Director of Dining Services

Department:Dining Services

Position: Full-time, 12-month position, full benefits package

Annual Salary: Approximately $68,0000

Benefits Include:

• Insurance package,
• Mandatory retirement plan,
• Dependent partial tuition waiver,
• Faculty/staff tuition waiver,
• Wellness program,
• Pro-rated annual and sick leave;

Preferred Start Date: May 2026

The Director of University of Montana-Western Dining (UMW Dining) is responsible, under the direction of the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance (VCAF), for the direction of all aspects of the University’s self-operated dining program. The Director will lead the department in fulfilling its mission in accordance with the mission of the institution, and in a manner that will achieve guest satisfaction and quality service while meeting/exceeding financial goals.

UMW Dining is comprised of:

• Residential Dining consisting of approximately400 residential students
• Montana Youth Challenge Academy serving135-145 cadets(residential students between the ages of 16-18)
• Catering Services and close collaboration with the Campus Events and Conference Services team
• Oversight of operational support Staff including Dining Services Support Staff,Culinary Professional Staff, Culinary Associates,and Student Employees
• Coordination of contracted meal service agreements with local community groups including: Meals on Wheels, Angler Sack Lunches, Odyssey Early Learning Center, Department of Natural Resources to provide emergency meals for wildland fire fighters

UM Affiliates

The Director of Dining Services participates in the UM Food Service Management and Purchasing Consortium. This group collaborates to review products and develop future usage plans for the Prime Vendor contract.

Personnel & Supervision

The person assigned to this position oversees a staff base of approximately 20 professional classified employees and approximately 15 student employees. The following positions directly report to the Director:

• Chef de Cuisine
• Catering Chef
• Dining Services Support Staff
• Culinary Professionals
• Culinary Associates
• Student Employees

The Director will provide the following:

• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to the professional team and staff of UMW Dining in the areas of staffing patterns, training and professional development, supervision best practices, industry trends, department business, and financial development.
• Within University and state policy guidelines, oversee personnel functions such as the recruitment and selection process, classification of employees, employee advancement, staff development, employee performance management, and employee separation from the University.
• Supervise the performance review process for UMW Dining employees.
• In conjunction with Human Resource Services, oversee relations with employee unions representing eligible UMW Dining employees.

Operations

• Orchestrate, facilitate, and coordinate all activities of UMW Dining, including the fiscal and budgeting responsibilities for a self-operated collegiate dining and catering program with annual revenue of approximately $1.8 million.
• Support the mission of the institution through professional foodservice management standards and practices.
• Establish a variety of foodservice programs to satisfy students, faculty, and staff needs while maintaining financial health of UMW Dining operations, established institutional financial obligations, and capital requirements. Identify department strategic initiatives to support the mission and strategic plans of both the University and UMW Dining.
• Continuously benchmark effectiveness of the operation and research and implement current foodservice trends to ensure all dining operations are providing high-quality guest services.
• Endorse and maintain safety, sanitation, food quality, and nutrition standards withinUMWDiningoperations.
• Support the institution’s and UMW Dining’s commitment to sustainability through effective operational management, procurement and educational outreach.
• Develop, implement, interpret, and uphold departmental and institutional policies.

Business and Finance

• Oversee the development and management of the UMW Dining budget to meet or exceed expected returns to the institution while balancing the service needs of students, faculty, staff, campus departments, and the community.
• Develops and recommends all operational price changes including meal plans, menu items, discounts, and other services provided to the VCAF for final approval.
• Work directly with the VCAFto purchase and authorize capital improvements including building expansions, remodels, and major purchases.
• Provide Montana Youth Challenge Academy with all necessary documentation to assist in administering the School Breakfast and School Lunch Program administered by the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

External Relations

• Establish cooperative relationships with student groups, academic and administrative departments, the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, and the Dillon community.
• Serve as spokesperson for UMW Dining and its activities.
• Work to build and maintain a positive public image for UMW Dining.
• Participate in campus, student, and community functions.
• Serve on campus committees.
• Represent UMW Dining and the University in local, state, national, or civic organizations, committees or other entities.
• Actively participate in local, state, and national professional organizations such as but not limited to NACUFS, AND, NRA, CIA, ServSafe.

