Supervisor - Cafés and Markets

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting a Supervisor - Cafes and Markets to join our Grab-N-Go team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is an 11-month cyclic, campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. Were offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. Youll find robust academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.

The Role:

This position provides frontline leadership for the CWU Cafés and Markets program by directing daily operations, supervising staff, and ensuring high standards of customer service, food quality, and operational efficiency. The supervisor plays a critical role in employee training, performance management, scheduling, and staff development while maintaining compliance with food safety, sanitation, and university policies. Working collaboratively with campus stakeholders, building personnel, and student organizations, this position supports programming, events, and initiatives that enhance student engagement and contribute to a welcoming campus environment. This position may support all Cafe and Market locations across campus. This position also may support other Dining Operations outside of Cafes & Markets on an as needed basis to aid Dining Operations.

In alignment with Central Washington Universitys vision, mission, and values, CWU Dining Services plays a key role in supporting these principles while also upholding our departments own vision, mission, and values. Our vision is to be a key campus partner in promoting the growth of our community through shared culinary and educational experiences. As a member of Dining Services, you will be directly involved in these efforts and are expected to embody both the university, and department, vision, mission, and values in your work. All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWUs vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.

Job Duties

Leadership & Supervision:

• Collaborates with General Manager, and Campus Executive Chef, to ensure that goals and objectives are implemented.
• Maintains the vision, values and priorities of the department and work within the unit for alignment
• Provides support to all Café and Market Dining operations.
• Assists in directing staff on unit operation policies and procedures.
• Promotes professional development opportunities.
• Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation, and engagement.
• Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community.
• Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance.
• Maintains visibility and accessibility with customers, building managers and staff members.
• Consults appropriately with Human Recourses to ensure that CWU and bargaining unit policies, guidelines are followed in administering progressive, corrective action principles and union contracts are followed in addressing employee performance problems.
• Assists in instructing classified, hourly, and student staff on safe food/drink handling.
• Assists with scheduling full time employees and schedules student employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests.
• Maintain visibility and accessibility with customers, building managers and staff members.
• Provide direct supervision/oversight of classified civil service staff and student staff.
• Upholds clearly defined performance expectations, ensuring accountability and providing ongoing informal feedback, coaching and mentoring and conducts performance evaluations of student staff.
• Oversees and directs the work of staff. Serves as mentor, coach and leader and resolves complaints or issues.
• Fosters and develops the Café Leads, Student Leaders, and Student Employees
• Monitors attendance and adjusts staffing to meet daily production needs.
• Ensures the completion of duties such as slacking frozen products for proper tempering, cleaning work areas, FIFO-ing (First In First Out), dating items and monitoring expiration dates, stocking and binning market items to bring full and fresh experience for guests and increase revenue.
• Evaluate the work completed by direct reports and provide constructive feedback so as to support success.
• Provide guidance to direct reports on requirements and/or opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Engage when necessary, in performance management of student employees within the dining organization.
• Supervise the work completed by direct reports, ensuring appropriate productivity and quality.
• Provide guidance to direct reports on requirements and/or opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Assists with recruitment efforts and hiring of new employees
• Oversee the stocking and product in all markets.
• May be required to drive a university owned vehicle.

Operations and Customer Service:

• Embrace and engage with technology to improve flow through in the operation.
• Assist with inventory from ordering to utilization, including purchasing, receipt, storage, , distribution, production, display and sale.
• Assist in monitoring compliance with marketing standards and promotions and take corrective action.
• Continuously monitors the appearance and quality of all food and food display areas.
• Continuously monitors all Café and Market concepts across campus.
• Assists, as needed, with ordering, delivery, and preparation of drinks to meet planned menu and service needs.
• Follow proper reporting procedures for unit performance data to include labor hours worked and inventory.
• Assists, as needed, in oversight and training in proper handling, preparation and storage of food products and drink building and recipes.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining quality control programs for food and beverage preparation and service.
• Assists in actively controlling food waste and to proactively promote sustainability efforts and goals.
• Assists in ensuring cleanliness and sanitation of work areas at all campus dining locations.
• Assists in direction and participation in proper and safe use, cleaning, and maintenance of equipment.
• Assists in providing recommendations for equipment repair and/or replacement.
• Supervise the cleaning and sanitization of equipment after production is complete.
• Actively leads and/or participates in unit staff meetings.
• Actively solicits patrons suggestions and respond to complaints, questions, and special requests.
• Meets all deadlines and timelines for operational ordering from all vendors
• Builds and fosters relationships with campus partners and vendors.
• Remains actively involved with ongoing check-ins, meetings and developmental opportunities for all Café and Markets employees.
• Assists with strategic initiatives regarding callouts and coverage within operations
• Embraces change, and pivots to meet operational needs.

