Student Employment in Dining Services

Dining Services provides ample opportunities for job advancement. Regular crew employees may apply for management positions with the completion of their first year of work in Dining Services. Responsibilities include line set-ups, menu verification, supervision of other college and high school employees, job assignments for shifts and enforcement of Dining Services guidelines. If you are interested in applying for a management position please call 319-352-8407 or email dining@wartburg.edu.

In Dining Services, you will have an opportunity to work at a variety of dining operations:

Kitchen and Bakery –If you enjoy being behind the scenes, a job in production is for you. We have jobs in both the Kitchen and Bakery that provide an opportunity to meet with other students and also get to know our staff. Students who work in these areas learn general production, receiving, and sanitation skills as well as batch cooking. If you like to get “into your work,” you’ll enjoy working in Production.

Mensa (Dining Hall) –– The Mensa provides students with a variety of job opportunities. Positions include servers, beverage suppliers, salad bar assistants, dessert presenters, and dish room operators. Responsibilities and hours are scheduled for an entire term and are flexible based on a student’s class/activity schedule.

The Konditorei — The Konditorei is a coffeehouse that provides faculty/staff and students with one more option for good food and conversation. This unique area provides specialty hot and cold beverages as well as sweet treats and light meals. Students who choose to work here learn that service is the key to their operation and details make the difference.

The Den-Rittersaal — The Den provides upscale fast food, a complete salad bar and deli, grab-and-go items, and ice cream treats. Students who work here will learn that teamwork is key to providing good customer service and that many skills are needed to be a part of that team.

The Zesty Orange — The Zesty, located on the second floor of the Wartburg-Waverly Wellness Center, is the newest coffee shop on campus. The Zesty is open a vast amount of hours to serve the needs of its customers and offers a menu ranging from healthy items such as salads, wraps, smoothies, and coffee drinks.

Special Events — Special Events includes any meal that is served outside of the normal college serving schedule. Most special events will be hosted in one of the three rooms in Knight’s Ballroom in the Student Center or various other locations on-campus. Special Events employees serve as waiters and waitresses for parties, meetings, receptions, and conventions where the college acts as host for special meals. Special Events students are assigned to work at events based on the availability.

Dining Services offers a management training internship program that involves increasing responsibility based on the participants’ interest and spans three years. The purpose of this program is to immerse students in an all encompassing business so they can see all aspects, from daily operations to being involved in long term goal setting, and learning the long term implications of daily activities and decisions.

The program is open to sophomore business management students. The student must be in and maintain good academic standing. Level of responsibility will be progressive, so that by the end of the senior year, the student will know how to manage an operation autonomously. Work responsibilities each semester will change based on the students’ success in an area and current career interest. The goal of the program is to prepare students for careers in business that require a high level of responsibility and authority. Previous work in dining services would be helpful but is not mandatory.

Sample semester schedule is below. This is just an example to show the span of responsibility, and each student’s program will be custom designed.

Semester 1: Work as a dining service assistant, rotating through several departments during the semester, including food court and retail dining.

Semester 2: Help with inventory and receiving, and menu planning. Work in the Mensa production and bakery areas, and work in production of retail food.

Semester 3: Student manager at the Zesty Orange, with special project related to marketing and business analysis. Evaluate menu items, sales, and contribution margins. Make pricing and new menu item recommendations. Develop proposals for operational changes and implement change.

Semester 4: Student manager in Mensa, with sole responsibility for meal periods and involvement in hiring and training new students, and staff scheduling.  Conduct high school staff employee meetings.

Semester 5: Special project work to develop and implement a new food court concept in Mensa. Conduct student manager meetings.

Semester 6: Manage and direct the new concept, making changes in policies and procedures as needed.

What we expect of the student:

• Minimum 12 hours per week of work. Maximum of 20 hours per week of work
• The student will not be able to have other jobs at the same time.
• Commitment to work hard and learn new things, and to stay with the program. Be willing to develop rapport with different supervisors. General ability to be self-directed
• Open mindedness and willing to accept direction and constructive redirection.

What the student can expect from us:

• The student will be treated as a member of the management team.
• A wide venue to develop people skills, knowledge of all aspects of business and business systems.
• The student and the director of dining services will determine the path the progressive responsibility takes. Managers and coordinators of the various areas will provide supervision and direction on a daily basis and conduct performance appraisals during each experience. A team approach will be used to maximize growth and learning.

Application Process: Contact the Director of Dining Services for information.