Dining Support Services Manager

Department

CSL UChicago Dining Facilities, Operations, and Services

About the Department

UChicago Dining administers all foodservice contracts between campus entities (clients) and the University. It serves as communications conduit between contractor and client, and as the primary contact for all “One Card” dining initiatives and dining program maintenance. UChicago Dining coordinates all proposed feasibility analysis, remodeling and new projects in conjunction with Facilities Services, the Campus Architect, the Office of Procurement, and other business and professional associates.

Job Summary

The job liaises between the IT group and business to support the development and implementation of new systems and enhancements of existing systems. With moderate guidance, evaluates new IT developments and evolving business requirements, and uses elementary knowledge of University systems to recommend appropriate systems.

Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance and Analysis:

• Conduct quality assurance reviews of dining operations and recommend changes to improve efficiency and end-user experience.

• Manage mystery diner participation, including sign-ups, orientation, and reporting.

• Perform daily transaction balancing within POS systems to identify and resolve discrepancies.

• Visit all dining locations at least once a week to assess operations, monitor industry compliance standards, and provide observations to relevant stakeholders.

• Daily System Operations and Data Management:

• Oversee daily usage of meal plan and campus card transactions, including data entry and balancing of transactions.

• Input and update meal plan or other declining-balance plan purchases in relevant databases/systems.

• Generate basic ad hoc and scheduled reports (e.g., dining transactions for on-campus dining locations).

• Serve as an event management system (EMS) user, coordinating dining-related events and space scheduling.

• Provide operational support for dining initiatives, such as special meal packs or donation coordination, including associated administrative responsibilities and coordination with other departments.

• POS and Peripheral Device Support (Tier 1):

• Provide first-line support (on a 24/7/365 rotation as needed) for campus POS systems and peripheral devices, resolving routine issues.

• Diagnose and correct minor technical or network-related problems in coordination with central IT when needed.

• Update POS databases with new menu items, following established protocols and dining operations requests.

• Request and manage necessary access credentials (e.g., campus card and CNET IDs) for vendor staff.

• Address and triage common technology requests from dining staff, escalating more complex issues as appropriate.

• Collaboration, Operational Support, Walkthroughs, and Audits:

• Work closely with University staff and the third-party food service vendor to support daily operations and ensure consistent service.

• Conduct regular walkthroughs and assist with periodic audits of dining facilities, identifying issues and sharing findings with University and vendor management for timely resolution.

• Monitor facility compliance with health, safety, and sanitation standards, providing observations and recommendations to both University and vendor teams.

• Support the implementation of new initiatives and procedures by assisting with staff training, communication, and follow-up as needed.

• Document operational issues and solutions to maintain accurate records and support continuous improvement.

• Customer and Vendor Support:

• Assist vendors and dining staff with basic technology requests related to campus card usage and POS operations, escalating higher-level concerns to senior staff or IT as needed.

• Provide responsive customer service to students, faculty, and staff regarding meal plans, dining balances, or technology support requests.

• Maintain relevant email lists or listservs to communicate dining system updates, facilitating efficient and timely information sharing.

• Utilize vendor contracts to help monitor compliance with established standards, ensuring vendors have the appropriate equipment, inventory, and resources to meet contractual requirements.

• Stay informed of new concepts, practices, and trends in food service technology relevant to higher education, attending events to foster networking opportunities and departmental development.

• Policy, Procedures, and Compliance:

• Follow all relevant policies and procedures to ensure proper data integrity and security within dining systems, complying with PCI-DSS or similar standards.

• Stay informed of security or compliance protocol updates, communicating with dining systems staff as necessary.

• Offer limited operational oversight as necessary, in coordination with supervisory staff and vendor representatives.

• Other Responsibilities:

• May include occasional off-hours or weekend support for urgent issues, system upgrades, or major campus events.

• Assists with any new duties or responsibilities that arise due to changing departmental or University needs.

• With moderate direction from others, conducts business process analyses, needs assessments, and preliminary cost/benefits analyses. Uses basic understanding of applicable business processes, systems, and industry requirements.

• Implements functional, system, and program specifications. Assists in revising existing system logic difficulties as necessary, under the direction of more experienced colleagues.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience with dining/transaction-based systems or similar technical support roles.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong problem-solving abilities and capacity to diagnose basic technical issues.

• Familiarity with common office software (e.g., spreadsheets, email, word processing) for reporting and communication.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on customer service.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

Job Family

Information Technology

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$67,000.00 - $75,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.