Van Zile Dining Services is seeking a dynamic Foodservice Operations Manager to lead a fast-paced, customer-focused dining operation. This role is ideal for candidates with experience in high-volume, mobile ordering foodservice environments. The manager will work collaboratively with the Housing and Dining Services (H&DS) team to serve students living in Kansas State University residence halls and apartments.
Key Responsibilities
• Operational Leadership: Oversee daily restaurant operations with a focus on speed, accuracy, and quality.
• Digital Order Fulfillment: Manage workflows for mobile app orders, ensuring timely and accurate service.
• Team Management: Recruit, train, and lead both student and University Support Staff to deliver exceptional customer service.
• Customer Experience: Ensure consistent, friendly, and efficient service across all customer touchpoints.
• Inventory & Cost Control: Monitor food and supply inventory; requisition items from H&DS Central Food Stores, Derby Dining Center, and external vendors; set and track goals for meal cost and meals per labor hour.
• Menu Development: Collaborate with recipe development/menu management personnel and the Associate Director to design menus that meet customer expectations, align with Van Zile’s equipment and staffing capabilities, and stay within food and labor cost parameters.
• Compliance & Safety: Maintain health, safety, and sanitation standards in accordance with local regulations and departmental policies.
• Performance Metrics: Track and assess order accuracy, ticket times, labor efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Housing and Dining Services is a large, self-operated auxiliary department serving more than 5,000 students that call the K-State campus home. This "home away from home" meets more than the basic needs of students living with us — we provide affordable, safe and engaging accommodations and services for our residents, while finding unique ways to support them in their academic pursuits.
We pride ourselves on taking excellent care of our residents, and that is reflected in our recent Princeton Review rankings. The 2025 Princeton Review ranks us #2 Happiest Students, #2 Best Quality of Life, #8 Best College Residence Halls, and #14 Best Campus Food.
YOU can help make our residents and guests feel welcome and comfortable!
This position is On-site. The duties of this position will be performed on-site.
All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.
Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Additional Role Information:
Sponsorship eligibility:
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.
Please submit the following documents:
Applications close on: December 16, 2025
$65,000-$68,000 annual
Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.
Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.
Some positions are eligible for remote or hybrid working arrangements. An employee who is working in a remote or hybrid capacity for K-State must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available for anyone who resides in the state of Idaho.
Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.
Kansas State University honors interview preferences for qualified applicants who are veterans or individuals with disabilities. Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, submit all required application materials, and submit required preference documentation by the closing date on the job advertisement will be granted a first-level interview.
The disability and veteran interview preferences do not apply to student employment positions, temporary positions, athletics positions, academic and administrative department heads*, positions that require licensure as a physician, and positions that require that the employee be admitted to practice law in Kansas.
*Heads of Departments refers to any individual holding a primary leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, management and operational oversight of a recognized academic or administrative unit within the university.
To learn more about interview preferences at K-State, please visit our interview preferences page.
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