Overview

A major campus dining program is seeking a Resident District Manager to lead a comprehensive, multi-unit food service operation at a large university in the Binghamton, NY region. The Resident District Manager oversees year-round and seasonal operations including residential dining, retail food outlets, catering services, and conference-related hospitality. This role requires a strategic, people-focused leader who excels in complex environments and is committed to enhancing the student experience through innovation, operational excellence, and strong client partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overall performance of residential dining, retail operations, catering, and seasonal/conference services.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with university stakeholders to ensure alignment on vision, expectations, and long-term strategy.

• Own and manage large-scale budgets, ensuring delivery of financial goals through cost controls, labor management, and effective forecasting.

• Drive initiatives related to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, student engagement, and local sourcing.

• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, safety, and continuous improvement.

• Recruit, mentor, and develop management and frontline teams, with a focus on talent growth and succession planning.

• Ensure operational compliance with all organizational policies, food safety standards, and local/state regulations.

• Serve as liaison between corporate resources and on-site operations, facilitating communication, reporting, and goal alignment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

• Minimum of 3 years of management experience and 3 years of functional experience.

• Demonstrated success as a Resident District Manager or equivalent multi-unit leader.

• Proven experience managing large-scale budgets of at least $20 million.

• Food service leadership experience within higher education or hospitality environments.

• Experience overseeing complex operations with multiple service lines, including front-of-house and back-of-house functions.

• Experience working in unionized environments.

• Strong operational, financial, and client relationship management skills.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and team development capabilities.

Preferred Background

• Experience with large university dining programs or major hospitality organizations.

• Prior oversight of residential dining, retail food outlets, and catering at scale.

• Demonstrated track record of leading strategic initiatives in student experience, sustainability, or DE&I.

• Experience with large seasonal or conference service operations.

About the Opportunity

This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in a dynamic campus environment and can balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping the overall dining experience and strengthening partnerships with key university stakeholders.

 

 

BSD Business Consulting
recruiting@bsdbusinessconsulting.com
203-457-6554