Leads and manages the University’s relations with the contracted dining partner, service as liaison and point person to ensure fulfillment of commitments outlined in contract with contracted dining partner. Provides high-level oversight of dining operations by meeting regularly with the Resident District Manager and staff, as well as campus vending partner, with specific focus on the partnerships.

Oversees and evaluates key performance indicators from the contract to ensure alignment with agreed upon standards. Conduct quality assurance audits and inspect all UK Dining locations and kitchens regarding customer service, cleanliness, safety, maintenance needs and overall quality. Ensures compliance fulfillment of dining partner’s commitments of menus, prices, and other arrangements made by the University for catering service, including all scheduled camps and conferences, as well as fulfillment of dining partner’s commitment to all negotiated pricing and menu options.

Additionally, the Director sets the strategic vision in collaboration with contracted dining partner and university leadership, directing long-range planning initiatives, preventative maintenance programs, and multi-year budget planning.

Relationship Management, Negotiation, Accountability, Planning, Organization and Follow Through

Effectively partners with dining partner and key University units to ensure proper fiscal, facility and operational management of all UK Dining areas. Monitors all capital spending on campus related to UK Dining initiatives. Provides strategic planning oversight for dining-related capital projects, contingency funds designated for repair, replacement and upgrade of University/UK Dining owned facilities and equipment. Manages approvals and funding related to the UK Dining shareholder fund.

Works collaboratively to monitor equipment inventory including initial census, transfer, new purchases, and surplus of old equipment with Dining partner and Total Quality Improvement. Monitors and adjusts cleaning and sanitation schedules and all safety related maintenance, ensuring remedies to identified issues are implemented in timely manner. Reviews weekly/monthly reports including total amount of food purchases, number of students served, meal plan participation counts, cash sales, and card sales. Works with Dining partner to review and propose annual increases in meal plan pricing, retail pricing, concession pricing, catering pricing, and summer camps/conferences pricing.

Maintains and strengthens existing relationships with UK Athletics by developing and adjusting Memorandums of Understanding to ensure appropriate service commitments are met to ensure consistent high-quality support. Serves as primary university representative with various campus stakeholders to understand, build and maintain relationships with dining partner.

Plays an integral leadership role in contract negotiations as needed with dining partner in conjunction with executive leadership.

Professional Knowledge in Accounting, Finance, and Operations Management, Attention to Detail, Planning and Follow Through, Relationship Management, Effective Written and Verbal Communication

Ensures University and dining partner’s needs are balanced and both parties are responsive and accountable with the goal of providing first class dining experiences for students, guests, faculty and staff. Ensures a robust program of education/engagement is undertaken with new and prospective students as well as the campus community including services offered, hours of operation, menus, etc.

Reviews survey instruments prior to release, monitors and responds to customer satisfaction surveys and reviews/approves remedies. Assists dining partner in determining the pricing format, services desired, conference schedules, numbers, dates, desired dining locations, and any other pertinent information for summer camps/conferences. Coordinate mandatory meal plan waivers based upon medical and/or religious dietary concerns. Approves and monitors all UK Dining marketing materials to ensure that University standards are upheld for the website, social and print media.

Serves as the point person/point of contact for operational issues such as, media inquiries-coordinated with UK Public Relations, requests from student groups, weather issues, closures, and other campus-wide issues. Ensures establishment of policies and procedures for special events and ample communications with UKPD, UK Athletics, transportation, academic areas, and other key constituents.

Relationship Management, Vision, Collaboration, Quality Assurance, Initiative, Interpersonal Communication, Respect for Diversity

Leads collaborative efforts with dining partner management team and UK Human Resources to ensure high standards in supervision and leadership of all UK Dining staff. Facilitate solutions to customer problems and keep team apprised of the state of the business. Provide direct reports with daily performance and behavior related feedback, reinforcing positive behaviors/performance and discouraging/eliminating negative performance. Coordinates communications and processes relative to the management of UK Dining staff in collaboration with dining partner leadership. Responsible for establishing employment and professional development opportunities in UK Dining. This includes responsibility for service delivery, planning and training compliant with continuous quality improvement. Collaborates with dining partner on selection of all key management positions. Reviews employee incentive plan and training schedule annually.

Communication, Team Building, Confidentiality/Discretion, Leadership

Provides executive leadership the daily development, enforcement, and oversight of compliance with Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations as well as all University policies. As the primary liaison lead regular consultation with senior administration and the University’s Office of Legal Counsel on a range of legal and regulatory matters. Additionally, the Director ensures that all UK Dining policies and procedures align with life safety standards, risk management protocols, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including monitoring PCI-DSS security scans, reports and incidents.

Technical Knowledge of Federal, State, Local Rules, Regulations, Laws, etc., Knowledge of UK Policies and Procedures