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Student Dining Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sentara

Patient Dining Associate

Virginia Beach, VA · On-site

$15 - $19/hr

Patient Dining Associate, Catering, Food Service, Server . Benefits: Caring For Your Family and ... Education Student Debt Pay Down - 10,000 Reimbursement for certifications and free access to ...

Sentara

Patient Dining Associate

Virginia Beach, VA

$10K/mo

Patient Dining Associate, Catering, Food Service, Server . Benefits: Caring For Your Family and ... Education Student Debt Pay Down - $10,000 Reimbursement for certifications and free access to ...

Sentara

Patient Dining Associate

Newtown, VA

$10K/mo

Sentara Leigh Hospital is hiring a Patient Dining Associate in the Food Services Department This is ... Education Student Debt Pay Down - $10,000 Reimbursement for certifications and free access to ...

Sentara

Patient Dining Associate

Virginia Beach, VA

$15 - $19/hr

Patient Dining Associate, Catering, Food Service, Server . Benefits: Caring For Your Family and ... Education Student Debt Pay Down - 10,000 Reimbursement for certifications and free access to ...

Sentara Healthcare

Patient Dining Associate

Virginia Beach, VA · On-site

$16.25 - $20.50/hr

Patient Dining Associate, Catering, Food Service, Server Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your ... Student Debt Pay Down - 10,000 • Reimbursement for certifications and free access to complete ...

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Student Dining Associate information

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$27K

$141.2K

$310.5K

How much do student dining associate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for student dining associate in the United States is $141,209.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,000.00 and $212,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Student Dining Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Student Dining Associate, you need basic food handling knowledge, customer service skills, and the ability to follow safety and sanitation guidelines, often requiring completion of food safety training. Familiarity with point-of-sale systems, dishwashers, and kitchen equipment is typically expected. Strong teamwork, reliability, and communication skills help you interact effectively with coworkers and customers. These capabilities ensure efficient operations, high-quality service, and a safe dining environment.

What are some common challenges faced by Student Dining Associates, and how can they be managed effectively?

Student Dining Associates often encounter challenges such as managing high-volume meal times, multitasking between food preparation and serving, and maintaining cleanliness under time constraints. Effective time management and clear communication with team members are essential to ensure smooth operations. Many dining facilities provide on-the-job training and encourage teamwork, making it easier to adapt and succeed even during busy shifts. Seeking feedback and being open to learning can also help you grow and handle these challenges more confidently.

What are Student Dining Associates?

Student Dining Associates are students who work part-time in campus dining facilities, assisting with tasks such as food preparation, serving, cashiering, and maintaining cleanliness in dining areas. They help ensure that the dining operations run smoothly and provide quality service to fellow students and staff. This role often offers flexible hours to accommodate students' class schedules and provides valuable work experience in customer service and teamwork.

What is the difference between Student Dining Associate vs Food Service Worker?

AspectStudent Dining AssociateFood Service Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; no formal certification neededHigh school diploma or equivalent; food safety certification may be preferred
Work EnvironmentSchool cafeterias, college dining hallsRestaurants, cafeterias, catering services
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, universitiesFood service establishments, hospitality industry
Common TasksServing food, cleaning dining areas, assisting studentsPreparing food, serving customers, cleaning workstations

Both roles involve food service in institutional settings, but Student Dining Associates typically work in school environments assisting students and maintaining dining areas, while Food Service Workers often work in broader food establishments with more food preparation responsibilities.

What cities are hiring for Student Dining Associate jobs? Cities with the most Student Dining Associate job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Student Dining jobs? The most popular types of Student Dining jobs are:
What states have the most Student Dining Associate jobs? States with the most job openings for Student Dining Associate jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Student Dining Associate jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Student Dining Associate jobs are:
Student Dining Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Student Dining Associate job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 64% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,209 per year, or $67.9 per hour.
Associate Director, Dining

Associate Director, Dining

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

University Of Arizona rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 65 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

367th of 530 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Associate Director, Dining
Posting Number
req25776
Department
Arizona Student Unions
Department Website Link
https://union.arizona.edu/
Location
Tucson Campus
Address
Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights
The Associate Director, Dining is an upper-level management position with overall responsibility for the management of the Dining Services operations. The individual in this position is expected to provide the leadership that ensures the Arizona Student Unions is offering exceptional culinary products, excellent customer service, and an overall exemplary dining experience. The Associate Director will be tasked to stay on the leading edge of new and emerging trends relative to university dining services to deliver an exceptional dining and retail experience to the campus community. The Associate Director will report directly to the AZ Student Unions Executive Director.
Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!
The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
  • Develops and implements short and long range operating plans for 25+ student dining locations, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Student Unions and Senior Director, Business Operations.
  • Oversees financial performance for assigned dining units, including monitoring shrinkage and waste, point of sale practices, cost of goods sold, labor utilization and other controllable expenses to meet revenue and margin targets.
  • Partners with marketing staff to support campaigns for dining programs and reviews performance reports to adjust offerings as needed.
  • Lead student dining with sustainability initiatives including waste reduction and foreseen packaging, in partnership with campus partners and community stakeholders to incorporate those goals into operational plans.
  • Evaluates and recommends merchandising, product mix and service concepts for all assigned locations to enhance the customer service experience and drive revenue.
  • Provides strategic and operational oversight for student dining programs within auxiliary services, ensuring alignment with university priorities, student engagement, and revenue goals.
  • Directs multi-unit dining operations, including residential, retail, and franchise locations; ensures consistent execution of service and operational standards.
  • Collaborates with senior leadership on dining concepts and menu strategies aligned with student preferences and campus trends.
  • Oversees inventory, procurement, and food production systems to ensure efficiency, quality, and consistency.
  • Monitors vendor and franchise compliance with contractual, brand, and service standards.
  • Manages operating budgets; analyzes financial performance and implements actions to meet revenue and cost targets.
  • Uses performance metrics to improve operational efficiency, cost control, and customer experience.

Employee Relations
  • Provides leadership and operational direction to managers and staff across student dining locations, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and service expectations.
  • Leads unit managers in the implementation of service models, menu execution, pricing strategies, and effective use of facilities, equipment, and dining technologies.
  • Leads staff development initiatives for career and student employees, including coaching, training, and performance development to support operational effectiveness and employee growth.
  • Ensures completion of required training programs and effective utilization of dining systems and technologies (e.g., FoodPro, Agilysys).

Communication
  • Serves as a key liaison with campus partners and clients to align dining services with university needs and enhance awareness and utilization of student dining programs.
  • Participates in executive and divisional leadership forums to communicate operational priorities, provide updates, and contribute to strategic planning and decision-making.
  • Recommends and implements operational practices, concepts, and policy improvements to enhance service delivery and program effectiveness.
  • Ensures consistent communication with dining leadership and staff regarding expectations, priorities, and operational updates.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Knowledge of job functions and industry best practices, techniques and standards.
  • Ability to transfer knowledge and application of complex principle, theories and concepts to peers.
  • Ability to communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrated knowledge, cost, and food items, food service equipment, and supplies.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
  • Minimum of 7 years of related work experience, including 3 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications
FLSA
Exempt
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week
40
Job FTE
1.0
Work Calendar
Fiscal
Job Category
Culinary
Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay
$65,687 - $85,393
Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade
9
Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.
Career Stream and Level
M3
Job Family
Dining
Job Function
Culinary
Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies
1
Target Hire Date
5/11/2026
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates
HR-Auxiliaries@arizona.edu
Open Date
4/22/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
Documents Needed to Apply
Resume and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.

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