Fiscal Management:

• Assists in training and monitoring performance in unit safety, customer service and food safety.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining proper controls over resources, including inventory, and labor.
• Assists with the monitoring of the performance of products, services, and programs and works collaboratively with vendors to make adjustments as necessary to meet established sales and service goals.
• In conjunction with the Systems Analyst and Café & Markets General Manager works to ensure that there are appropriate controls on resources, including separation of controls between purchasing, receiving and counting inventory.

Training:

• Assists in training and evaluating staff performance, including civil service, students, and temporary employees.
• Actively leads, inspires excellence, mentors student employees to develop skills and solves problems innovatively.
• Coaches, provides feedback, and mentors staff and peers to improve efficient performance.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of in unit orientation and training for new employees.
• Assists in development, implementation, and training of sanitation, safety, and other food safety procedures within the units.
• Assists in interviewing and selecting staff members, and ensures staff are on-boarded properly.
• Provides guidance to direct reports on requirements and/or opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Identify and correct unsafe conditions, such as poor equipment or work habits that may lead to accidents or injury.

Systems Duties:

• Assists in Computrition functions performed as part of normal business operations, including purchasing, inventory, transfers and service menus.
• This position may be required to perform some tasks directly while reviewing or approving work delegated to staff.
• Use Computrition reporting functions to monitor unit performance by reviewing key metrics related to purchasing, inventory, menu mix and costing.
• Notify Dining Systems Analyst of suspected errors or issues.
• Participates, as needed, in campus special events
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Leadership experience performing such duties as hands-on training, mentoring and working with teams
• Supervisory-level experience in drink recipe execution, including overseeing drink and/or food preparation, and ensuring adherence to allergen, dietary, and nutritional standards.
• Minimum of two years of experience in the food service industry.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working collaboratively with students and/or colleagues to foster a supportive and effective learning and work environment.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Additional Conditions of Employment:

• Must have or be able to obtain Washington State Food Handlers permit within 30 days of initial hire date.
• Must be able to obtain ServSafe certification within six months of hire
• Maintenance of a valid Drivers License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a college or university food and beverage service program.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in active leadership including front of house and back of house staff development and coaching.
• Two or more years of supervisory experience working in a Café and/or Marketplace
• Knowledge of Espresso Machines, Turbo Chef Ovens and Blenders.
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote student success.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWUs vision, mission, and

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Dont meet every single requirement? At CWU, were committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If youre excited about this role but your experience doesnt align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity youre looking for!

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Salary: The Hiring Departments expected hiring range is $46,209 - $56,000 annually. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidates current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the full annual salary range for this position is $46,209 to $64,692.

Schedule/Appointment: Tuesday - Saturday, 1:30PM - 10:00PM / 11-month appointment / (for more detailed information regarding cyclic appointments click link: CWU Cyclic Leave)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Work is also at various locations across campus; must be comfortable driving/walking to these locations throughout the week. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required. Work is performed primarily indoors, at times in hot/cold/noisy/wet areas with some exposure to hazardous equipment and products. Working in temperatures from 0 degrees (freezer) to 350+ degrees (around cooking equipment) is common. Work requires walking and standing (often in a stationary position) for the majority of each shift. Bending/climbing/carrying/pulling/pushing/lifting associated with loading/unloading of supplies and preparation, plating and serving of food is required. This position requires working a schedule that varies based on business needs. This entails attending and participating in events that occur seven days a week and outside normal business hours.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.

How To Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:

• A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting;

• Resume including work history, education, training; and

• Contact information for three professional references.

Screening Begins: August 17, 2026

Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Contact Information

Name: Monique Gonzalez

Title: General Manager Cafes & Markets

Email: Monique.Gonzalez2@cwu.edu

Phone: 509-963-1531

Website: Cafes and Markets

Please contact Human Resources at hr@cwu.edu or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process.

Conditions of Employment

Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

Notice to Prospective Employees:

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington Universitys policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance, 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone 509-963-2050; or email crc@cwu.edu.

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University 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 Human Resources at HR@cwu.edu or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.