Dining Retail Manager

About the Role

Tufts Dining is a self-operated, mission-driven organization serving the Medford/Somerville and SMFA/Fenway campuses. We provide high-quality, contemporary, and inclusive dining and hospitality services to a diverse community of more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and guests. Our program includes two residential dining centers, seven retail venues, a central production kitchen, and a robust catering program. Tufts Dining is committed to culinary excellence, cultural diversity, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility. Our menus reflect the lived experiences and dietary needs of our community, and our operations are grounded in innovation, collaboration, and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple retail dining units with responsibility for financial accountability, staff management and development, hospitality, guest satisfaction, marketing and promotional initiatives, and program development.
• Provide leadership, driving quality and efficiency in the areas of guest service, food production, menu development, product selection, quality control, sanitation, housekeeping, merchandising, marketing, and promotions.
• Supervise and lead employees to serve in a high-volume, fast-paced environment in an efficient and organized manner.
• Ensure customers are provided with exceptional customer service and great food & beverages.
• Supervise the preparation and presentation of food served in the retail location/s, and the appearance and utility of all food service stations, cashiering, general cleaning, and housekeeping, executing opening and closing procedures and all other assignments related to delivering an outstanding customer experience.
• Work closely with management, acting as a shift leader and resource to employees, coordinating the work of all food service employees (benefited, temporary and student) on assigned shifts.
• Engage in job-specific training and coaching of front-of-the-house staff and promote efficiency, morale, and teamwork.
• Personally and through others attend to the needs of a high volume of customers while maintaining excellent customer service.
• Handle cash appropriately and operate the department POS system; teach others how to operate the system and learn how to navigate the back-of-the-house POS system.
• May be responsible for counting cash drawers and enforcing cash handling procedures, monitoring cash handling staff for accuracy and accountability (assigning cash drawers, verifying cash fund daily).
• Teach and coach service employees to work at the various stations within the unit.
• Ensure all workstations and dining areas are properly cleaned and sanitized at all times during their shift.
• Order, forecast, and manage inventory as directed by the retail manager.
• Assist with scheduling, product evaluation, and attending meetings.
• Assist with proper merchandising and marketing materials within the unit.
• Work at the service areas such as front of house, several food stations, cashier, etc., and perform other duties in the unit as needed in support of customer service and the needs of the unit.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree
• 2-3 years' experience as a retail manager in a fast-paced dining services environment
• Must be able to learn and operate the QuadPoint Cloud, Transact, and POS system
• Previous cash handling experience is required
• Ability to prioritize, delegate, multi-task as well as troubleshoot and resolve issues in a timely manner
• Must speak and understand English
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills and be able to effectively communicate and coach others
• Tufts Dining is a hospitality-oriented service provider; all employees are expected to be customer service sensitive
• Prior leadership experience is preferred

Schedule

• This is an on-site position
• Dining Centers and Catering are open 7 days a week. Working weekends, evenings, and holidays will be expected
• A 50 hour work week is anticipated. This schedule is typically completed in five days with two days off
• Flexibility in scheduling is required, which may change based on business needs
• Some travel may be required for training and seminars to advance professional development

Pay

Pay range minimum $55,600.00, midpoint $69,500.00, maximum $83,400.00. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Application Instructions

Please submit a brief cover letter describing your experience and interest in the Dining Retail Manager role. Candidates are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in retail, dining, hospitality, food service operations, customer service, inventory management, staff supervision, or team leadership. You may also share what draws you to Tufts Dining and how your experience aligns with leading a high-volume, customer-focused operation committed to service excellence and community engagement. We encourage concise, focused responses rather than general statements of interest.