Campus Dining General Manager

About the Role

The General Manager for Vanderbilt Campus Dining is responsible for the leadership and oversight of a medium-scale (1,000 meals a day) to large-scale (2,500 meals a day) dining hall. This role provides hands-on leadership to facilitate a quality dining program with experiences that meet or exceed guest expectations and manages the unit’s annual budget. The General Manager creates and influences an operation built on integrity, respect, and excellence while maintaining relationships with employees, guests, support partners, and other departments within the university community. This position reports to the Assistant Director and interacts regularly with staff, students, faculty, and external entities.

About Vanderbilt Campus Dining

Vanderbilt Campus Dining takes pride in its culinary creations and is a highly decorated program, winning prestigious awards in the food service industry, including Best On-Site Food Service Operation in the Nation, Best Food Service Operator, the Ivy Award, and many more. The department operates main dining centers, restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores, employing over 350 staff members.

Responsibilities

• Promote the vision and core values of Vanderbilt Campus Dining.
• Ensure compliance with Vanderbilt Campus Dining policies, procedures, collective bargaining unit agreements, and employment programs.
• Manage the unit’s annual operational budget and encourage creative approaches to improve financial sustainability.
• Develop and maintain positive, professional relationships with employees, guests, support partners, and other departments within the university community.
• Manage organizational changes and communicate messages to the team, serving as a link between managers and leadership.
• Reinforce individual and team accountability, monitor staff performance, coach employees, and implement action plans as needed.
• Ensure unit managers provide open, honest feedback to hourly team members and complete performance evaluations.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with Union Stewards.
• Assist with the development and implementation of new policies, procedures, and trainings.
• Communicate and enforce performance expectations and work rules.
• Facilitate successful onboarding and training initiatives for team members.
• Create, review, and manage labor schedules to implement best labor management practices.
• Oversee the Kronos time management system, ensuring leave management requests like PTO are entered and approved weekly.
• Support and monitor unit adherence to Dining’s menu management processes, including ingredient, recipe, and menu compliance, costing, inventory, ordering, and receiving.
• Perform food and labor audits consistently and create action plans to improve efficiencies.
• Analyze food and labor data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for efficiency and cost reductions.
• Maintain high food safety and sanitation standards and conduct regular facility inspections.
• Review menu boards, signage, and website postings for accuracy.
• Ensure the unit’s physical building and kitchen equipment (e.g., dishwasher, ovens, refrigeration, exhaust, and ventilation systems) are operational and submit repair requests as needed.
• Implement and manage unit-specific sustainability goals and programs.
• Maintain a clean and organized appearance for both front and back of house.

Supervisory Relationships

This position manages managers and hourly staff in the location and reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Director (or other designated position, depending on location).

Qualifications

• High school diploma is required; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is preferred.
• At least 5 years of management experience in food service management is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and POS systems is required.
• Strong communication (verbal, written, interpersonal) skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population.
• Strong time management, organizational, and multi-tasking skills with an eye for detail.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional customer service.
• Ability to manage people and be accountable for Vanderbilt assets.