Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore Dining is dedicated to serving our community with nutritious and satisfying food in a welcoming environment every day. Our mission is to offer a diverse menu that features high-quality ingredients, emphasizing locally grown and sustainably produced products whenever possible. We are committed to inclusive dining by ensuring vegetarian, vegan, and accommodations for dietary restrictions are always available. As a self-operated dining program encompassing Residential Dining, we pride ourselves on providing a work-life balance that is often difficult to find in the restaurant industry. Join us at Swarthmore Dining to be a part of a vibrant community committed to quality, sustainability, and exceptional service in a state-of-the-art kitchen setting.

The opportunity:

The Residential Dining Manager is tasked with overseeing all service and personnel associated with the front-facing and utility operations of the dining center, which is considered our residential dining program. Key responsibilities include hiring, scheduling, training, and evaluating all front-of-house and utility staff. The manager plays a crucial role in delivering outstanding customer service and ensuring proper operations. This includes managing staff schedules, maintaining inventory, and providing leadership and coaching for all team members. Problem-solving skills are vital in this role, as the manager will work closely with the Director and Associate Director to ensure performance expectations are met and customer satisfaction is achieved. The manager is also responsible for mentoring staff and student employees, working with special dietary needs, and managing the utility crew.

Essential Responsibilities

• Coach and develop front-of-house staff in line presentation and proper portion standards as outlined by the Associate Director.
• Develop staff scheduling to meet coverage needs while adhering to budget constraints.
• Participate in daily operations to ensure departmental goals are achieved.
• Identify new food concepts and menu items through customer surveys and focus groups.
• Oversee staff education, training, and professional development.
• Work with the culinary and production supply manager to ensure necessary products and equipment are ordered.
• Supervise opening and closing procedures for the unit.
• Ensure operations meet guidelines for sanitation, safety, customer service, production quality, and financial responsibility.
• Engage with staff to evaluate operational efficiency, morale, and customer satisfaction.
• Communicate effectively with other departments and campus staff.
• Organize decorations and themed events for the dining hall in collaboration with the Associate Director while overseeing service quality, cleanliness, and sanitation to ensure customer service objectives are achieved.
• Support sustainability initiatives and manage the take-out program.
• Support special diet and allergen needs.
• Coordinate with student groups for event planning.
• Oversees the training program instituted by the administration for all classified employees with regard to customer service and employee performance requirements.
• Assists in the development of new programs and maintains all training material files.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises the work of 2 full-time Associate Residential Managers, 2 full-time dining supervisors, and their direct reports, including front of the house and utility staff.
• Effectively performs the following:
  • Organize workflow and ensure staff understand their duties and delegated tasks.
  • Manage uniform adherence and procedure compliance for staff.
  • Provide and develop training opportunities.
  • Create and conduct staff performance evaluations.
  • Communicate key issues and information to staff.
  • Provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback.
  • In partnership with Human Resources, follow disciplinary procedures as established in accordance with the employee handbook.
• Liaison for Mary Lyons Breakfast Room.
• Participate in supervisory training opportunities.
• Maintain a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment.

Who you are:

• Outstanding communication skills, including interpersonal communication, writing, public speaking, presenting, teaching, and instruction.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability and strong commitment to customer service in a diverse community. 
• Demonstrated record of teamwork, collaboration, and partnership with numerous operations, services, colleagues, and programs.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• High School degree with 5 years of experience or Associate's degree in culinary or business with 2 or more years of related experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of production requirements, human resources, and fiscal management.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing vision and strategic planning.
• Experience with human resource management skills, including the selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of professional exempt staff and nonexempt staff.
• Experience in large-scale catering and events. 
• Experience in budget development, financial systems, and operating budget management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Office suite, e-mail, Menu management systems: CBORD system (or others), Recipe software, Inventory systems, Timekeeping systems, and Catering systems software.
• Demonstrated experience in managing labor costs.
• Working knowledge in a commercial restaurant, hotel, or catering establishment.
• ServSafe and/or food safety/allergen awareness certification required.
• Valid driver’s license and Pennsylvania Child Abuse and FBI Clearance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food service administration, institutional management, nutrition, dietetics, or related area.
• 4 or more years of progressively more responsible supervisory and administrative experience in a high-volume food service operation that offers a varying daily menu.

Physical Demands

Physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs, including transporting heavy items on stairs and through tight spaces. Able to perform prolonged physical tasks such as standing, bending, squatting, kneeling, shoveling, and using vibrating hand tools. Requires sustained hand, arm, and back strength, with the ability to maintain accurate work records throughout physically demanding tasks.

Working Conditions

This role requires a versatile skill set, adaptability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a diverse team. Responsibilities demand physical stamina, attention to safety, particularly when operating equipment or performing physically demanding tasks, and the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions. As an essential employee, availability for emergency response, including storm-related duties, is required and may involve 24/7 support. The position includes scheduled weekend shifts and may require working outside of regular hours depending on operational needs. Must be willing to work an irregular work schedule, including weekends and holidays.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by July 16, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $75,000-$85,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

Act 153 Clearance Required by Position 

This position may regularly interact with minors. Under Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§6301, et seq.) employees who have direct contact with minors are required to obtain the following background clearances prior to the start of employment:

• Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) through the Pennsylvania State Police
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (PACA) through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
• FBI Criminal History Background Check (FBI Fingerprint).

MVR Clearance Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.