Title: Purchasing Manager- Union Kitchen

Employee Classification: Food Service Manager

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Student Affairs

SubDivision-Department: UNT-Dining Service

Department: UNT-Catering-163730

Job Location: Denton

Salary: salary commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview:

Department Summary

Why work for UNT Dining? Our employees explain. – YouTube

It’s About the Food. As the largest self-supported food service department in North Texas, UNT Dining Services offers 5 Dining Halls, 20+ retail venues, an upscale dining restaurant, a hydroponic garden, a central scratch bakery, and catering service—all led by professionally-trained chefs and hospitality experts. UNT is recognized as a national leader in university dining due to the department’s innovative, trendsetting approach to food service and award-winning culinary talent. UNT operates Mean Greens Café, the nation’s first 100% vegan collegiate Dining Hall, and Kitchen West, Texas’ first and only university Dining Hall Certified Free From™ the Big 8 Food Allergens and Gluten Kitchens with Confidence. In early 2021, UNT opened its first standalone Dining Hall, Eagle Landing, inspired by urban food halls and home to seven unique restaurant concepts, all available for a single Meal Plan swipe. UNT was named No. 2 in the nation as a college with the best food by Delish.com and is also the recipient of the prestigious Loyal E. Horton Award and Vegan Recipe Award from the National Association of College and University Food Services. As a founding member of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, UNT contributes to groundbreaking research on plant-forward diets, food waste reduction, and consumer food choices while accelerating the implementation of the Menus of Change Principles of Healthy, Sustainable Menus.

Position Overview

The Dining Department at the University of North Texas is seeking to hire a Purchasing Manager to join our team.

Procurement Management:
Develop and execute purchasing strategies to ensure cost-effective procurement of all supplies and services. Maintain accurate records of purchases, pricing, and other important data. Coordinate with partners to understand their needs and ensure timely delivery of goods and services. Reconcile shipping invoices and receiving reports.

Vendor Relations:
Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors. Evaluate vendor performance and resolve any issues or disputes in a timely manner. Continuously seek new suppliers to enhance the quality and variety of products offered.

Inventory Management:
Monitor inventory levels and make purchasing decisions to avoid overstocking or stockouts. Implement inventory control procedures to minimize waste and loss. Conduct regular inventory audits and ensure accurate reporting.

Cost Control:
Analyze purchasing data to identify cost-saving opportunities. Review and approve purchase orders and invoices.

Compliance and Documentation:
Ensure compliance with UNT policies, industry regulations, and legal requirements. Maintain up-to-date documentation for all purchasing activities. Prepare reports and provide insights to management regarding purchasing trends, supplier performance, and inventory levels.

Team Collaboration:
Work closely with management and other departments to forecast and plan for upcoming needs. Verify and approve student hours via Time and Labor. Approve student schedules via Teams Schedule according to business needs. Approve student orientation and onboarding schedules and plans with admins. Provide training and support to staff on procurement procedures and best practices. Receive, unload, and process deliveries. Other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate's Degree in related field and two years of experience in food service management; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions; ability to direct and manage the work of others. Ability to work from written menus, standard recipes and oral instructions. Ability to maintain records and complete forms accurately. Ability to apply mathematical concepts to complete tasks (example: checking orders for quantity). Considerable knowledge of the materials, methods, and equipment used in preparing food on a large scale. Considerable knowledge of health hazards in food preparation and service, and knowledge of necessary precautionary measures. Knowledge of food values and menu planning. Ability to train personnel in the care and use of equipment and in standard practices and methods used in largescale food service. Knowledge of safety and security precautions appropriate to work performed.

Preferred Qualifications

The preferred candidate will possess the following additional qualifications: Food Service Management Experience. Great work ethic. Outgoing personality.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

Job Duties:

• The employee is timely. Shows up within 5 minutes of the scheduled time, ready to work. 
• When absent or tardy, call the manager or supervisor at least one hour before the shift begins. Helps cover shift when possible.
• Does not have excessive absenteeism per Dining Services policy. More than two absences a semester are considered excessive. 
• Employee always wears a clean, neat uniform with a name tag and skid resistant shoes. 
• Exhibits exemplary grooming standards. Consistently used as a model for new hires. 
• Create weekly schedules with the help and supervision of DOC. Enter shifts into W2W according to the needs of the event. Report location to be communicated with schedules. Utilize W2W to ensure class schedules are followed 
• Assign shifts to the staff according to experience and ability. Maintain proficiency level charts with input from Catering Managers. 
• Update schedules to reflect changes and updates from clients and guests daily. Trade board and time off requests are to be updated daily 
• Coordinate, facilitate, and conduct interviews for the department with the supervision of DOC. Maintain 202040 guidelines. 
•  Follow up, track applicant flow through the hiring process, and ensure all steps are followed.  
• Maintain records for time and attendance for staff. Follow standards as indicated. Facilitate adherence to the time, attendance, uniform, and follow-ups if a violation occurs.
• Conduct department orientation for all new hires. Emphasize department policies, procedures, and standards. 
• Gather all pertinent details for each event by understanding different types of events. Ex. Breakfast, lunch, breaks, cookouts, etc. 
• Ability to ask relevant questions through an understanding of event types. These questions include but are not limited to guests budgetary restraints, program needs, and desired results from the guests perspective. 
• Know the product availability and where to source from and related questions. Ask DOCs assistance as needed. 
• Ability to understand the menu and actively recommend food and beverage with the help of peers and per the departments policies and guidelines. 
• Exercises discretion in sharing Dining Service information with others.  
• Know other elements needed to execute events. This includes but is not limited to tables required, linens, centerpieces, room availability, program agenda, and other venue specific information.
• Know the fine print in Catretrax of policies to make correct recommendations to the guests and clients.
• Ability to generate accurate BEOs based on the information gathered. 
• Attend BEO meetings, organize and update the information provided in the BEOs, and maintain BEOs folder. Send out daily BEO updates and SOS packets. 
• Solicit feedback as to the success of each event serviced.
• Answer phone calls with professional salutation and demeanor. 
• Complete assigned tasks promptly. 

Work Schedule:

Hours Vary

Driving University Vehicle:

Yes

Security Sensitive:

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions:

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits:

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement:

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit -- and takes actions to prevent -- discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking) and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities, facilities and employment practices. The University of North Texas System promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.