Assistant Director Catering

About the role

Under the general direction of the Director, Dining and Retail Services (DRS), UW‑Milwaukee's Dining and Retail Services Department is hiring a dynamic and team‑focused Assistant Director of Catering. The position combines strategic oversight, operational management, and team leadership to ensure high‑quality catering services and strong revenue performance. As a member of the DRS leadership team, this role serves as the primary campus liaison for catering services, partnering with academic units, administrative departments, student organizations, and external clients to deliver high‑quality, customized event experiences through 20/20 catering. The Assistant Director of Catering elevates the campus catering program by driving catering excellence, balancing operational efficiency with customer satisfaction, and supporting organizational growth through strategic catering initiatives. This role directly supervises two professional Catering Coordinators and provides leadership to full‑time staff and student employees. Success requires a balance of firsthand operational management and forward‑looking program leadership. The department operates a self‑operated dining venture with an $18 million operating budget, comprising two residential dining units, two convenience stores, retail offerings in the Student Union (including the catering unit), multiple coffee locations, convenience stores, and concessions operations, and employs approximately fifty permanent staff and over three hundred student employees.

Responsibilities

• Catering Program Leadership & Growth (25%): Provide vision and leadership to continuously elevate the 20/20 Catering program, positioning it