The Director of UMW Dining must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Foodservice Management, Dietetics, Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Food Systems Management, or a related foodservice field, or a minimum of 10+ years of senior or administrative level of progressive foodservice management experience in a complex, foodservice and catering operation.

• Demonstrated supervisory, leadership, and human resource management experience to effectively administer and manage within a diverse and complex organization including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, compensation, time management, training, progressive discipline and safety programs.
• Related foodservice operations management experience in a high-volume, high-quality, diverse, multi-faceted operation, including but not limited to financial management, food and labor cost management, menu development, sustainable business practices, and information technology systems.
• Food and beverage inventory control, food production, handling and storage; quality control, health and safety, marketing, and merchandising.
• Demonstrated ability to study, analyze, interpret, and execute solutions for complex challenges and/or opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to provide vision and leadership in a complex foodservice environment while staying current with local, regional, and national foodservice trends.
• Exceptional writing proficiency for letters, memos, reports, articles, policies and procedures, presentation content, business plans, project proposals, etc.
• Ability to gather and assess guest feedback, especially from students, and create timely action plans in response to that feedback.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic, marketing, capital, and facilities master plans.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to delegate appropriately, monitor progress, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainable business practices and ability to maintain Montana Western’s Farm to College program.
• Lift 40 pounds from the floor to counter height.
• Work standing up for long periods as needed in the operations.
• Ability to work long hours, including evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Work at a desk with standard computer applications for long periods.
• Ability to taste and experience recipes and menu items to assess and assure high quality.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate for the Director of UMW Dining will have knowledge, skills, and abilities that include:

• Experience with scheduling full-time, part-time, and student workers.
• Familiar with software enterprise systems and proficient in Excel.
• 10 years of prior cooking experience with the ability to step into the kitchen, if needed.
• Prior purchasing and inventory management experience.
• Extensive knowledge of current trends and cutting-edge college and university residential and catering operations.
• Experience with the development and implementation of collegiate meal plans and the ability to analyze effectiveness and respond appropriately to meal plan problems.
• Expert knowledge of and experience with annual operating planning and long-term strategic, marketing, facilities, and capital planning.
• Extensive knowledge of foodservice equipment technology and product development.
• The ability to envision, develop, and implement “eatertainment” events that transform the dining experience for our guests.
• Proven track record of implementing inventory control best practices, food and labor cost management, budget development and analysis, and entrepreneurial revenue generation in collegiate foodservice.
• Experience working with CBORD NetMenu.
• Expert knowledge of menu engineering.
• Effective public speaking skills for presentations to small and large audiences of students and parents, guests and administrators.

Application

To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume, and the names and phone numbers of five professional references. The suggested list would include two current or previous supervisors, two current or previous direct reports, and one current or previous staff member. For best consideration, submit all application materials by Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately following this date and will continue until the position is filled.

For questions relating to this position contact Amelia Gardner-Knox at 406-683-7031 or by email at amelia.gardnerknox@umwestern.edu.

The University & Dillon Area

The University of Montana Western is a dynamic, innovative, undergraduate university with over 65 full-time faculty and 1,300 students. It is located in Dillon, Montana in the scenic Rocky Mountains and has been awarded numerous top national rankings for delivering high quality, affordable education.

Montana Western is the only public four-year college in the nation offering Experience One (X1),experiential learning delivered on the block schedule. Class sizes are small and students take a single course at a time, three hours each day for 18 days, before moving on to the next course. Each course is four credits and four blocks are offered each semester. The block schedule facilitates field and lab work, undergraduate research, study travel, and interdisciplinary teaching. Montana Western’s faculty strongly believe in mentoring and inspiring students, and assisting them in the transition from university life to professional careers.

The University of Montana Western is an integral part of the Dillon Community. With a population of 5,000 people, Dillon is known for outstanding public schools, safe environments, recreational opportunities, and an excellent quality of life.