Director of Operations

CulinArt Sector Salary: 100000 - 125000 /year

Pay Grade: 16

CulinArt Group operates over 250 onsite corporate, higher education, private school, healthcare and destination recreation/leisure dining facilities in 18 states, including cafés, coffee bars, concessions, executive dining, catering and conference dining, social catering/special events, office coffee service and vending. CulinArt’s extremely diverse client portfolio affords great opportunities for career advancement within the company, across multiple industry segments and geographic regions. Job Summary

Are you an experienced hospitality leader who enjoys building strong teams, fostering client relationships, and creating exceptional campus dining experiences? We are seeking a Director of Operations to lead our dining services program!

This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on leader who understands the unique needs of a university dining environment and enjoys being an active part of the campus community.

In this role, you will oversee residential and retail dining operations, lead and develop teams in a union environment, manage financial performance, and build strong partnerships with university leadership. If you're passionate about higher education dining, employee development, and delivering outstanding hospitality, we'd love to hear from you!

What You'll Do

• Oversee daily food service operations across residential dining, retail locations, and campus dining programs.
• Lead, coach, and develop management teams while fostering a positive, collaborative work environment.
• Effectively manage operations within a unionized workforce, maintaining positive employee relations and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university leadership, students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
• Develop and manage operating budgets, financial forecasts, and P&L performance to achieve financial goals.
• Monitor labor, food costs, purchasing, inventory, and operating expenses while maintaining financial accountability.
• Partner with culinary leadership to develop engaging menus, dining programs, and campus initiatives.
• Ensure exceptional food quality, service standards, cleanliness, and guest satisfaction across all dining locations.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and university requirements.
• Oversee accurate financial reporting, operational performance metrics, and account compliance.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the student dining experience, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen campus partnerships.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, hospitality, and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Culinary Arts, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of food service management experience required.
• Higher education dining experience overseeing residential (board) and retail dining operations required.
• Experience managing and leading teams in a unionized environment strongly preferred.
• P&L accountability and contract-managed food service experience required.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, and financial reporting.
• Proven ability to build positive employee relations, develop management teams, and lead through collaboration.
• Strong client relationship management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Understanding of university dining programs, student engagement, and campus hospitality.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional service and operational standards.
• Passion for higher education, team development, and creating a welcoming campus dining experience.

Apply to CulinArt today! CulinArt is a member of Compass Group USA Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story!

Associates at CulinArt are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_Culinart.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/ Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Req ID: 1590284 CulinArt Sector Kristan McIntosh [[req_classification]]