Dining Senior Food Service Manager

Benefits to working at UC Santa Cruz include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Care Insurance Plans
• UC Retirement Plans
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Holidays plus accrued vacation and sick leave
• Employee Meal
• Uniform Provided

HOW TO APPLY

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 10-12-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 800 professional staff and 2100 student staff spanning five major units. Deeply devoted to offering students a transformational educational experience, our division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership of student success programs, activities, and initiatives.

The Colleges, Housing and Educational Services (CHES) is a multi-funded organization of the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) at UC Santa Cruz. CHES provides leadership in the areas of college student life and residential services, housing services and facilities, capital planning, business and financial analysis, dining services, conference services, and early education services. Through these units educational and developmental programs and services are offered to all members of the campus community including students, faculty, staff, children and external constituents. CHES provides on-campus housing and dining services to approximately 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students in ten residential colleges and six multi-college affiliated residential communities which support single students and students with families.

UC Santa Cruz Dining is instrumental in the success of our students as well as providing services to staff, faculty and guests of the campus. Our mission is to be committed to: creating a diverse, safe, fun and trusting environment for our guests and team; building an innovative dining program providing high quality service and food while embracing social, nutritional and financial responsibilities.

More information can be found at: https://dining.ucsc.edu/jobs/index.html

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Unit Manager, the Senior Food Service Manager is responsible for the operational management of the assigned residential dining facilities, Catering operations, Bakery operations or retail locations, and will act as the Person in Charge (PIC) in the absence of the Unit Manager. The Senior Food Service Manager administers a system of quality food production and service for student staff and faculty customers, visitors, and Summer conference guests. The Senior Food Service Manager utilizes the principles of food production, merchandising, customer service, operations, and human resource management.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $78,050/annualy
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: To be determined and details to be discussed at the interview
• Shift Includes: Day, Evenings Night, Weekends, to be determined and discussed at the interview

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: FOOD SVC SUPV 2 (005235)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

40% - Food Service Operations

• The Senior Food Service Manager (SFSM) supervises and supports service and/or production personnel in the preparation and delivery of various meals at assigned locations and food service or catering events.
  Maintains consistently excellent customer service and food quality by training and directing assigned staff in food service and food quality. Train and direct staff in merchandising, and management, service, safety and sanitation standards. Actively reinforce these standards and maintain cost-effective management of daily operations. Maintain effective communication with staff as well as customers and other managers as appropriate.
• Maintains location cleanliness while ensuring the facilities are friendly, welcoming, and safe for guests. Responds to all guests' concerns and attends to dining hall customer or employee-related emergencies.
• The Senior Food Service Manager ensures timely production and service and controls labor costs by efficiently scheduling service and/or production personnel and planning workload distribution. Managing the productivity expectations set by the Unit Manager for all employees.
• The Senior Food Service Manager is responsible for allergen display and communication with customers.
• The Senior Food Service Manager shares responsibility for ensuring proper maintenance and safe operation of the facilities and all food production and service equipment.
• The Senior Food Service Manager enforces unit policy for operations, including shifts they do not directly supervise.

30% - Human Resources Management

• Assists and supports the Unit Manager in all facets of Human Resources Management. This includes schedule management, station assignments, revising job descriptions, break schedules, and enforcing the department procedures for breaks, labor contract adherence, and performance meetings, as well as issuing counseling memos.
• Enforces uniform standards for all employees. Responsible for ordering slip-resistant shoes for employees according to the department policy.
• Motivates staff to strive for the highest quality food production and service through training, coaching, recognition, and career development.
• Facilitates training programs for employees to include:
  • HACCP (Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point)
  • Training in safe chemical handling
  • Ongoing training in food safety and sanitation
  • Educating staff on customer service skills
  • Career development and training for staff
  • University Principles of Community and Respect
  • Allergen awareness
  • Ensures that the collective bargaining agreements and University of California policies are followed.
• Motivates staff to strive for the highest quality food production in keeping with current trends throughout the industry. Collaborates with the Unit Chef and Unit Manager on culinary pop-up events in the residential dining halls.
• Maintains cost-effective work schedules for all staff and student employees. Ensures all schedules are posted at least 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled date.
• Maintains appropriate confidentiality of all records and information.
• Recognizes and acknowledges outstanding staff performance.
• Participates or may serve as the Committee Chair on departmental staff recruitments.

