The Associate Director, Front-of-House (FOH) Operations position operates within the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at the University of Denver. This role works within the business units, Knoebel Events and Beans, which are parts of the hospitality school. More information about Knoebel Events can be found at https://knoebelevents.com/ and more information about the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management can be found at https://daniels.du.edu/hospitality-management/

Position Summary

The Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver is looking to hire an industry professional for the Associate Director of FOH Operations at Knoebel Events at the Fritz School of Hospitality Management. This role has oversight of all front-of-house event operations and works directly with the full-time events team at the hospitality school, with internal and external event clients hosting events within the school and the Fritz Knoebel faculty and staff. This team member will also have a direct working relationship with student staff and student managers who are part of the events team.
This position is a full-time benefited position.

Essential Functions

Operational Duties

• Manage all operational duties for Knoebel Events such as student scheduling, manager scheduling, beverage inventory, linen inventory and day of event execution and management.

Beverage Management

• Order and maintain inventory of all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages sold/served across the bar.
• Order and manage wine inventory for Knoebel Events, special dinners, and academic wines.
• Calculate/track beverage cost on a monthly basis, seeking ways to reduce cost as a percent of sales.
• Design banquet bar menus and update as needed per clients’ request and/or inventory needs.
• Ensure client beverage requests adhere to Colorado liquor laws pertaining to the school’s hotel and restaurant license.
• Hire and train student bartenders.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Ensure that payroll and purchases are in line with forecasted amounts.
• React accordingly to varying business levels - guide changes in schedules and purchases as needed to positively impact operational results.
• Calculate/track beverage cost on a monthly basis.

Employee Management

• Participate in the interviewing and hiring process - initial screening, panel interviews, and collective decision-making.
• Guide/mentor/develop/coach/evaluate direct reports.
• Work with direct reports to develop student managers and the FOH Operations Manager on an ongoing basis.
• Provide staffing and supervision according to Fritz Knoebel productivity and service standards.
• Ensure completion of training/certification of all personnel according to their function specific materials.
• Lead and/or attend all required meetings.
• Manage and document the performance of all direct reports - counsel and discipline per DU HR guidelines.

Assistance with Activities of Other Functional Areas

• Engage with clients as needed, including during solicitation, booking, detailing and event execution as required.
• Be present at client detailing and/or décor drop-off to facilitate the “hand-off’ of the client from planning managers to ops managers.
• Work with Director of Back Office as needed to ensure goals are accomplished.
• Work with Director of Sales as needed to ensure goals are accomplished.
• Work with Operations Manager as needed to ensure goals are accomplished.
• Work with Executive Chef as needed to ensure goals are accomplished.
• Academic Support / Curriculum Integration: Assist the Fritz Knoebel faculty with incorporating various aspects of the curriculum into the facility.

Quality Management

• Set up and maintain strong quality management systems for all aspects of operation.
• Create a quality culture within the FOH and foster a sense of pride about all services offered.
• Monitor the college, University, and community satisfaction with Fritz Knoebel Events.
• Seek feedback and work to proactively improve.

Facility Management

• Ensure the facility is well kept and presentable and that any maintenance, safety, or security issues are addressed promptly.
  Interact with other university units (e.g., Facilities & Maintenance, University Architect) as needed to order/oversee/complete work required to maintain the facility.
• Senior Management Responsibilities
• Participate in school / college management meetings, planning, and activities.
• Meet on a regular basis with direct reports as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to read and interpret complex documents.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Strong communication skills required, including communication with customers using the written and spoken word.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as profit and loss statements, contracts and budgets.
• Ability to address and solve problems involving several variables and/or locations.
• Employee plans own work and oversees the work of others and is expected to deal with specialized situations and make independent decisions.
• Ability to effectively work with hospitality technology.
• Ability to effectively mentor/guide the work of student managers and student employees.
• Knowledge of event planning and execution.
• High level of organizational skills including the ability to coordinate numerous tasks simultaneously with high level of attention to detail.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and social media platforms.
• Ability to work well with various constituencies including donors, alumni, students, faculty and staff, clients and parents.
• Knowledge of state and local health code guidelines and safe alcohol service.
• Familiar with POS systems operations.
• Deep knowledge and command of event, banquet and/or catering operations.

Required Qualifications

• Four-year degree
• Three years of experience in a supervisory sales, marketing or catering role.
• Ability to obtain and retain ServSafe Food and Alcohol certifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in business or a related field.
• Five years of experience in a supervisory sales, marketing or catering role.
• Active ServSafe Food and Alcohol certifications.
• Minimum of Level II certification in wines and spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust or equivalent.

Working Environment

• Normal work environment and office equipment including computer, printer, telephone, copier and other standard office equipment.
• Noise level is low to moderate during regular office hours when working in the office.
• When executing events, the environment requires a sense of urgency and is moderately stressful.
• Unexpected interruptions often occur and stress level is moderate to high.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
• Ability to assist in banquets when needed and be active for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move tables or chairs or other objects up to 30 lbs.

Work Schedule

To be determined with supervisor. Must have the ability to work some nights, weekends and holidays.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 20, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 10.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $65,000-$75,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.