Executive Director of Dining Services

Responsibilities of the Position

The Villanova University dining program is a fully self-operated, expansive, innovative, and award-winning program with a $47 million budget, consisting of 17 internally branded retail locations and three resident dining halls. Retail operations include three convenience stores, seven coffee shops, and seven a la carte dining options. The residential meal plan program generates more than 5,200 annual meal plan sales. In July of 2024, Villanova University will acquire Cabrini University, a nearby 112-acre campus that will provide a once-in-a-career opportunity to design and build a dining program unique to that campus.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services, the Executive Director of Dining Services is a new position for Villanova University that will provide innovative, strategic, and comprehensive senior leadership for all dining services operations for the Villanova campuses. The Executive Director manages and leads a dynamic staff of over 300 full- and part-time employees, with an expanded role to create, develop, and manage the dining operations at the new Cabrini campus.

The Executive Director will actively collaborate with all university stakeholders to develop best practices and successful implementation for all operations and, in collaboration with their direct reports, plan, administer, and organize the daily business management practices of the department. The Executive Director will evaluate all current operational and business practices, make recommendations to develop and implement new strategies, and ensure efficient execution by the leadership team with exceptional accountability. Above all, the Executive Director of Dining Services must be a visionary in the collegiate dining environment, overseeing state-of-the-art dining facilities that promote quality leadership, innovation, culinary excellence, stellar customer service and delivery, operational efficiencies, and overall outstanding student-centered dining programs.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

The position requires a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in hospitality, restaurant/hotel management, business administration, or a related field and ten years of progressive leadership or senior management experience in a large-scale food and beverage operation. At least five years of experience working in a higher education setting is preferred. The successful candidate will be highly focused on students’ needs and on consistently improving the student experience, maintain a record of exemplary budget management, and possess a demonstrated understanding of customers’ dietary needs, including, but not limited to, nutrition, religious, and ADA requirements. Other minimum requirements include:

• Solid experience as a proven leader who can actively prioritize collaboration and partnering with all university stakeholders to develop best practices, foster a clear vision, and successfully implement all operations.
• A dynamic and transparent communicator, both within the department and externally
• The ability to listen carefully, ask knowledgeable questions, learn about the institution’s and department’s cultures, accept staff input, and then make quick and well-informed decisions that are best for the Villanova community.
• Comprehensive understanding of trends, innovations, and current best practices in the food service industry, with demonstrated successes in implementing these concepts and moving a department in a forward direction.
• A highly visible individual willing to get out of the office, be present in and interact with staff, participate in the life of the university, and be the face of Dining Services.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Energy and enthusiasm for the role, passion for the work, a consistently positive attitude, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve success and enhance the student experience through Dining Services.
• Sound leadership and organizational development abilities that inspire and develop staff, provide professional and personal development opportunities, promote unity and teamwork throughout the department, advocate for the staff on all levels, and support wellness and work/life priorities in themselves and the staff.
• Demonstrated experience with a successful, comprehensive catering operation.
• Demonstrated and successful experience leading a significant and transformative endeavor from scratch (e.g., Cabrini) that brought positive change and focus to an institution.
• An acute understanding of a self-operated food service environment, though management experience with a third-party food service vendor or experience in corporate hospitality services is also valuable.
• An innovator with a creative vision that can “disrupt” the status quo in pursuit of excellence in the student experience.
• A focus on all aspects of sustainability and its impact on the Villanova student experience.

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

The Executive Director of Dining Services must possess a broad and deep understanding of national trends and best practices concerning dining, retail, catering, and culinary operations, and strong organizational and team development skills that promote a dynamic, forward-thinking vision for the staff. The Executive Director will be an experienced leader capable of managing complex situations, staunchly committed to supporting and enhancing the student experience, and equipped to contribute to a medium-sized, private Catholic institution at a strategic and operational level. A strong passion for dining services, the ability to show interest in and deep understanding of a complex portfolio, creativity in all aspects of campus dining services, and a comprehensive understanding of the changing dining and food-related needs of students, including food insecurities and dietary restrictions, are necessary for the candidate to be successful in this position.

It will be crucial to identify a dedicated, competent, and visionary individual who can manage a complex and comprehensive dining operation, promote and develop the Dining Services team, set departmental priorities, put the needs and desires of the Villanova students at the forefront of the conversation, and boldly and innovatively lead what is already a very successful program into the future.

The following were identified as additional opportunities, priorities, and challenges for the new Executive Director of Dining Services.

