Conference Dining Associate

Conference Dining Associate

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• Position Number: 4007550
• Job Code: 6291
• Job Open Date: 12/23/2025
• Application Review Begins: 1/9/2026
• Department Code (Name): FDSR-Campus Dining
• Percentage of Time: 100%
• Union Code (Name): 99 - Non Represented
• Employee Class (Appointment Type):
  Staff:
  Career
• FLSA Status:
  Non-exempt
• Salary Grade: PSS/19
• Pay rate/range:
  Hiring/Budgeted Hourly Range: $28.88 - $32.07/hr;
  Posting Hourly Range: $28.88 - $36.46/hr
• Work Location:
  
  Ortega Dining Commons - Conference Dining Office
• Working Days and
  
  Hours:
  
  Monday-Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm (May Vary during summer)
• Benefits Eligibility:
  Full Benefits
• Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement: N/A

The Conference Dining Associate, under the supervision of the Conference Dining Manager, plans, organizes and manages dining and catering content for assigned, moderately complex summer conference programs on campus and at University-owned apartments. The Associate interacts with a diverse clientele, including University professors and commercial program directors, to assess and determine how a program's dining and catering needs can be met by our services and facilities, or other on and off-campus resources.

Serves as a planning consultant to event organizers to ensure that all dining and catering details have been considered, working with the client’s needs and budget parameters, developing a comprehensive services package that includes vendor contracts.

• Plan and manage dining and catering content for assigned summer conference programs.
• Interact with clients to assess dining and catering needs and develop comprehensive service packages.
• Serve as a planning consultant, ensuring all details are considered and within budget.
• Give detailed direction to management teams regarding operations, logistics, special needs, and budget.
• Create customized catering budgets and maintain vendor rate structures.
• Establish and maintain meal plan authorization systems for multi-week programs.
• Manage conference event details using Event Master and Kx conference programs.
• Oversee media content creation for dining commons digital signage.
• Act as liaison with off-campus vendors and manage contractual agreements.
• Coordinate catered event equipment and services and ensure compliance with contracts.
• Negotiate catering financial arrangements and analyze budget restrictions.
• Review financial and statistical data for each conference program.
• Conduct weekly meal count reports and prepare final conference reports.
• Assist with Campus Catering sales seasonally as assigned.

• Ensure each event complies with University policies and departmental standards.
• Execute and enforce event contracts.
• Meet with event directors and monitor events to ensure proper implementation.
• Provide oversight for dining and catering events, reviewing policies and compliance.
• Serve as primary liaison for event requests.
• Troubleshoot on-site event issues with the event management team.

• Supervise up to two paraprofessional student positions and delegate tasks.
• Determine student schedules and modify duties to meet client needs.
• Recruit, hire, and train student staff.
• Evaluate student applications and improve hiring processes.
• Implement training programs focused on policies, procedures, and customer service.
• Analyze and evaluate training programs annually.
• Uphold unit goals and standards.
• Establish individual goals and conduct performance evaluations.
• Distribute workload reviews and facilitate training for professional development.
• Initiate disciplinary action when necessary in accordance with policies.
• Communicate with co-workers to improve relationships and resolve conflicts.

• Assign administrative duties as needed.
• Promote the departmental Educational Equity Program.
• Support Residential Dining's sustainability goals.
• Facilitate job enrichment and training for students.

• Two to three years of experience and strong knowledge in event planning and management in the hospitality sector.
• Exceptional customer service skills with ability to cultivate professional business partnerships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and general database management.
• Ability to learn specialized software systems quickly.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.

• Experience with catering software and conference software.
• Hospitality or Bachelor's degree.

• Satisfactory criminal history background check.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment.
• Work hours/days may vary during the summer season.
• Overtime may be required from May-August.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender…