Dining Services Manager

Salary: $55,000.00 - $61,000.00 Annually
Location : 800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, SD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-23
Department: President
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:00 PM Mountain


Position Description
Responsible for the overall management and daily operations of Western Dakota Technical College Dining Services, including dining, grab-n-go convenience options, and on-campus catering services for college and community events and activities. The Dining Services Manager plans and oversees food service operations, staffing, menu development, purchasing, inventory, food quality, customer service, sanitation, and regulatory compliance. The Manager works closely with the Finance Department to develop and monitor budgets, revenues, expenses, pricing, staffing, and equipment needs while ensuring Dining Services effectively meets the needs of students, employees, and campus guests.

Working Conditions

This is a full-time position depending on the needs of the Dining Services Department. Days of work are Monday through Friday and work hours may be variable within a 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. timeframe. This position may temporarily increase hours during peak times. There may be times when after-hours work is required for events, meetings, training, and other responsibilities. These responsibilities may require evening and weekend hours. While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is exposed to conditions that require the use of personal protective equipment. Examples include variations in temperature, hazardous situations, and exposure to contaminants. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to walk, climb or balance, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and, on rare occasions, move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This job requires the employee to work with hands in hot water and chemicals approved for use in WDTC Dining Services.
Position Essential Duties

• Manage the daily operations of College Dining Services and catering services in compliance with federal, state, local, and WDTC policies, procedures, health codes, and food safety requirements.
• Collaborate with the Finance Department to develop and manage the Dining Services budget; monitor revenues, expenditures, food costs, and other financial activity to ensure responsible use of resources and alignment with departmental goals.
• Plan, develop, evaluate, and adjust menus and food offerings based on student and campus needs, customer preferences, seasonal demand, nutritional considerations, product availability, and cost.
• Oversee food preparation, portioning, presentation, service, and quality to ensure consistent standards for taste, appearance, freshness, safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Manage food and supply inventory, including forecasting needs, ordering, receiving, verifying quantity and quality, monitoring inventory levels, and minimizing spoilage and waste.
• Develop and maintain relationships with food vendors and suppliers; evaluate pricing, product quality, availability, and delivery performance.
• Monitor food costs, revenues, expenses, pricing, inventory, and other operational measures; work with the Finance Department to develop and monitor the Dining Services budget and identify opportunities for efficient use of resources.
• Interview, select, supervise, schedule, train, coach, and evaluate Dining Services employees and work-study employees; establish performance expectations and ensure employees are trained in food safety, sanitation, equipment use, customer service, and operating procedures.
• Maintain appropriate schedules to support daily dining operations, catering activities, and changing campus needs.
• Work closely with campus rental coordinators and other departments to plan and provide catering for college and community events.
• Develop catering menus and pricing; coordinate food preparation, staffing, event setup, presentation, service, and cleanup.
• Prepare and maintain appropriate catering documentation, including invoices and records necessary for payment and financial tracking.
• Maintain Dining Services facilities, equipment, food preparation areas, and serving areas in accordance with sanitation, safety, and operational standards; identify equipment maintenance and replacement needs.
• Maintain required food service establishment licensure, certifications, documentation, and readiness for state and local inspections.
• Maintain and oversee Dining Services technology and systems, including the automated kiosk ordering system.
• Develop, implement, and maintain Dining Services operating procedures and standards and make recommendations regarding long-term operational, equipment, staffing, and service needs.
• Evaluate Dining Services operations and recommend improvements to menus, services, procedures, equipment, staffing, and customer experience.

Qualifications
Associate degree in Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field and three years of progressively responsible food service experience, including supervisory or leadership experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience necessary to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. Demonstrated knowledge of food service operations, inventory and purchasing, food cost management, sanitation and food safety requirements, menu planning, customer service, and employee supervision. Experience managing budgets, vendors, and food service operations in an educational, institutional, hospitality, or similar environment preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local food handling, sanitation, safety, and health inspection requirements.
• Knowledge of food service operations, menu planning, food preparation, nutrition, portioning, presentation, and quality standards.
• Knowledge of inventory management, purchasing, vendor relations, food costing, pricing, and waste control.
• Knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment, appliances, utensils, and safe operating practices.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple food service and catering operations and priorities.
• Ability to supervise, schedule, train, coach, and evaluate employees and work-study employees.
• Ability to analyze operational and financial information and make sound decisions regarding purchasing, pricing, staffing, and resource allocation.
• Strong organizational, planning, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills with the ability to work effectively with students, employees, community members, vendors, and campus partners.
• Ability to remain composed under pressure and maintain respectful and professional working relationships in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to use technology and food-service systems necessary to manage ordering, inventory, sales, scheduling, and other operational functions.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Benefit offerings subject to change.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Benefit offerings subject to change. Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
Western Dakota Technical College recruits' candidates who are authorized to work in the United States or who may qualify for employer-sponsored H-1B status. The College does not provide employment-based permanent residency sponsorship.
EOE/Statement of Non-Discrimination/Annual Security Report

WDTC subscribes to the fullest extent to the principle of the dignity of all people and their labors and will take action to ensure that applicants are employed, assigned, and promoted without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, pregnancy, marital status, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, political affiliation, disability, status as a veteran, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Every available opportunity will be taken in order to assure that each applicant for a position is selected on the basis of qualifications, merit, and ability. Inquiries may be directed to the Director of Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. (07.2025)
ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT/CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires that the college's Annual Security Report which includes crime statistics be made available to prospective employees and prospective students upon request. Western Dakota Tech's Annual Security Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported Clery crimes that occurred on campus and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault prevention and response, timely warnings, emergency response, and other matters. You may obtain this information through the Western Dakota Tech website at A printed copy of the report may be obtained by writing to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success, Western Dakota 800 Mickelson Dr., Rapid City, SD 57703 or by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER - MUST COMPLY WITH THE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT OF 1986
Western Dakota Technical College offers a wide range of excellent benefits. We provide generous PTO and sick leave, competitive health benefits, and eligibility with the South Dakota Retirement system. about our organization offerings.