Dining Operations Manager

Job Summary

The Dining Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of retail dining, union dining and catering support, while providing leadership across culinary operations, personnel administration, purchasing, menu development, and operational planning. This position ensures high standards of food quality, customer service, financial stewardship, and regulatory compliance while supporting departmental initiatives, employee development, and campus dining programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following outlines the essential functions of the position and is not to be considered a detailed description of all duties inherent in the position.

Personnel Management

• Lead the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of hourly and student employees across all dining operations.
• Manage personnel changes, employment documentation, and workflow approvals through Workforce Now (WFN), Etrieve and JobX.
• Process and verify payroll for hourly and student employees on a daily and biweekly basis.
• Develop and maintain weekly staff schedules to ensure appropriate operational coverage.
• Administer employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and uniform management.
• Support employee development through coaching, performance management, and daily operational leadership.

Retail Dining Operations

Provide operational leadership for all retail dining locations across BW's campus.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee daily operations in partnership with Lead Supervisors and Crew Leaders.
• Monitor food quality, customer service, cleanliness, and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate purchasing and inventory management through multiple vendors, including GFS, Toft's Dairy, ABL Wholesale, Lipari, Red Cedar Coffee Company, Boar's Head (Northern Ohio Provisions), and PepsiCo.
• Develop and update seasonal menus and retail offerings.
• Perform food cost, pricing, and profitability analyses.
• Create, maintain, and publish digital menu boards.
• Oversee point-of-sale register maintenance and operational readiness.
• Manage daily culinary and operational activities within Union Dining.
• Place food and supply orders with vendors including Northern Haserot, Sanson Produce, and Blue Ribbon.
• Develop menus and seasonal offerings, including specialty "Monotony Breaker" features.
• Coordinate food service for campus organization collaborations and Broker Day events.
• Provide culinary production support and prepare meals as operational needs require.
• Ensure quality, consistency, sanitation, and operational excellence throughout service.

Catering Operations Support

• Maintain catering menus and item databases.
• Participate in daily back-of-house operational meetings.
• Provide culinary production and event support for catered functions.
• Assist with event execution and service operations as needed.

Summer Conference Operations

• Develop and curate annual menus for Summer Conference Dining.
• Provide daily operational oversight for conference dining services.
• Support culinary production and cooking responsibilities during peak operations.
• Ensure service quality and operational efficiency throughout conference programs.

Purchasing, Forecasting & Facilities

• Manage food, beverage, paper goods, and operational supply purchasing through multiple vendors, including GFS, Orlando, Joshen Paper Company, Chef's Warehouse, and additional approved suppliers.
• Develop production forecasts and manage food production planning to minimize waste while maintaining service levels.
• Coordinate equipment repair requests and vendor service calls.
• Submit and monitor internal facility work orders.
• Maintain inventory levels and support cost control initiatives.

Marketing & Communications

• Manage social media marketing efforts to promote dining programs, retail concepts, seasonal offerings, and special events.
• Collaborate with campus partners to increase engagement and participation in dining initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in culinary or food service operations.
• Demonstrated experience supervising employees in a high-volume food service environment.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and inventory management.
• Experience with scheduling, payroll systems, purchasing, and menu management.
• Strong financial acumen, including food cost analysis and budget management.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and food service management software.

Core Competencies

• Culinary Operations Leadership
• ServSafe Certification
• Personnel Management
• Menu Development
• Purchasing & Inventory Control
• Food Cost & Financial Analysis
• Operational Planning
• Customer Service Excellence
• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Event & Catering Management
• Process Improvement
• Vendor Management
• Team Development

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and work in commercial kitchen environments for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as operational needs require.

Work Environment

This position operates in a fast-paced, multi-unit collegiate dining environment requiring frequent interaction with staff, students, faculty, vendors, and campus partners. The Dining Operations Manager is expected to maintain a visible leadership presence while balancing administrative responsibilities with hands-on operational support.

How to Apply

Review of completed applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For strongest consideration, please submit as soon as possible as candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Send resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references in one (1) Word document or one (1) PDF and submit via the To Apply link on BW's Employment and Careers' web page. https://www.bw.edu/employment

Baldwin Wallace University is an EEO employer and educator. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. At BW, we support and encourage diversity in a variety of forms. We value and appreciate inclusive excellence in the classroom, within extracurricular activities and as we engage our community partners.