Athletics & Concessions Manager - Northwestern University Chartwells

Job Summary

Working as the Athletics & Concessions Manager – Northwestern University for Chartwells will allow you the opportunity to work with great people like you! You will be surrounded by people that are passionate about what they do. This position is responsible for supporting the overall management and execution of athletics, concessions and catering operations across assigned athletic venues and events.

Essential Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of athletic and concession operations, including operational planning, staffing, inventory, setup, service execution, and post-event breakdown for game days and special events, while ensuring excellent guest service, food safety, company compliance, and achievement of financial and operational goals.
• Ensure efficient service execution through proper staffing, inventory management, and operational planning.
• Monitor food quality, presentation, cleanliness, and customer service standards.
• Maintain compliance with all company, university, local, state, and federal regulations.
• Coordinate and oversee on-campus athletic, concession and catering events, including meetings, conferences, receptions, athletic events, and special functions.
• Partner with clients to understand event requirements, menus, timelines, and service expectations.
• Conduct site visits and event reviews to ensure client satisfaction.
• Manage event logistics, including staffing, equipment, transportation, setup, service, and breakdown.
• Monitor athletic and concession event costs and profitability while maintaining service excellence.
• Monitor labor, food, and operating costs.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance work environment.
• Address customer concerns promptly and professionally.
• Ensure adherence to food safety and sanitation standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Food Service Management, or related field preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of management experience in food service, hospitality, concessions, catering, or retail dining operations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience managing labor, inventory, and financial performance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.
• Experience in higher education dining, sports & entertainment venues, or large-scale hospitality operations preferred.
• Catering sales and event management experience a plus.
• ServSafe and BASSET Manager Certifications or ability to obtain certifications.
• Experience working in a unionized environment a plus.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Disclaimer

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, tasks, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to modify essential functions of the job, or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (i.e. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs or technical developments.