Responsibilities of the Position

Reporting to the vice president for finance, administration, and chief financial officer, the director of auxiliary services provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for the auxiliary services portfolio, including dining services, The Davidson College Store, Carnegie Guest House, summer programs, CatCard services, and post and print services. This role ensures operational excellence, fiscal sustainability, and the delivery of high-quality services that enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The director has five direct reports and over 150 employees across the overall area, while managing a $18 million budget.

Key responsibilities as outlined in the job description include:

Strategic Leadership & Operational Oversight

• Provide direct supervision and professional development for departmental managers across dining, retail, guest services, summer programs, and integrated mailing/ID services.
• Drive continuous improvement in service delivery and product quality to ensure a "student-first” culture of excellence.
• Establish and champion the department’s commitment to broad college goals, ensuring auxiliary operations align with the institution’s mission.
• Lead strategic planning initiatives for all auxiliary units to adapt to evolving campus needs and industry trends.

Fiscal Management & Stewardship

• Manage and oversee eight distinct departmental budgets within the guidelines established by the vice president of finance and administration.
• Ensure rigorous fiscal responsibility, revenue generation, and cost-containment strategies to maintain the long-term health of auxiliary enterprises.

Collaborative Partnerships & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary liaison between auxiliary services and key internal stakeholders, including residence life, physical plant, college union, and technology and innovation.
• Optimize the use of campus resources to effectively support the college’s strategic plan.
• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with external vendors and community partners.

Stakeholder Engagement & Problem Resolution

• Actively engage with the campus community to seek opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
• Field inquiries and complaints with a solution-oriented approach, identifying creative resolutions to complex operational challenges.
• Promote cross-departmental coordination to ensure a seamless and integrated auxiliary experience for all users.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in business administration, higher education leadership, or a related field, and eight years of progressive leadership experience in auxiliary services, hospitality management, or business operations. Preferred qualifications include experience within a higher education environment and a master’s degree. Competitive candidates will possess: a proven ability in strategic planning and budget management, strong interpersonal skills with a track record of cultivating collaborative relationships, and a demonstrated commitment to high-standard customer service and operational efficiency.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• Accomplished, enterprising professional with a successful background in generating and implementing innovative ideas and partnerships.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to lead multiple concurrent projects and departments.
• Ability to build relationships across departments and collaborate successfully with internal and external partners.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and effectively to a wide range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees.
• Strong sense of how auxiliary services contribute to community building through robust relationships and services.

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

In transitioning to Davidson College, the director of auxiliary services will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges, as shared by key campus stakeholders:

New Campus Master Plan . The campus plan includes a new dining facility and a new programming space with the new library. The director will be instrumental in implementing the robust vision and priorities for these new areas.

World Class Experience. The expectation is that the director will lead auxiliary areas with exceptional customer service and clearly represent the Davidson mission to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests.

Innovative and Creative Thinking . The director will bring forward-thinking ideas and solutions to serve the college’s best interests. They will bring best practices and innovative expertise to the areas within their portfolio.

Partnerships and Collaborations. Partnerships with internal and external stakeholders will be essential to this director’s success. The director will develop new collaborative relationships and strengthen existing partnerships.

Measures of Success

The items listed below will define success throughout the first year of employment. The new director of auxiliary services has:

• Demonstrated leadership with the implementation of campus master plan components within their area.
• Advanced the leadership transition in a collaborative and seamless manner, maintaining service continuity and reinforcing staff and stakeholder confidence.
• Established themself as an essential team member and collaborator with faculty, staff, and students working toward achieving departmental, divisional, and institutional goals.
• Taken time to learn the people, processes, and priorities within the portfolio, developing a thoughtful understanding of its operational complexities and opportunities.