Executive Director, Food, Catering & Campus Events

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Executive Director, Food, Catering & Campus Events

Date Posted: 04/22/2025
Req ID: 42538
Faculty/Division: Operations and Real Estate Partnerships
Department: Spaces and Experiences
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Executive Director is the senior executive in charge of a department of approximately 400 employees, and brings exceptional energy, strategic leadership skills, and outstanding industry knowledge to ensure that innovative, high quality, community-building and financially successful services and programs are delivered to the campus.

Working under the general direction of the Assistant Vice-President, Spaces & Experiences, and collaboratively with key direct reports (Director of Culinary Operations & Executive Chef, Director of Retail and Residential Dining, Director of Catering and Event Services and Director of Campus Events), the incumbent has a broad and complex set of responsibilities in support of the business, operational and financial affairs of the food and beverage operation and campus events on the St. George Campus which encompasses existing food and beverage outlets and activities, along with planned expansion and future growth.

The incumbent is responsible for:

Strategic long- and short-range planning and successful business operation of a number of large and diverse food service outlets and programs, including residential dining, restaurant operations and retail, and campus events. The operation of two large conference centres the campus’ on and off-site catering businesses, and the responsible management of the campus’ liquor license are also of critical importance. Ensures that the department’s strategy is aligned with Spaces & Experiences, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships, and broader institutional goals and long-range plans.

Overseeing a large, complex profit & loss budget, which includes self-operated ventures, including catering and conference services, and outsourced vendors. Also oversees the cost recovery activities of the department, such as institutional and student events and beverage services, ensuring no hidden subsidies exist and that fees charged are regularly assessed and sufficient to cover operating costs of the activities supported. Regular review and prioritization of investment dollars is also needed. Activities include budget strategizing, modeling/feasibility analyses, forecasting, development and application of appropriate metrics to measure success of business lines, and reporting/presentation of budgets and financial plans to senior University personnel and governance. Holds unit directors and managers accountable for local budgets and financial plans through the development and implementation of a thorough departmental financial reporting plan.

Directing, leading, guiding and managing a large, diverse and complex food, beverage and campus events operation; organizing and reorganizing work of teams as needed to meet service and financial needs, and ensuring that staff at all levels are motivated and engaged.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION:

• Post Graduate degree (Master’s) or equivalent in education and experience an asset.
• University degree, preferably in business, accounting or hospitality or acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of Province of Ontario food service regulations, contract food service management companies’ method of operations, catering/hospitality standards, health & safety regulations.

EXPERIENCE:

• Must have 10 years’ experience overseeing a large, multi-unit commercial food and beverage operation, including responsibility for catering services, ideally in a post-secondary or comparable institution.
• Exceptional strategic leadership, financial and language literacy skills required, as well as experience managing and motivating a large team in a unionized environment.
• Culinary experience/aptitude is an asset.
• Project management experience preferred.
• Requires advanced knowledge of the principles and practices within the Food & Beverage/Hospitality profession.
• Experience in marketing and sales.
• Demonstrated success implementing significant change and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience in contract management and RFI and RFP processes, business plan preparation and presentation.
• Required to understand/have experience with meal plan technology and other hospitality industry systems, such as how they work, key success factors, how to implement.
• Appreciation of special requirements of residential dining programs, including menu development, financial/operational models and best practices in delivering service excellence.
• Knowledge of conference, residence and food and beverage campus operations.

SKILLS:

• Strong computer skills with working experience and familiarity with information technologies (e.g., advanced skills in Microsoft Office, email, Internet and scheduling software).

OTHER:

• Innovative thinker with an appetite for creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Collaborative decision-maker with outstanding communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive service excellence through customer-centric approach to operations.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Must have good motivational, organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills.
• Project management skill is a key component of this position.

Closing Date:05/09/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Ancillary Operations
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:PM 7 -- Hiring Zone: $142,651 - $166,427 -- Broadband Salary Range: $142,651 - $237,752
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building aculture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectivelyaddress and serve the interests of our global community. Westrongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples,Black and racialized persons, women, persons withdisabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment toequity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverseperspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential tostrengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca .

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