• Dining Services at Villanova is proudly an independent self-operation and is not contracted out to a third-party entity. Hence, the opportunity to be inherently creative, innovative, and responsive is widely available to the Executive Director and supported by the administration. The staff of Dining Services is extraordinarily proud of the services and quality of food they provide to the campus. The new Executive Director will be entering a positive environment that is highly energized, distinctly student-focused, and prepared for the influx of fresh ideas this individual will bring to the table. The new Executive Director should be prepared to look for opportunities to consistently “raise the bar” on food quality, customer service, productivity, output, and yield in innovative and impactful ways for maximum positive impact.
• The addition of the new Cabrini campus provides a unique and exciting opportunity for a food service professional to have a tremendous positive impact on the formation of policies, processes, and facilities from the ground up in a truly startup operation. It will be imperative that the Executive Director prioritize conducting a comprehensive assessment of current dining operations and expectations on the main campus, discover any gaps or insufficiencies, and build an innovative dining program at Cabrini that provides an alternative experience, state-of-the-art facilities, and new options not currently available. It is very unusual to be able to begin with a blank slate and build a transformational dining experience such as exists on the Cabrini campus. With the expectation of long-lasting impacts on the Villanova student body, the Executive Director should enter this role with enthusiasm, innovative thinking, and a desire to put their professional footprint on Dining Services for the betterment of Villanova for years to come.
• The Augustinian values are the foundation of Villanova’s campus culture. Veritas, Unitas, Caritas. Villanova is wholeheartedly committed to building strong, healthy, and mutually supportive relationships as a foundation of the campus culture.  Abundant collaboration is an absolute necessity in this role. Upon arrival, the Executive Director should be prepared to invest themselves into the staff and dining units under their purview, as well as other external constituents, to foster open communication and increased transparency, opportunities for feedback, and stakeholder involvement. Relationships and collaboration on campus create an interconnectedness that encourages the feeling of a close-knit community. The Executive Director should work diligently from their first day on the job to develop and promote these partnerships and quickly build rapport with the internal staff, peers throughout the associate vice president’s portfolio, other partners and colleagues throughout campus, and external retail vendors.
• Upon arrival, the Executive Director should execute a deep-dive analysis of the current business plan, staffing model, and budget forecast in place and then begin developing financial, strategic, and organizational goals for the future. It will be imperative that financials and projections are adequately determined to accommodate future growth and expansion (including any potential new facilities, evolving meal plan options, staffing additions, and the impact of Cabrini). While resources for improvements and ongoing initiatives are available, it will be necessary that the Executive Director utilize creativity in their financial planning to seek additional and alternative sources of revenue over time, evaluate all current operational and business practices, make recommendations to develop and implement new strategies, and ensure efficient execution and accountability by the leadership team.
• The Dining Services staff are highly committed to assisting students in every way and are dedicated to offering the best service possible in every situation. The staff works hard, and the new Executive Director should make it a priority to get to know the staff quickly as individuals, listen carefully and learn their particular needs, develop trust and confidence across the board, ascertain the programs and services that they conduct, be prepared to provide comprehensive professional support for all staff, and oversee the ongoing development of a strong team. Ensuring all levels of management and other staff can give input on the decision-making process will go a long way in building the trust and camaraderie necessary for long-term success. Additionally, as several departmental leaders have worked with Dining Services for many years, the Executive Director will enter an environment that contains a treasure trove of historical context and can use the insights gleaned from staff to assist in their transition to the institution and its culture. 
• The new Executive Director must be able to strategically devise short- and long-term plans for the future. A fast pace can be expected, with many entities simultaneously vying for this person’s attention. The Executive Director must consistently be an effective multitasker and a diplomat. Establishing new and comprehensive strategic and operational plans for the department will lay the foundation for ongoing success. The successful individual will need to be able to tell the “story” of the dining program and be willing to remain visible and accessible to all stakeholders while serving as the “face” of Villanova Dining Services.
• Villanova consistently seeks to break from the status quo and focus on improving the student experience. This goal drives Dining Services and all of Auxiliary Services to support continued advancement and change. The new Executive Director should immediately come on board, learn about the office, staff, and institution, and be prepared to move forward quickly, ensuring that the highly successful programs and services currently in place are celebrated and further strengthened. At the same time, underperforming programs and services should be addressed or sunset as necessary. The Dining Services staff is eager to embrace a leader who brings innovative, exciting new ideas to the table and will support the Executive Director in implementing fresh approaches and concepts.  
• Dining Services has a touchpoint in some way with all students at Villanova, and this provides an excellent opportunity for direct student contact and impact for the Executive Director. Students and student organizations look to Dining Services for support, advice, and direction, and the expectations of the student body are high concerning the quality of the food, programs, and services emanating from the department. The new Executive Director should quickly reach out to student leaders and various student stakeholders, learn their needs and desires, develop strong partnerships, and commit to responding rapidly to student needs and other issues. Utilizing student input will be critical for the ongoing success of the dining program.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical elements of the Villanova community. The Executive Director should lead in supporting, understanding, embracing, and nurturing these concepts in all university dining areas. There are many underrepresented populations among the students, faculty, and staff. Villanova Dining Services must be a model for maintaining a strong sense of equity and an unbiased, supportive environment at all times.
• Campus stakeholders stressed that they enjoyed working at Villanova (as evidenced by the large number who are long-serving in their roles), are very supportive of each other, enjoy the vibrancy of the university, feel that they can always count on their colleagues, and believe that there are many opportunities to make a big difference in this role. Located just outside Philadelphia but with easy access to the city and its many amenities, there is direct air travel to many cities across the country. Washington, DC, New York City, and other metropolitan areas are within reasonable driving distance. Villanova and the surrounding area have something for everyone: many excellent restaurants, retail shopping, cultural celebrations, educational workshops, thrilling performances, exceptional school districts, and some of the country’s most recognizable historical sites are found within a few minutes of the campus.
• With so much growth and energy surrounding the university, this is a tremendous opportunity to join Villanova University and for the successful candidate to put their professional mark on Villanova Dining Services. Expectations for moving the program to the “next level,” enhancing the services emanating from Dining Services, and consistently improving the student experience are very high. The Executive Director can expect great support from senior leadership in executing their new initiatives.

