Assistant Director of Catering and Sales, Culinary Services
Applications Accepted
From
University Wide, Public: Open to the Public, Planning Unit Wide
Special Instructions to
Applicants
Please complete the online application and be prepared to attach required documents. For references,
please include names and current contact information of three professional references. References will be used with discretion late in the
process.
Position will remain open until filled; for full consideration apply by the posting closing date.
This
position is eligible for the following benefits
medical, vision, dental, basic and supplemental life, winter break closure,
paid holidays, educational benefits for you and eligible dependents, sick leave, vacation, and retirement.
Posting
Number: 2016362T
Department Summary
The Assistant Director of Retail Operations
supports the Director in planning, vision, forecasting, and budgeting while providing direct oversight of Ohio University Catering
operations. This role ensures financial goals, customer satisfaction, and employee development are met or exceeded. The position aligns with
Ohio University’s mission and collaborates with campus partners to support recruitment, retention, and enrollment initiatives. It also
enforces safety and sanitation standards in accordance with university policies and leads efforts to maintain a flagship catering operation
recognized for quality and service excellence.
- Assist the Director in developing and implementing long-term
strategies for catering operations, including vision, forecasting, and budgeting. Performs monthly profit and loss review. Establish and
revise goals for revenue, menus, pricing, merchandising, and resource allocation to ensure financial success and operational
efficiency. - Conduct research on catering, benchmarking studies, and market research to identify trends, maintain competitiveness,
and implement improvement strategies. - Develop and execute business strategies that generate additional revenue streams and exceed
customer expectations. - Direct and manage all aspects of Ohio University Catering, ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly and
efficiently. - Provide hands-on leadership in service delivery, coaching, training, staffing, inventory control, and fiscal
management. - Applies expert knowledge of the industry and demonstrates knowledge of the department as well as key challenges and
advantages. - Coordinates with other departments to ensure seamless event execution and operational collaboration.
- Maintain
compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. - Oversee the successful execution of
catering events in alignment with Ohio University Catering service standards. - Ensure exceptional guest experiences by focusing on
service quality, operational efficiency, and attention to detail. - Monitor customer satisfaction through accurate order entry, event
presence, surveys, and feedback, responding promptly to inquiries and concerns. - Develop and implement marketing plans for Catering,
ensuring website and system information is accurate and up to date. Drive innovation by researching industry trends and introducing new
products, services, and event planning strategies. Evaluate and implement marketing initiatives to enhance brand visibility and customer
engagement. - Set and enforce safety and sanitation standards in collaboration with university safety initiatives. Ensure a safe and
sanitary work environment for employees and guests, enforcing all established safety procedures. - Maintain accurate vehicle logs and
ensure proper maintenance of catering vehicles. - Oversee campus-wide liquor management, including sales, inventory, compliance, and
bartender training. - Lead and oversee Culinary Services Development Committee, Safety Committee, and other applicable
committees. - Collaborate with department directors on menu development, food production, and trend analysis. Works closely with
Production Manager and Executive Chefs to ensure proper planning and ordering. - Creates and sets the agenda for monthly food cost
meetings. Provide support to other venues as needed and complete special projects assigned by the Director. – - Conducts weekly
meetings with Catering management to spread knowledge of departmental initiatives. Conducts weekly meetings to review all orders with
Catering staff and reviews all banquet event orders. – Planning major events: Plans Cats Cupboard Food Drive Collection. Plans move in
engagement stations for new students arriving on campus. Sets and plans meetings for large events like homecoming. Coordinates with external
departments and within Culinary Services to execute large events.
* ServSafe certification must be obtained within 1 year of
employment.
* Must have a valid driver’s license
Position Profile
Provides catering services to
internal and external customers.
Level Summary
Responsible for the management of a unit that
performs diverse but related tasks. Handles work and budget planning, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to achieve team objectives.
Contributes to divisional or departmental operational plans by aligning unit goals with broader institutional strategies. Accountable for
meeting short-term objectives and driving continuous improvement.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Manages a large team or multiple teams. Directly oversees at least 2.0 FTE employees or one or more
supervisors. Has authority to hire, transfer, suspend, promote, manage performance, discharge, assign duties, reward, and discipline
employees.
Fiscal Responsibilities
Oversees large budgets, including departmental and
program-level budgets.
Problem Solving
Solves strategic, organizational problems and ensures
continuous improvement.
Independence of Action
High degree of autonomy in decision-making,
accountable for large areas.
Communication and Collaboration
Collaborates with executive
leadership and external partners to drive organizational goals.
Physical Requirements
Occasionally, the job may require travel to attend meetings and programs.
This role is primarily desk-based and involves
extensive use of desktop computers.
As well as setting up for special events as needed.
Minimum
Qualifications
Requires a Master’s degree in a related field, 8 or more years of related professional experience,
and 5 or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent education and experience.
Preferred
Qualifications
Large volume catering experience highly
preferred.
Department
Culinary Services
Pay Rate: Salary is
commensurate with education and experience. Employees enjoy a generous benefits package such as paid holidays, sick time, personal time, a
tuition waiver up to 100% for self and dependents, a comprehensive insurance package (including but not limited to prescription, vision,
dental, and life insurance), an excellent retirement plan with up to a 14% company contribution, a paid parental leave program, adoption
reimbursement, transgender care, flextime and flexplace policies, counseling and mental health care, access to professional development
programs and more. Additional information is available at https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits.
Total Compensation Estimator (For Full-Time Benefits Eligible
Employees)
Discover the full value of joining Ohio University by clicking this link:
https://www.ohio.edu/hr/compensation/total-compensation-estimator
Our Total Compensation Estimator shows your offer package in
dollars: salary plus university paid benefits including health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, tuition benefits, and
more.
See details on what we offer in one place and compare different options for retirement and insurance.
Estimates are
informational only; exact coverage is determined by eligibility policies and official plan documents.
Pay Grade
18
Pay Range
$58,972.00-$98,125.00
FLSA Status
Exempt
Job Category: Administrative at-will appointment
Job Family
Auxiliaries
Job Sub Family
Catering
Job Level
M3
Job Open Date
05/19/2026
Posting End Date: 06/02/2026
Planning Unit: Vice President for Student
Affairs
Work Schedule
TBD pending operational needs. Nights
and weekends are expected.
Months
12 month
Campus: Athens
Expected hours worked per week
40 + hours per week
Expected duration of assignment
Permanent
Applicants may contact this person if they have questions about this position.
Krystle
Lupardus; 740-593-2970; lupardusk@ohio.edu
Non-Discrimination
Statement
Ohio university is proud of its rich history and as part of our ongoing efforts to provide and support a
transformative learning experience, we affirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful workforce and community. All qualified
applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration free from discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability,
ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military service or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy, race,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent or foster parent, or any other bases under the law. Ohio university is an equal
access/equal opportunity employer.
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Ohio University is committed to creating a respectful and inclusive educational and workplace environment. Ohio University is an equal access/equal opportunity and affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. Women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.