Director of Dining at Pomona College in Frank Dining Hall

Job description

Job Posting Location: Claremont, CA Job Posting Title: Director of Dining Job Description: ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE: Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges. JOB PURPOSE: Pomona College seeks an exceptional, people-centered hospitality leader to serve as Director of Dining Services and help shape the next chapter of dining at the College. The Director will combine the operating capabilities of an outstanding hospitality executive with the interpersonal skills, visibility, judgment, and relationship-building approach of a community leader. The next Director will have an unusual opportunity: to build one of the most distinctive and highly regarded residential college dining programs in the country while creating a workplace in which Dining employees feel respected, supported, and connected to the mission of the College. Pomona operates two primary dining halls and two cafés, together with catering and related hospitality services, providing a strong platform for innovation. Rather than simply operating four separate venues, the College wants to think creatively about how these spaces can work together as a cohesive dining program—each with its own identity, offerings, and role in campus life. The Director will be encouraged to bring fresh ideas about menus, service models, hours, programming, technology, sustainability, and the use of physical spaces. The goal is not innovation for its own sake, but a dining experience that students value, employees are proud to deliver, and the broader Pomona community views as an important part of the College experience. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President, Facilities & Campus Services, the Director of Dining Services works independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities: People Leadership and Labor Relations Provide clear direction and leadership to a large, diverse workforce in a collective bargaining environment. Recruit, select, onboard, coach, evaluate, and develop leaders and staff across culinary, service, catering, administrative, and support functions. Build strong relationships with employees; set clear standards for performance, conduct, attendance, communication, and service; recognize excellent work; and address concerns promptly, fairly, and consistently. Build a collaborative leadership team, strengthen succession planning, and create meaningful opportunities for internal growth. Coordinate staffing plans and schedules that support service needs, employee well-being, contractual obligations, and responsible labor management. Dining Operations and Hospitality Plan and lead a comprehensive meal program across board-plan dining, retail operations, cafés, catering, and special events. Maintain exceptional standards for food quality, variety, presentation, service, cleanliness, sanitation, merchandising, and the condition of facilities and equipment. Maintain a visible presence in Dining operations, engaging directly with managers, frontline employees, and students to identify opportunities and resolve operational issues. Oversee menu development and program design in partnership with culinary leaders, addressing diverse tastes, food allergies, special diets, nutrition, wellness, and inclusive dining needs. Ensure customer concerns are heard and resolved professionally while creating consistent standards of hospitality across the program. Financial and Administrative Stewardship Develop and manage operating budgets based on realistic service, staffing, revenue, and cost assumptions. Monitor revenues, food and labor costs, purchasing, payroll, invoices, inventory, and other fina