Director, Campus Dining

About the Division and Role

At the University of Denver, Student Affairs plays a central role in supporting students throughout their academic, personal, and professional journeys. Anchored by the 4D Experience—deepening intellect, developing wellbeing, discovering character, and designing purposeful careers—this division delivers holistic development beyond the classroom through inclusive programs and services on the Denver and Kennedy Mountain campuses.

The division serves diverse audiences including current and prospective students and families, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, local communities, companies, organizations, and national peers, striving to cultivate an engaging, respectful, and vibrant campus culture.

Within the division, Housing, Residential Education and Dining Services (HRE) manages housing and support for over 2,800 students, fostering a community that enhances academic success, personal growth, inclusion, diversity, service, leadership, and engaged participation by staff and students.

Position Summary

The Director of Campus Dining is a senior leadership role within HRE reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor. This position leads strategic planning and oversight for campus dining in partnership with the food service contractor, Sodexo, ensuring alignment with Student Affairs priorities and delivering high-quality, student-centered dining services. Responsibilities include long-term planning, pricing strategy development, contract management, facility enhancement collaboration, and maintaining safe and inclusive dining environments.

The Director acts as the main liaison among students, staff, leadership, faculty, and dining partners to facilitate consistent communication, collect stakeholder feedback, address escalated concerns, analyze performance data, and drive continuous improvement and innovation in dining services.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion Student Affairs values in all dining-related initiatives and decision-making.
• Design and implement comprehensive dining strategies covering concepts, service models, financial planning, and growth of facilities and meal plans.
• Collaborate with vendor leadership and business planners to develop pricing strategies and participate in food service contract requests for proposals.
• Contribute to university-wide policies ensuring dining services align with institutional objectives.
• Manage dining operations across residential and retail dining sites to ensure effective, quality service.
• Coordinate facility maintenance, capital projects, and operational logistics for dining venues.
• Ensure dining areas meet safety standards, functionality, and inclusivity requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of health regulations, dietary restrictions, allergies, and accommodations.
• Serve as liaison between all stakeholders including students, staff, faculty, leadership, and dining partners.
• Lead advisory committees and feedback platforms to gather and respond to input for service improvement.
• Handle escalated dining complaints promptly with professionalism and resolution focus.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and service metrics to inform enhancements.
• Promote meal plan participation and utilization to increase revenue through data-driven marketing and program development.
• Support reporting, assessment, and administrative tasks related to dining services performance.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a related area with at least 10 years of progressive leadership experience overseeing dining operations or large-scale service programs in higher education or equivalent settings.
• Proven success managing complex service departments emphasizing customer experience, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Five to seven years of managerial experience involving staff leadership, performance management, and cultivating a culture of accountability.
• Skillful conflict resolution, sensitivity in handling diverse issues, and consensus-building abilities.
• Expertise in operational oversight, including facility coordination and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in cross-departmental collaboration to enhance campus experiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree relevant to the field with 5+ years in senior leadership roles in higher education or comparable organizations.
• Over 3 years of direct experience in dining management, catering, or food service, especially in university settings.
• Advanced aptitude for aligning cross-functional services with institutional goals and student success priorities.

Working Conditions and Schedule

This full-time position generally operates on-site Monday through Friday, with occasional evening, weekend, and holiday shifts aligned with campus events and programs. The role supports hallmark and tradition events throughout the year. The University allows partial remote work under its flexible work policy, with specifics coordinated with the hiring manager.

The work environment includes standard office settings and campus dining venues with moderate noise and occasional interruptions. Physical demands include prolonged computer use and moving about campus, sometimes lifting objects up to 20 pounds.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role ranges between $78,000 and $82,000 annually, with final offers depending on candidate qualifications and budget considerations. Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, retirement plans, paid time off, tuition benefits, and an eco-pass.

Application Process

Applicants should provide a resume and cover letter. Submission deadline is July 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT. The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and does not discriminate based on protected statuses.

Additional Information

A criminal background and sex offender registry check are required before employment. The position holds salary grade 12.