General Manager – Food Service Operations

Overview

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead all food and beverage operations at the University of Tennessee at Martin. This senior on-site leadership role carries full operational financial and client accountability for a high-volume multi-unit campus dining program including residential dining retail food operations and catering services.

You will serve as the primary client partner ensuring operational excellence financial performance regulatory compliance and strong team leadership in a fast-paced university environment.

Position Summary

The General Manager is the senior-most leader responsible for a single contract-managed university dining account. This role oversees all daily operations financial performance staffing compliance and client relations while leading through managers and ensuring long-term account success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all campus dining operations across residential dining retail and catering services
• Serve as primary client contact and maintain strong stakeholder relationships
• Own full contract performance operational execution and financial results
• Manage budgets forecasting payroll cash control and full P&L responsibility
• Ensure compliance with food safety sanitation labor and workplace safety standards
• Recruit train coach and develop managers and frontline teams
• Oversee staffing scheduling and employee engagement initiatives
• Drive operational improvements service quality and revenue growth
• Analyze financial and operational data to improve efficiency and profitability
• Oversee catering programs and campus special events

What You Bring

• Strong background in food service management ideally in campus or institutional environments
• Proven experience with full P&L ownership budgeting and financial leadership
• Experience leading multi-unit high-volume operations
• Strong leadership skills managing managers and frontline teams
• Excellent communication and client relationship management abilities
• Strong knowledge of food safety sanitation and workplace compliance standards
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced service environment

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 5 years of food service management experience
• 5 years of leadership experience with direct supervision of managers
• Current or previous General Manager or Operations Manager role as senior on-site leader
• Experience managing food service accounts with $3M annual revenue
• Experience leading multi-outlet operations (residential dining retail catering)
• Demonstrated experience in campus or university dining operations (required)
• Full responsibility for P&L management budgeting payroll and cash control
• Strong understanding of food safety and regulatory compliance standards

Preferred Experience

• Higher education dining or large institutional food service environments
• Healthcare military corporate campus corrections or similar complex operations
• Contract-managed food service environments with full account accountability
• Demonstrated success improving financial and operational performance

Work Environment

• Full-time onsite leadership role
• Based at the University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin TN)
• Requires daily client interaction and hands-on operational oversight
• High-volume fast-paced institutional dining environment

General Manager Food Service General Manager Campus Dining University Dining Dining Services Manager Food Service Operations Manager Hospitality Management Multi-Unit Operations Catering Management Residential Dining Retail Food Operations P&L Management Contract Management Food Service Leadership Institutional Food Service Higher Education Dining Operations Leadership Client Relations Food and Beverage Operations