20% - Budget & Financial Analysis, Cash Management

• Responsible for achieving the desired fiscal goals by use of effective controls to meet budget requirements for service and production of an operating unit. This includes participating in the development and management of complex budgets and effectively applying cost control procedures for labor, food and supplies. Will provide weekly detailed analysis of physical inventory to maintain accurate budget information and precise accounting of food and non-food items.
• Directs staff in methods of cost control, ensuring security of assets, portion control and efficient staffing for optimal productivity.
• Responsible for ensuring the proper handling and accounting of daily cash intake and observing University cash handling policies.
• Responsible for accurate timekeeping, approving payroll for career and student employees, including amending timesheets as necessary, following UCSC timekeeping policies.
• Maintains records of financial transactions, deposits, temp logs and other unit documents.
• Assists the Unit Manager with Time Off requests approval and adjusting staffing needs accordingly.
• Responsible for managing office supply orders and staying within the given budget.

10% - Other Duties as Assigned

• As a manager of a Dining Hall, Bakery or Catering operation, the incumbent will work with staff, students and faculty of the University community, and must ensure that all operations support the University's mission, programs and events.
• Interfaces with Colleges Housing & Educational Services (CHES) and Dining Services staff, as well as students, to provide dining and management support for college and residential programs.
• Participates in weekly management staff meetings, to review and discuss future activities and events.
• Participates on campus wide and departmental committees as needed.
• Will drive campus owned vehicles and/or a personal vehicle to perform various duties including, but not limited to, catered events, training, quality control within locations, cashier deposits, and other driving related duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the Unit Manager

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong experience and exhibited ability in management, especially related to food services in hotel, restaurant, retail, or catering services.
• Experience in financial and labor management, employee relations and training, menu development, customer service, food production, handling and storage, quality control, health and safety.
• Demonstrated supervisory, leadership, and personnel management skills to effectively administer and manage through others.
• Skill and temperament to provide an open climate and create opportunities for employee communication and position departmental interaction.
• Skill and knowledge to create performance standards that increase morale, productivity and attendance.
• Ability to recruit, interview, hire, manage, lead, motivate and supervise effectively a diverse workforce including setting and meeting performance goals, conducting performance appraisals and providing training for residential dining service staff.
• Strong and demonstrated culinary production, service, event planning, and management skills in a Table Dining, Retail and Catering environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to maintain good working relations with a diverse group of people. Ability to resolve issues related to students, staff, faculty, and dining services, and exercise diplomacy in stressful situations.
• Strong demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement in making informed management decisions.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Skill to work independently and ability to be inventive and creative, including but not limited to initiating new programs, conceptualizing, organizing, and directing projects, Unit growth, development and change.
• Skill and knowledge to collaborate with colleagues to design and implement innovative customer service programs.
• Experience and effectiveness in providing customer service and working with the public.
• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in English; to write accurate and grammatically correct reports, Unit goals, evaluations, and communicate with staff, customers, vendors and other departments.
• Ability to apply mathematical and accounting skills to interpret and analyze financial data and inventory.
• Demonstrated computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet programs and general knowledge of on-line processes to administer and manager food service computer systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS in management, business, finance, dining services or hospitality related field.
• Bilingual Spanish/English or willingness to learn.\
• Previous or present involvement in the National Association of Colleges & University Food Services (NACUFS) or other food service/hospitality related professional affiliation.
  

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• All employees must be able to pass the ServSafe certification within 90 days of employment, or already be in possession of a ServSafe certification upon hire. This certification must be maintained throughout employment in this position.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• The ability to move materials weighing up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.