Role Overview:
Shape the Future of Campus Dining as a Senior Operations Leader
Sodexo’s Campus Segment is seeking an accomplished and visionary Food Operations Manager 3 to support Alfred University in Alfred, NY. As a senior operational leader within our Universities segment, you will influence the direction, performance, and strategic evolution of a best-in-class campus dining program that reflects the university’s academic excellence and deep commitment to student well-being.
The Food Operations Manager 3 is an experienced, innovative, and highly strategic leader responsible for advancing food quality, elevating the student experience, and driving operational excellence across a complex, high-volume dining portfolio. This role integrates culinary leadership, hospitality innovation, financial acumen, talent development, and client partnership to shape a dining experience that is central to campus life.
As a key member of the on-site leadership team, you will guide multiple service lines, lead department managers and frontline teams, and ensure consistent, top-tier execution across residential, retail, and/or catering operations. Your leadership will directly impact service excellence, financial performance, staff engagement, and client satisfaction.
At Sodexo, you’ll find the ingredients for a great career—including work-life balance, professional growth, and meaningful work that makes a difference in the daily lives of students.
What You'll Do:
- Oversee daily operations across multiple dining platforms (residential, retail, catering).
- Lead and develop management teams and frontline staff to achieve high performance.
- Ensure excellence in food quality, service delivery, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- Drive financial performance through labor management, cost controls, forecasting, and analysis.
- Partner with campus leadership to strengthen client relationships and support university initiatives.
- Implement Sodexo programs, standards, and systems to enhance operational consistency.
- Lead student engagement efforts, feedback programs, and service improvements.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance management.
- Ensure a clean, safe, efficient, and student-centered dining environment.
What We Offer:
Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
What You Bring:
- Prior experience managing multi-unit or complex food service operations.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and retain teams.
- Proven ability to drive operational improvements and deliver financial results.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with clients and campus partners.
- Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and operational compliance standards.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong problem-solving skills.
- A passion for hospitality, service excellence, and elevating the student experience.
Who We Are:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 3 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
