Position Summary:

The Associate Director serves as the institution's primary liaison for the dining contract. This position ensures compliance with contractual obligations, drives continuous improvement in service delivery, and elevates the overall campus dining experience. In close collaboration with the College's dining provider, the Associate Director resolves daily operational issues, fosters innovation in dining programs, and leads student engagement efforts through assessment tools, feedback initiatives, and the Dining Committee. The role also oversees the meal plan exemption process and plays a key role in shaping a dynamic, customer-focused catering program. This position is pivotal in aligning vendor partnerships with TCNJ's mission to support student satisfaction, wellness, and campus life. 

Main Responsibilities:

• Dining Oversight and Contract Management: The Associate Director is the main contact for TCNJ' s dining services. This person manages the dining contract, works closely with the vendor, and helps make sure everything runs smoothly and meets the needs of students and the College. Key Responsibilities:Manage Contracts: Handle the dining contracts, including updates, renewals, and making sure they support campus priorities and budgets. Work with Vendor: Be the main point of contact for the dining vendor, building a positive working relationship focused on quality service and meeting expectations. Lead and Collaborate: Help promote and improve dining services across campus through teamwork and planning. Plan for the Future: Suggest new dining ideas, customer service improvements, and student engagement efforts that support wellness, satisfaction, and College goals.
• Program Engagement & Daily Operations: The Associate Director oversees the day-to-day dining experience, ensuring high-quality service, student engagement, and contract compliance. Key Responsibilities: Regularly check dining spaces for cleanliness, food quality, service, and safety. Share feedback with the vendor and ensure follow-up. Student Interaction: Be a visible presence in dining areas, talk with students and staff, and use their feedback to improve the dining experience. Events & Programs: Work with the dining vendor to create fun, inclusive, and engaging events that recent campus values like wellness, cultural dining experiences, opportunities to respond community needs (celebrations or crisis events), and sustainability. Campus Collaboration: Partner with campus groups and offices to support themed meals, pop-ups. late-night options, and awareness events, alongside the Dining Marketing Manager and Dietitian.
• Compliance & Contract Oversight: The Associate Director manages the dining contract, ensuring full compliance with all terms and expectations. Key Responsibilities: Monitor vendor perfo1mance in areas like finances, sustainability, safety, and service. Conduct regular reviews and audits to ensure contract compliance. Quickly address and resolve any issues with dining operations. Work with the vendor to implement and track corrective actions. Coordinate with internal partners (e.g., Procurement, Risk, EH&S) to align with college policies. Support contract renewals, changes, and new RFPs in collaboration with department leadership. Ensure the vendor meets all agreed-upon deliverables and standards.
• Catering & Event Collaboration: The Associate Director works with the dining vendor and Conference & Event Services to deliver high-quality, customer-focused catering. Key Responsibilities: Develop catering options that meet campus standards and client needs. Align catering services with event goals, budgets, and seasonal themes. Ensure contract compliance in presentation, service, and responsiveness. Provide on-site support at select high-profile or evening/weekend events when needed.
• Assessment & Feedback: The Associate Director leads efforts to gather and use feedback to improve dining, catering, and vending services, and serves as the primary contact for related concerns. Key Responsibilities: Lead the Dining Services Committee and partner with student leaders to review services and suggest improvements. Oversee dining surveys, including annual satisfaction surveys and national assessments (e.g., Benchworks, NACUFS). Manage the Mystery Shopper Program to evaluate daily service quality. Collect and analyze feedback from multiple sources to guide vendor accountability and continuous improvement.
• Emergency Response & Dining Systems: Serve as the dining liaison on the Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT), ensuring food service continuity during . emergencies. Key Responsibilities: Respond to dining-related emergencies, including nights and weekends. Coordinate with the dining vendor and campus partners on emergency preparedness plans. Manage the Transact dining system, including early arrival data, product codes, pricing, sales tracking, and reporting.
• Technology & Dining Innovation: Coordinate dining tech upgrades and equipment improvements to support efficient, student-focused service. Ensure vendor maintains up-to-date websites, apps, and materials. Monitor dining trends and hold vendor accountable for staying current and responsive.
• Budget Oversight: Oversight for budget (professional development, quality assurance, & project requests).
• Other related duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in dining services management, hospitality, or related fields, preferably within a higher education setting. Proven experience in managing dining contracts, vendor relationships, dining equipment purchasing, and compliance monitoring. Demonstrated success in event planning and catering services, including experience with both small and large-scale events, VIP functions, and community engagement.
• Experience working with student organizations, catering services, and coordinating dining operations to support campus-wide initiatives and student needs.
• Knowledge of dining operations technology. including software for booking, event management, and meal tracking.  Experience with data analysis and reporting, utilizing surveys, assessments, and feedback to inform decision-making and program development.
• Proven ability to lead and collaborate across multiple teams, including dining vendors, campus departments, and student groups.
• Must be Serve Safe certified within the first 6 months of beginning the position.
• Knowledge of industry standards for dining services and catering, preferably within a higher education setting. Experience in both student food service and catering, including managing events of all sizes, from VTP gatherings to standard functions.
• Strong technological proficiency, with advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Word. Highly proficient in Google Suite, including Google Drive. Ability to quickly learn and demonstrate proficiency in additional technologies relevant to the position, such as booking and diagramming software.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide guidance on best practices for event coordination. Demonstrated ability to effectively multitask and perform well in high-stress, fast-paced environments.
• Strong diplomacy, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours (Commencement, Accepted Students Day, Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, etc.)

 Employer Qualifications: 

• Final offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference checks.

About TCNJ 

TCNJ is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 "Most Competitive" schools in the nation by Barron's Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report. TCNJ was named the #10 value in public higher education by the Princeton review in 2009 and, in 2006, was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter - an honor shared by less than 10 percent of colleges and universities nationally. A strong liberal arts core forms the foundation for programs offered through TCNJ's seven schools - Arts & Communication; Business; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Science; Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science; and Engineering. TCNJ faculty members are teacher-scholars who share a commitment to liberal learning. TCNJ is located within an hour, by train, of New York City and Philadelphia. The College's campus is set on 289 tree-lined acres in suburban Ewing Township and is known for its natural beauty and has 39 major buildings. 

Employee Benefits:

As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public university career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:

• Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
• Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program 
• Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
• Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee affinity groups
• New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
• Access to extensive learning opportunities 

To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more! 

Application Instructions :

Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable candidate is selected.