Director Campus Dining Retail (4634)

The Retail Dining Director position is critical to the successful operation, compliance, and continued growth of our retail dining program. This role provides leadership and oversight for over 25 full-time employees across seven locations, including branded locations, creating a level of operational complexity that requires dedicated management and accountability. The Retail Dining Director ensures consistent execution of food safety and regulatory requirements, university policies, operational procedures, and brand standards across all locations. Dedicated oversight is essential to identifying and addressing risks proactively, maintaining consistency, developing and coaching employees, and ensuring quality guest experiences.

This position also serves as a key relationship manager for both internal and external partners, collaborating with the other branches of Campus Dining and other departments, vendors, and branded partners. This role provides communication and collaboration that are essential to resolving issues, meeting partner expectations, and maintaining the integrity of our branded operations. Given the scope of responsibility, number of employees, locations, compliance and brand requirements, this position provides necessary leadership and accountability to protect the NIU’s reputation, strengthen partnerships, and drive consistent operational performance across the retail dining program.

Plans and executes all Campus Dining retail operations at NIU. Ensures that the retail operations attain both revenue and profitability growth. Directs all Campus Dining retail initiatives at NIU and contributes to the overall effort to satisfy clients and customers. Continue to evaluate the mix of national and in-house brands currently operated at NIU and make recommendations to the Executive Director of Campus Dining for possible changes. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the university audit and survey processes and ensures that all dining units and retail locations at the university consistently use and support these processes.