General Manager Biola University

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:  110,000-120,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

 

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Job Summary:

The General Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for a premier higher education dining program serving approximately 2,500 residential students within a values-driven university community. Leading a $10 million dining operation, the General Manager oversees residential dining, retail foodservice, and catering while ensuring exceptional guest experiences, strong financial performance, and alignment with the university's mission and culture.

This role serves as the primary liaison between campus stakeholders and dining operations, fostering strong client relationships while leading a diverse team of managers, culinary professionals, frontline associates, and student employees. The successful candidate will combine hospitality excellence, financial acumen, operational expertise, and people leadership to create an exceptional dining experience that supports campus life and student success.

 

Responsibilities

 

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive dining program consisting of a residential dining facility, multiple retail dining operations, and a campus catering program.
• Oversee a $10 million foodservice operation, ensuring financial objectives, operational standards, and guest satisfaction goals are consistently achieved.
• Lead, coach, and develop a management team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Direct all aspects of dining operations, including residential dining, retail services, catering, customer experience, marketing initiatives, and special events.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university leadership, campus partners, students, faculty, and staff, serving as the primary point of contact for dining services.
• Partner closely with culinary leadership to develop innovative dining programs, menus, promotions, and hospitality experiences that meet the needs of a diverse campus community.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, P&L management, inventory controls, labor management, and purchasing strategies to maximize operational efficiency and profitability.
• Analyze operational and financial performance metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all company, university, local, state, and federal regulations, including food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and risk management requirements.
• Champion exceptional hospitality standards and create a service-focused culture that enhances student engagement and satisfaction.
• Provide leadership for a catering program supporting campus meetings, conferences, donor events, student programs, and special university functions.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, succession planning, training, and retention initiatives to build high-performing teams.
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to ensure dining programs reflect the university's mission, values, and community expectations.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the operation, supporting teams and ensuring operational excellence across all areas of the business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Culinary Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and leadership experience considered.
• Five or more years of senior leadership experience as a General Manager, Director of Operations, Foodservice Director, or similar role within higher education, hospitality, corporate dining, or multi-unit foodservice environments.
• Proven success managing large-scale foodservice operations with responsibility for financial performance, client relationships, and operational leadership.
• Experience overseeing residential dining, retail foodservice concepts, and catering operations within a complex environment.
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated experience managing budgets, forecasting, inventory controls, labor productivity, purchasing programs, and full P&L accountability.
• Proven ability to lead and develop management teams while fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Exceptional client relationship and stakeholder management skills with the ability to effectively interact with senior leadership, students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a results-oriented approach to leadership.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP principles, sanitation standards, and operational compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading teams through change, growth, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and foodservice management systems.
• ServSafe certification preferred.
• Ability to work a primarily Monday-Friday schedule while supporting evenings, weekends, catering events, and campus programs as business needs require.

Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit  are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

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Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.  At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID: 1587875

Bon Appetit 

BRYAN GONI