Job Details
- Job Title: Little Dinner Series Manager
- Location: Tallahassee, FL
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- Full/Part Time: Full-Time
- Job ID: 63324
Department: Dedman College of Hospitality
Responsibilities
Event Operations and Program Management
Direct front-of-house operations for the Little Dinner Series and other events that support the college's educational mission and experiential learning programs. Serve as the primary hospitality liaison among faculty, staff, University leadership, and external partners/suppliers, leading hospitality operations for formal dining events, receptions, and special programs involving students, alumni, industry partners, community stakeholders, and guests. Develop service models, staffing plans, guest…
flow strategies, and operational standards that support educational and event objectives. Exercise independent judgment to resolve guest service, operational, and logistical issues, and establish and maintain front-of-house procedures, service protocols, and quality standards. Evaluate program effectiveness through guest feedback, operational assessments, trends, and post-event analysis, implementing improvements as appropriate.
Training and Student Development
Manage the front-of-house experiential learning component of the Little Dinner Series, providing students with practical hospitality experience in a live event environment. Develop and deliver training on service excellence, guest engagement, dining etiquette, menu knowledge, and professional communication. Coach, supervise, and evaluate students during event operations, providing feedback that supports academic and professional development. Develop and maintain training materials, operating procedures, and service standards for front-of-house activities. Lead post-event evaluations and student debriefings to reinforce learning outcomes and identify operational improvements.
Budget, Procurement, and Inventory Management
Develop and maintain event budgets, expenditure tracking tools, and financial projections for food and beverage operations. Analyze revenues, expenses, attendance trends, and program costs to support operational planning and decision-making. Research, identify, and develop relationships with prospective suppliers; negotiate pricing, product availability, and service expectations as appropriate; and coordinate with university departments to support vendor onboarding, procurement activities, and contractual approvals. Serve as a University Purchasing Card holder responsible for procuring food, beverage, and event-related supplies in accordance with university policies. Manage food and beverage inventory, including forecasting, procurement, stock monitoring, and resource allocation, and coordinate purchasing activities with faculty, vendors, and operational partners to support event execution and resource stewardship. Prepare financial and operational reports to support planning, assessment, and continuous improvement efforts.
Marketing and Program Promotion
Collaborate with college communications staff to promote the Little Dinner Series and other educational hospitality programs. Coordinate event communications, schedules, themes, and program highlights through appropriate channels. Review and recommend updates to event websites, registration systems, and guest-facing materials. Support outreach initiatives that increase awareness of the college's academic programs and strengthen engagement with alumni, industry partners, and community stakeholders.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree and four years of experience; or a high school diploma/equivalent and eight years of relevant experience. (Note: a combination of post high school education and experience equal to eight years.)
University Information
One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news!
Learn more about Florida State University and our campuses
FSU Total Rewards
FSU offers a robust Total Rewards package. Visit our FSU Total Rewards website to learn more about our Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Recognition, and Employee Development programs.
Use our FSU Total Compensation Calculator to calculate Total Compensation options based on potential salary, benefits and retirement contributions, earned leave, and other employment-related perks.
How To Apply
If qualified and interested in a specific job opening as advertised, apply through the FSU Careers site (jobs.fsu.edu). If you are a current FSU employee, apply through myFSU Self Service.
Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include all work history up to ten years, and education details even if attaching a resume.
Considerations
This is an A&P position.
This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.
Equal Employment Opportunity
FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Organization
Working at Florida State University
One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University — with the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation, Doctoral/Research University-Extensive — offers a distinctive academic environment built on its cherished values and unique heritage, welcoming campus on the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida, championship athletics, and prime location in the heart of the state capital.
Combining traditional strength in the arts and humanities with recognized leadership in the sciences, Florida State University provides unmatched opportunities for students and faculty through challenging academics, cultural discovery and community interaction.
Underlying and supporting the educational experience at Florida State University is the development of new generations of citizen leaders, based on the concepts inscribed in our seal: Vires, Artes, Mores — Strength, Skill and Character.
Epitomized by recently named Rhodes Scholars Garrett Johnson and Myron Rolle — elite athletes and scholars committed to public service — and Joseph O'Shea — a campus and community leader as well as a top scholar — Florida State's 40,000 students are dedicated to academic excellence and providing leadership in our complex world.
Florida State University's 16 colleges offer more than 275 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, professional and specialist degree programs, including medicine and law, covering a broad array of disciplines critical to society today. Each year the University awards over 2,000 graduate and professional degrees.
With its impressive breadth of leading graduate, professional and undergraduate programs, Florida State University is a demanding, intellectually stimulating, yet warm and caring environment for students and faculty. Recognized nationally for its commitment to diversity, Florida State University is a national leader in the number of doctorates awarded to African-American students and in the graduation rate of African-American undergraduates. Its College of Medicine and College of Law are ranked in the nation's Top 10 for Hispanic students.
Florida State University's arts programs — dance, film, music and theatre — rank among the finest in the world, offering an arts education comparable to leading conservatories. Its creative writing program is ranked among the nation's best and is home to the most consistently honored and published student body in the United States. Florida State is responsible for governance of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and associated arts programs, one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.
Other programs consistently included in the top public university list include physics, chemistry, political science, psychology, criminology, public administration, library science, information, human sciences, business and law.
At the Ph.D. level, interdisciplinary programs draw on notable research faculty strengths that transcend the traditional disciplines, including neuroscience, molecular biophysics, computational science, materials science and research at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory—home to the world's most powerful magnets.
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