Director of Operations - Mississippi State University

Proof of the Pudding is an award-winning catering company throughout the Southeast with a commitment to creating quality culinary concepts from scratch. This standard was upheld through the expansion into Sports and Entertainment Hospitality Services by providing elevated concessions and premium offerings to collegiate stadiums, PGA golf tournaments, International Boat Shows, Professional Sports Teams, & more.

We are seeking a Director of Operations to oversee the food service at Mississippi State University located in Starkville, MS. This position will be responsible for leading and overseeing day-to-day planning and event day execution of the premium hospitality department, student athletic training table program, and athletics concessions operations. This position will hold all oversight of events, staffing matrixes, hiring, inter-departmental communications, logistics/operations, and financial management. The ideal candidate has a strong background in high volume food service leadership, is detailed in budget management, and has passion for sports & entertainment event execution.

Mississippi State University is a large campus in the heart of Mississippi where the Bulldogs reign supreme. Football games bring in 65,000 adoring fans while baseball games bring in 16,000 fans to cheer on their College World Series Champs.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing and effectively managing all day-to-day duties to ensure that each event is executed flawlessly from start to finish.
  • Football: [includes 80 suites, 5,000 of guests per game, plus 6 large clubs] Baseball: [includes 25 suites, 1,500 of guests per game, plus three large clubs].
• Responsible for communication between Proof of the Pudding and the client. Serves as the first point of contact for all inquiries from the center. Responsible for nurturing this relationship.
• Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy environment by establishing, following, and enforcing sanitation standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations; securing revenues; and maintaining security systems.
• Meets venue financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
• Communicating financial statements, P&L Reports, and other requested documents to Proof of the Pudding Corporate.
• Managing existing and developing leadership team, encouraging growth and mentorship with all managers and hourly staff.
• Organizing frequent meetings and open lines of communication with sales, operations, concessions, and culinary team in preparation for each event.
• Responsible for setting the precedence that all staff will follow including but not limited to: uniform expectations, customer service policies, uniformity in buffet aesthetics and creating a positive and productive workplace culture.
• Lead person on revocation capital projects.
• Managing the team that is scheduled to run each event. Leading by example and developing employees to reach their full potential.
• Attending and executing each event to ensure that it runs smoothly from the set-up to the break-down.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Hospitality, Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in Sports & Entertainment Operations, Food & Beverage, Operations Management – experience in high volume management of multiple departments and clients.
• Must live near or be willing to relocate to Starkville, MS.

Specialized Qualifications:

• Budgeting and/or financial focused mindset.
• Team development & leadership.
• Experience in new account development.
• Proven success in forming and enhancing client relationships.
• Professional and driven.

COMPANY CORE VALUE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Business Acumen - Demonstrate comprehension of the job, including policies, practices, and relationships.  Possess the expertise and skill levels required of the job and perform with quality.

Dedication - Dependable, reliable and follows through on projects from inception to completion.  Willing to put in as much time as necessary to complete tasks.  Demonstrate a win-win attitude: “see it, own it, solve it.”

Ethics and Integrity - Acts with integrity, honesty and knowledge that promote the company’s culture, values and beliefs while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct. 

Safety & Security - Observe safety and security standards.  Use equipment and materials properly.  Comply with safety standards and personal protective equipment requirements.  Report potential unsafe conditions or practices to appropriate person immediately.  Promote restaurant safety, cleanliness and security compliance at all times.

Teamwork - Cooperate and be willing to work as a team player to achieve goals and tasks accurately, efficiently and timely.

Communication - Communicate clearly and effectively with mutual respect, understanding and trust to fellow associates, managers, supervisors and guests. Listen carefully to opinions and views of others; state understanding of what has been heard. 

Initiative - Contribute new ideas and suggestions to enhance productivity and efficiency.  Be proactive in troubleshooting problems or issues and take action to mitigate potential problems.

Adaptability & Planning - Possess the ability to learn new tasks and adjusts well to new situations.  Perform well under tight time schedules and pressures to change direction quickly.

Service Orientation - Demonstrates a sense of urgency. Is welcoming, friendly and smiles when visible to guests.   

Work Environment 

The work environment for this position will be a variation of office work and event operations and movement. This position will often move throughout campus stadiums and travel throughout the university grounds. Events may take place in indoor or outdoor settings.

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing, moving throughout a kitchen and venue, bending, lifting, and reaching.
• Ability to perform physical tasks; such as but not limited to, lifting approx. 30 lbs.

Position Salary & Benefits:

• The salary range for this position is very competitive plus an opportunity for a 11% performance bonus.
• Benefits include health insurance, dental, vision, life, 401k, short & long term disability, cell phone reimbursement, and HSA opportunities.
• Flexible relocation package.

Proof of the Pudding and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and employing a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, s ex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.