and operational plans, and manage competing demands.
• Delegation & Team Leadership: Ability to effectively delegate responsibilities, develop staff, and hold teams accountable.
• Stress Tolerance & Flexibility: Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic campus environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in higher education or residential campus dining environments.
• Experience leading dining innovation, experiential programming, or themed dining initiatives.
• Experience collaborating with student affairs or campus life departments.

Physical Demands: Typical physical demands are required to perform the work, such as some bending, walking, standing or carrying light items.

ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess.   The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

NOTICE:

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.  Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. 

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here:  Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world.  Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

*Eligibility based on meeting required service period

2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo