Residential Dining Manager

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary:
The Residential Dining Manager provides management for a residential dining operation to ensure high‑quality performance for all activities. This position manages, directs, plans, organizes, and supervises dining staff in collaboration with the Executive Chef of the assigned servery while meeting financial objectives. The Residential Dining Manager acts as a liaison for the department with students, faculty, and staff and delivers high‑quality tenant and guest services through excellent communication, planning, and oversight.

Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate is an organized, proactive problem-solver who can manage multiple tasks and priorities with frequent interruptions. A strong customer service background and the ability to work well under pressure in a dynamic, fast-paced environment are preferred. This person should have knowledge of the residential college system.

Workplace Requirements:
On‑campus position: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

• Primarily an indoor work environment in a variety of university settings, which may include offices, food serveries, and residential facilities. May be exposed to temperature extremes in facilities that are not climate-controlled
• Requires working at a computer for extended periods (up to eight hours per day)

Physical Demands

• Moderate to heavy physical activity, which includes the ability to lift and carry objects up to 50 lbs. occasionally, up to 20 lbs. frequently, and up to 10 lbs. constantly
• Regular activities include standing, walking, bending, and lifting for up to eight hours per day
• Other physical requirements of the job include manual dexterity and the ability to see, hear, reach, climb, and balance

This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions.

Essential On Campus:
This role is classified as an Essential On‑Campus Position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. During emergencies or crises, the employee is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions.

Hiring Range: $42,500 minimum, with hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis
• 2+ years of administrative experience
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to deal effectively with multiple priorities on a timely basis
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees and customers
• Strong time‑management and prioritization skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects and stressful situations in a positive manner

Preferences:

• Strong organizational and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to make sound decisions, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Computer proficiency using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills with a demonstrated commitment to building and maintaining a strong team and customer‑service‑oriented organization
• Ability to conduct/lead meetings and train personnel
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g., able to work well with others; exercises professional demeanor; tactful and courteous)

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises dining staff that may include cooks, dishwashers, cashiers, and temporary employees
• Monitors work and behavior, and may give direction to custodial, maintenance, and food service staff
• Serves as a liaison to their direct supervisors
• Enforces safety rules and regulations; investigates accidents and incidents and completes accident/incident reports
• Prepares yearly staff performance appraisals
• Participates in strategic planning and provides direction toward department and university goals

Essential Functions:

• Under the general direction of the Executive Director for HR Operations, establishes priorities and identifies and resolves administrative problems
• Researches and/or writes background information for meetings
• Oversees the coordination of complex events and programs
• Composes documents for presentations, communications, and reports; performs substantial research, editing, and fact-checking
• Creates complex reports and spreadsheets
• Oversees and processes a variety of complex financial transactions; produces, monitors, and reconciles budget statements; researches, identifies, and resolves discrepancies
• May assist with capital or special equipment requests and/or vendor selection
• Coordinates complex office moves
• Plans and coordinates routine remodeling and renovations
• Analyzes and reviews material and extracts pertinent information for briefing purposes
• Performs human resources transactional support; coordinates or manages the visa process
• Guides and trains student workers, including scheduling, assigning, and prioritizing workloads, setting appropriate deadlines, and reviewing work for quality and timeliness
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Vendor/service partner performance tracking
• Financial support of the operation, including cost tracking and invoice reconciliation
• Sustainability coordination, including waste tracking, composting, and local sourcing
• Recurring FOH quality-assurance reviews and periodic allergen/dietary labeling audits
• Regular operational change summaries to college leadership
• FOH smallware/disposables inventory assessments and replenishment

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University 

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.