Job Number: job requisition id R0084813
Location:
SPRINGDALE
Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need
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Closing Date:
Type of
Position:
Researchers
Workstudy Position:
No
Job
Type:
Regular
Work Shift:
Sponsorship
Available:
No
Institution Name:
Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas
The
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a state wide campus, with faculty based on University campuses, at Research and
Extension Centers and in every Arkansas county. It consists of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and the Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and is home to more than 1400 employees. The Division was established in 1959 and is headed by the
Vice-President for Agriculture. The Division headquarters is located in Little Rock with the rest of the University of Arkansas System
Administration. As an employer, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace
culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary
documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply
link/button.
If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process and require reasonable accommodations, please
contact the Division’s Office of Program & Employment Compliance at compliance@uada.edu.
For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact
Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820.
Department:
AFIC@MCO
Department’s
Website:
Summary of Job Duties:
The Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks
(AFIC@MCO) is a 45,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art food processing and research facility designed to empower local food entrepreneurs and
farmers. As part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, AFIC@MCO serves as a collaborative hub offering shared-use
commercial kitchens, specialized processing capabilities, and technical assistance to support the growth of local food
businesses.
The University of Arkansas is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial shared-use kitchen manager to lead the daily
operations of the shared-use kitchen and support a growing ecosystem of food entrepreneurs across Northwest Arkansas. This individual will
play a key role in facility management, tenant engagement, and program delivery while fostering innovation and business success.
Key
Responsibilities
Commissary Kitchen Operations
- Manage daily operations of the shared-use commissary kitchen and tenant spaces
- Oversee tenant onboarding, orientations, and facility walkthroughs
- Assist with tenant profiles, scheduling, bookings,
and billing - Generate usage and impact reports using The Food Corridor software
- Coordinate kitchen reservations,
station assignments, and equipment scheduling - Ensure compliance with kitchen policies, SOPs, sanitation, and food safety
standards - Provide day-to-day tenant support and troubleshoot operational challenges
- Maintain readiness of shared
equipment, prep stations, and common areas - Coordinate equipment maintenance, repairs, and service schedules
- Monitor
and manage inventory of sanitation supplies, smallwares, and janitorial items - Oversee dry, refrigerated, and frozen storage
assignments - Conduct routine inspections for cleanliness, safety, and regulatory compliance
- Serve as the primary point
of contact for tenant needs and facility access - Document incidents, policy violations, and follow-up actions
- Support
tenant retention through proactive communication and service
Entrepreneurship & Program Support
- Support networking events
and outreach activities - Participate in facility tours and stakeholder engagement efforts
- Mentor and support food
entrepreneurs in business development and growth - Increase tenant recruitment, retention, and overall facility utilization
- Contribute to grant writing and program development efforts
- Support and participate in educational programming for
entrepreneurs
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum
of 5 years of professional experience in culinary arts, food operations, or entrepreneurship
Preferred Qualifications
-
Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or a related field - Experience supporting food startups, small businesses, or
entrepreneurial ecosystems - Demonstrated experience in grant writing and program development
Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities
- Strong leadership skills
- Experience managing food operations or food business enterprises
- Ability to
work effectively with diverse stakeholders including entrepreneurs, industry partners, researchers, and community organizations -
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills - Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple
priorities in a dynamic environment - Problem-solving mindset with a customer-service orientation
Additional
Information:
Salary Information:
Commensurate with education and experience
Required Documents to
Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume,
Unofficial/Official Transcript(s)
Optional Documents:
Special Instructions to
Applicants:
Recruitment Contact Information:
Jean-Francois Meullenet, Director and Associate AVP for Ag
Research, jfmeull@uark.edu
All application materials must be uploaded to the University of
Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS
Please do not send to listed recruitment
contact.
Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
No Background Check Required
The University of
Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may conduct pre-employment background checks on certain positions for applicants being considered
for employment. The background checks may include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Required checks are
identified in the position listing. A criminal background check or arrest pending adjudication information alone shall not disqualify an
applicant in the absences of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a consistent,
non-discriminatory manner consistent with the state and federal law.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution.
The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any
category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military
service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for
Civil Rights.
Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
All
application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Constant Physical
Activity:
Feeling, Grasping, Hearing, Lifting, Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding, Repetitive Motion,
Standing, Talking
Frequent Physical Activity:
Kneeling, Pulling, Pushing, Reaching, Sitting,
Walking
Occasional Physical Activity:
N/A
Benefits Eligible:
Yes
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. All applicants are subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and persons hired must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States.
