Executive Director, Dining Services
The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), an innovative, mission-driven institution in Santa Cruz, California, invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for its executive director, Dining Services. This is an on-site leadership role.

UCSC is a student-centered, high-impact research university and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the prestigious, ten-campus University of California system. Founded in 1965 and located about 70 miles from San Francisco, UCSC is distinguished by its residential college system through which undergraduate students live and learn in small communities organized around themes of broad intellectual interest. The university is classified as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), enrolling over 19,000 students across 73 majors and 66 graduate programs.

Reporting to the associate vice chancellor for Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES), the executive director, Dining Services provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for a large, dynamic, and multifaceted dining program. The executive director is responsible for the leadership and management of UCSC Dining, which supports a thriving residential and campus community and serves approximately 25,000 meals daily across diverse dining operations. This expansive program includes a comprehensive array of venues and services: five residential dining facilities, retail dining locations, cafés, markets, catering, a full-service restaurant, a bakery and commissary operation, concessions, and vending. The executive director is a high-impact, strategic leadership position that requires a dynamic and innovative professional who cultivates a culture of collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, while fostering a welcoming and inclusive dining environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests. The executive director leads and manages a dynamic team of approximately 285 individuals, including eight direct reports, and a student staff of up to 1,000.

Salary Range: $175,000-$200,000

Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess demonstrated experience in the strategic planning, administration, and management of dining services, including financial and personnel management, menu development, policy and procedure development, food production, handling and storage, health and safety, and quality control. Specific required skills include solid supervisory, leadership, and personnel management abilities to effectively administer and manage through others; proven ability to exercise sound judgment in making high-level management decisions and commitments; demonstrated time management skills to ensure achievement of departmental and divisional objectives; and the ability to work independently and creatively in initiating new programs, conceptualizing, organizing, and directing projects, cultivating department growth and development, and embracing change. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to design and implement innovative customer service programs that respond to the needs of a diverse clientele; collaborate and communicate effectively with colleagues through excellent interpersonal skills; effectively resolve dining-related issues for students, staff, faculty, and other customers and colleagues; exercise diplomacy and sound judgment in stressful situations; provide an open climate and create opportunities for employee communication and positive departmental interaction; recruit, interview, hire, manage, lead, train, develop, motivate, and effectively supervise a diverse workforce; and negotiate purchasing contracts, interdepartmental agreements, and service contracts.

Application and Nomination
The University of California, Santa Cruz, has selected Spelman Johnson, a leading executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Review of applications will begin on August 15, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Submit a resume and cover letter via https://apptrkr.com/6401266

• Contact J. Scott Derrick at [email protected] for confidential inquiries.

• Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email [email protected].

Visit the University of California, Santa Cruz website at www.ucsc.edu

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.