Food Service Director Jobs in North Carolina

Posting Information

Posting Number PG194730EP

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title Assistant Director

Anticipated Hiring Range $84,000 - $87,000

Work Schedule Varied work schedules including mornings, evenings, late night, weekends and holidays

Job Location Raleigh, NC

Department Dining Administration

About the Department

NC State Dining provides campus wide food services to students, staff, and faculty on the North Carolina State University Campus. NC State Dining operates 10 cafes, 3 food courts and 6 dining halls, 4 markets, 1 restaurant, vending, a nutritional counseling service, and a catering department. The department employs approximately 1000 temporary and student employees and approximately 180 permanent EPS and SHRA employees.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:
Medical, Dental, and Vision
Flexible Spending Account
Retirement Programs
Disability Plans
Life Insurance
Accident Plan
Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
12 Holidays Each Year
Tuition and Academic Assistance
And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

NC State Dining is seeking two dynamic, results-oriented hospitality leaders to fill vital Assistant Director roles. These leaders will drive strategic goals, manage fiscal resources, foster welcoming team cultures, and maintain a premier student-dining experience.

While both positions share core leadership and administrative responsibilities, each oversees a distinct sector of campus retail operations:
Position 1: Food Courts & Talley Main Kitchen Production – Directs management, daily operations, and culinary execution for high-volume campus food courts and the central Talley Main Kitchen, including the bakery.
Position 2: Cafés & Markets – Directs management, daily operations, and retail execution across all campus coffee shops, specialized cafés, and convenience market locations.

Core Responsibilities

Dining Operations & Quality Assurance:

- Oversee daily management, culinary support, inventory, and point-of-sale operations for your assigned units.
- Enforce rigorous food safety, employee safety, and sanitation standards, maintaining a Wake County Health inspection score of 95% or higher across all locations.
- Collaborate with the Campus Executive Chef, Nutritionist, and stakeholders to design varied, trend-forward menus that meet nutritional, financial, and allergen-safe standards.

Financial Administration & Budgeting:

- Manage operational budgets, evaluate financial priorities, and align resource allocation with university standards.
- Review monthly financial statements to analyze and aggressively manage labor costs, food costs, and overall profit margins.
- Advise dining leadership on financial variances, growth opportunities, and capital equipment needs.

Human Resources & Leadership:

- Recruit, interview, hire, and train a versatile, results-oriented team in a welcoming environment.
- Directly manage, evaluate, and mentor General Managers and Supervisors, fostering professional development and a positive workplace culture.
- Ensure fair and consistent application of university HR policies in collaboration with Campus Enterprises HR.

Strategic Planning & Technology Integration:

- Develop and analyze data-driven operational plans regarding labor, production schedules, space capacity, and equipment lifecycles.
- Utilize food management systems (CBORD / NetMenu), POS software, and other technologies to maintain accurate forecasting, recipe compliance, and retail transparency.
- Evaluate customer feedback from focus groups and campus partners to modify workflows and optimize service levels.

Communication & Campus Collaboration:

- Model exceptional customer service, proactively resolving guest inquiries and complaints regarding food quality or accommodations.
- Partner with Marketing and Communications to effectively promote dining specials, menu rotations, and unique campus events.
- Maintain open, transparent lines of communication with dining leadership, administrative teams, and the broader campus community.

Key Requirements & Expectations:

- Proven management experience in high-volume food service, hospitality, or university dining operations.
- Demonstrated financial acumen with direct accountability for P&L, food costs, and labor budgets.
- Strong tech literacy, specifically with food service management software (CBORD preferred) and POS platforms.
- Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of building and managing varied teams.
- Flexibility to work a varied schedule to support a 7-day operational calendar.

Why Join NC State Dining?

At NC State, you will lead a dedicated team that fuels the Wolfpack community. We offer a vibrant work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a robust benefits package standard with a premier public university.

Other Responsibilities

- Model the Division’s mission and values, introduce the Division’s mission and values to the employees, and foster a positive, cohesive workplace and congeniality among co-workers.
- Understand the goals and culture of the organization, and understand how employees’ work activities, teamwork, and customer service impact clients. Work with your supervisor and colleagues to understand these goals and the culture.
- Adhere to all University policies, procedures, and regulations, and Division standard operating practices and protocols.
- Travel to other campus food service units and off site facilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

- Food service management knowledge; including planning, forecasting, ordering and budgeting. Understand financial statements and be able to adjust labor and food costs to maximize profit margins.

Other Required Qualifications

- Experience supervising and positively leading teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with customers, peers and supervisors; and professionally communicate with multiple levels of employees within the University. Actively listen to the needs of the customer, provide accurate responses, and adjust communication style to ensure understanding.
- Proficient technology utilization of Microsoft Office or Google Suite, email, food service point of sale (POS) systems and inventory systems, with the ability to learn additional software.
- Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships internally and externally, and be a productive team member and collaborative campus partner.
- Excellent organizational skills in order to work independently and lead projects to timely and successful completion.

Preferred Qualifications

- 5-7 years of food service management, including planning, forecasting, ordering and budgeting, preferably in a large education/university setting.
- 5-7 years of supervisory experience.
- Previous experience working with branded dining concept.
- 5-7 years expertise with electronic food production and inventory systems.
- Proven success managing multi-unit dining operations, including retail outlets and catering production.
- Knowledge of operating procedures and human resources policies.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

- ServSafe Certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment. Certification must be maintained as a condition of employment.
- Valid NC Drivers License or the ability to obtain within 60 days of start. Must be maintained as a condition of employment.

Valid NC Driver's License required Yes

Commercial Driver's License required No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date 06/19/2026

Anticipated Close Date Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

In addition to your application, please include as attachments a resume and cover letter.

Position Details

Position Number 00112143

Position Type EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID 471501 - Dining Administration

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.