Hospitality Manager at Rice University in Houston, TX

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. 

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Hospitality Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all hospitality functions within Residential Dining. This role is responsible for supervising Dining Managers, servery attendants, and student intern teams to ensure excellence in customer service and front-of-house (FOH) execution. Key initiatives include designing a pilot student internship program, establishing campus-wide service standards, and developing comprehensive hospitality training programs aligned with Housing & Dining’s mission.

The Hospitality Manager acts as a central resource for hospitality strategies, service quality, and stakeholder engagement. This role collaborates closely with the Executive Chefs, Dining Director, and Residential College leadership to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Ideal Candidate Statement: 

The ideal candidate is an experienced hospitality leader who thrives in dynamic environments, excels at training and team development, and brings strong interpersonal and customer service skills. The candidate demonstrates strategic thinking, initiative, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while promoting excellence in service.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

• Primarily an indoor work environment in a variety of university settings which may include offices, food serveries, and residential facilities. May be exposed to temperature extremes in facilities that are not climate controlled.
• Requires working at a computer for extended periods (up to eight hours per day).  

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally and up to 20 lbs. frequently.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting
• Ability to reach, climb, hear, and balance

This role is classified as an Essential On-Campus Position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. During emergencies or crises, the employee is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions.

Hiring Range: $84,234 minimum, with hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.  
• Three or more (3+) years of experience in hospitality, dining, customer service, or a supervisory role.

Skills: 

• Demonstrated ability to manage staff performance and provide constructive feedback.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with diverse groups. 
• Strong time-management and the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a high-pressure environment

Preferences:

• Experience leading large-scale hospitality or dining teams in a university environment.
• Proven track record of developing and launching staff training or student internship programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises Dining Managers, servery attendants, student interns, and temporary employees
• Enforces safety rules and conducts & oversees incident reporting
• Completes annual performance appraisals and assists with professional development planning
• Participates in strategic planning related to hospitality operations

Essential Functions:

• Oversees all digital signage platforms and ensures the accuracy of menus and service information displayed online and within each servery.
• Develops and manages a standardized signage program for all serveries, including templates, branding, content guidelines, and update procedures.
• Conducts routine audits of digital and printed signage and partners with dining managers, culinary teams, and IT to maintain accurate, timely, and reliable communication across locations.
• Provides leadership and direct supervision to Dining Managers and servery attendants, ensuring consistent execution of hospitality standards across all locations.
• Designs, launches, and manages a student hospitality internship pilot program including recruitment, training, scheduling, evaluation, and mentorship.
• Develops and implements campus wide hospitality training programs for all front of house staff, ensuring alignment with Rice hospitality values and service expectations.
• Conducts regular quality assurance reviews of FOH service, customer interaction, and adherence to procedures.
• Creates and maintains service guidelines, SOPs, and customer-experience standards.
• Collaborates with Executive Chefs to ensure coordinated FOH/BOH service delivery and smooth meal-service operations.
• Oversees daily customer interaction touchpoints, engages with students and college leadership, and responds to feedback or service issues.
• Tracks FOH performance metrics and provides regular updates to leadership.
• Assists in planning and coordinating hospitality related events, training sessions, and special programs.
• Supports hiring, onboarding, and performance management of hospitality staff.
• Ensures compliance with safety, sanitation, and Rice University operational standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Conducts service audits and supports improvement plans for all dining locations.
• Partners with H&D leadership to develop recognition programs and staff engagement initiatives.
• Oversees FOH inventories for smallware, disposables, uniforms, and customer service materials.
• Assists with communication to Residential College leadership on service updates and operational changes.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University 

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.