Measures of Success

At an appropriate interval after joining Villanova University, the items listed below will initially define success for the new Executive Director of Dining Services.

• The Dining Services staff members are working together as a cohesive team, morale and staff retention are high, staff vacancies are being filled as quickly as possible, trust and respect are established in the department, the Executive Director is consistently available and willing to listen to staff, the environment in Dining Services is upbeat and energized, and professional development opportunities are readily available.
• Plans for the growth and development of the Cabrini campus are moving forward efficiently, satisfaction surveys show high positivity for the programs and services offered, and innovations are prevalent in all areas of the campus.
• Ongoing relationships are being maintained and new collaborative partnerships have been established across the Villanova community. The Executive Director maintains a visible presence on campus, is recognized as the face of dining at Villanova, and has a reputation for looking for ways to say “yes” to students, faculty, and staff in pursuit of their goals.
• Student, staff, and faculty satisfaction levels with food services, including menu variety and food quality, are consistently high.
• Communication within Dining Services and to the campus at large is transparent, frequent, and instructive.
• Students and student organizations are partnering with Dining Services on programs and initiatives that enrich the student experience, and the department’s student-centric approach is maintained and further enhanced.
• Traffic in all locations is steady or increasing, and meal plan purchases are rising.
• Catering operations and offerings are expanded to accommodate more requests.  
• Finances and meal plan sales are strong, revenues are robust, and new forms of revenue are being identified.
• The Executive Director has clearly and transparently established operational and strategic plans, and management staff in Dining Services have a clear direction for the future.
• Dining Services at Villanova University is recognized and respected as a high-end, innovative, award-winning, and cutting-edge dining program among comparative institutions nationwide.
• Technology, facilities, and infrastructure related to Dining Services are considered solid and improving.

The Student Body

• Total Enrollment: 9,800
• Undergraduate: 6,700
• Graduate: 3,100
• Men: 46%
• Women: 54%
• White: 71%
• African American: 6%
• Asian: 7%
• Hispanic: 10%
• Two or more Races: 4%
• Race Unknown: 1%
• Non-Resident: 2%

Diversity Statement

“Villanova University, as a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education, recognizes diversity as an integral component of the teaching and learning experience and as an essential element of the ongoing intellectual, social, and spiritual development of every member of the Villanova community.

Accordingly, Villanova University will be a diverse community. We commit ourselves to cultivating an academic environment marked by genuine curiosity about different perspectives, ardent receptivity to knowledge generated through intercultural connections, and a genuine sensitivity to the variety of human experiences marked by domestic and global differences.”

Application and Nomination

Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Nominations for this position may be emailed to James E. Prince at jep@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Public Salary Range: Please contact search consultant.

Visit the Villanova website at https://www1.villanova.edu.

Villanova University advances its Augustinian mission through the contributions of a diverse faculty, staff, and student body and strives to provide a respectful and welcoming environment informed by the belief in the humanity and intrinsic worth of all members of our community regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected category. The University’s Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy (available in full at Villanova’s website) informs the University community of Villanova’s commitment to preventing and addressing prohibited discrimination and harassment.

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