Assistant Director

About the role

NC State Dining is seeking two dynamic, results-oriented hospitality leaders to fill vital Assistant Director roles. These leaders will drive strategic goals, manage fiscal resources, foster welcoming team cultures, and maintain a premier student-dining experience.

Responsibilities

• Dining Operations & Quality Assurance
  Oversee daily management, culinary support, inventory, and point-of-sale operations for your assigned units.
  Enforce rigorous food safety, employee safety, and sanitation standards, maintaining a Wake County Health inspection score of 95% or higher across all locations.
  Collaborate with the Campus Executive Chef, Nutritionist, and stakeholders to design varied, trend-forward menus that meet nutritional, financial, and allergen-safe standards.
• Financial Administration & Budgeting
  Manage operational budgets, evaluate financial priorities, and align resource allocation with university standards.
  Review monthly financial statements to analyze and aggressively manage labor costs, food costs, and overall profit margins.
  Advise dining leadership on financial variances, growth opportunities, and capital equipment needs.
• Human Resources & Leadership
  Recruit, interview, hire, and train a versatile, results-oriented team in an welcoming environment.
  Directly manage, evaluate, and mentor General Managers and Supervisors, fostering professional development and a positive workplace culture.
  Ensure fair and consistent application of university HR policies in collaboration with Campus Enterprises HR.
• Strategic Planning & Technology Integration
  Develop and analyze data-driven operational plans regarding labor, production schedules, space capacity, and equipment lifecycles.
  Utilize food management systems (CBORD / NetMenu), POS software, and other technologies to maintain accurate forecasting, recipe compliance, and retail transparency.
  Evaluate customer feedback from focus groups and campus partners to modify workflows and optimize service levels.
• Communication & Campus Collaboration
  Model exceptional customer service, proactively resolving guest inquiries and complaints regarding food quality or accommodations.
  Partner with Marketing and Communications to effectively promote dining specials, menu rotations, and unique campus events.
  Maintain open, transparent lines of communication with dining leadership, administrative teams, and the broader campus community.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education and Experience: Food service management knowledge; including planning, forecasting, ordering and budgeting. Understand financial statements and be able to adjust labor and food costs to maximize profit margins.
• Other Required Qualifications: Experience supervising and positively leading teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with customers, peers and supervisors; and professionally communicate with multiple levels of employees within the University. Actively listen to the needs of the customer, provide accurate responses, and adjust communication style to ensure understanding. Proficient technology utilization of Microsoft Office or Google Suite, email, food service point of sale (POS) systems and inventory systems, with the ability to learn additional software. Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships internally and externally, and be a productive team member and collaborative campus partner. Excellent organizational skills in order to work independently and lead projects to timely and successful completion.
• Preferred Qualifications: 5-7 years of food service management, including planning, forecasting, ordering and budgeting, preferably in a large education/university setting. 5-7 years of supervisory experience. Previous experience working with branded dining concept. 5-7 years expertise with electronic food production and inventory systems. Proven success managing multi-unit dining operations, including retail outlets and catering production. Knowledge of operating procedures and human resources policies.

Other Responsibilities

Model the Division’s mission and values, introduce the Division’s mission and values to the employees, and foster a positive, cohesive workplace and congeniality among co-workers. Understand the goals and culture of the organization, and understand how employees’ work activities, teamwork, and customer service impact clients. Work with your supervisor and colleagues to understand these goals and the culture.

Benefits

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits: As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. NC State Dining offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement programs, disability plans, life insurance, accident plan, paid time off and other leave programs, 12 holidays each year, and more.

Pay

$84,000 - $87,000

Schedule

Variated work schedules including mornings, evenings, late night, weekends and holidays