Food Service Supervisor 1 - Panda Express

Central Washington University is recruiting a Food Service Supervisor to join our Panda Express team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a 10-month cyclic, campus-basedposition, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits. Who we are: We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams. Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students. Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus. Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. What we offer: Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator . The Role: The primary responsibility of this position is to oversee the food quality, service standards, and culinary execution, within Panda Express. This role actively supervises daily kitchen and front of house operations, ensures proper food preparation, presentation, and safe handling in high-volume campus dining environments. The Food Service Supervisor coordinates and supports multiple service periods or events simultaneously, maintaining smooth workflow and exceptional guest service. This position is responsible for training and guiding student employees and staff in station setup, sanitation practices, efficient service execution, recipe adherence, and culinary techniques. The supervisor also monitors employee performance, schedules, verifies hours worked, and provides ongoing coaching to support growth and accountability. In alignment with Central Washington University's vision, mission, and values, CWU Dining Services plays a key role in supporting these principles while also upholding our department's own vision, mission, and values. Our vision is to be a key campus partner in promoting the growth of our community through shared culinary and educational experiences. As a member of Dining Services, you will be directly involved in these efforts and are expected to embody both the university, and department, vision, mission, and values in your work. All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence. Job Duties Operations and Supervision: - Assign tasks and monitor daily operations according to established guidelines, procedures, and policies. - Trains staff in the procedures necessary for daily operations, according to department's training guidelines Assists Assistant Manager in administrative functions. - Clearly defines performance expectations, ensures accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring. - Conducts formal performance evaluations. - Ensure employees have necessary resources. - Oversee and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach, and leader, and resolves complaints or issues. - Promotes professional development opportunities. - Develop and foster supportive working relationships, that promote a culture of engagement and individual success. - Communicate information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community. - Take corrective action in a timely manner. - Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance. - Schedule employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests. - Adjust leadership style as needed to achieve results. - Recognize the value of an inclusive workforce. Encourage varied perspectives, creativity, and teamwork. - Ensure safe food handling procedures are followed to maintain safe food. Make sure each student employee has a current food handler's permit on site. Schedule food safety and sanitation training on a regular basis. - Ensure safety policies and procedures are followed to maintain a safe working environment. - Inspect facilities and initiate maintenance work orders to maintain operating condition of both equipment and buildings. - Maintain storage areas for both serving line and decorating supplies. Make sure products are properly cleaned and stored after each use. - Monitor ware-washing activities to ensure dishes and utensils are properly cleaned and sanitized. Direct proper cleanup of all service areas, dining rooms and ware-washing areas. Clean service area, dining room, kitchen, and equipment during breaks in service. - Make rounds through service period to monitor that service standards and procedures are followed. Make sure food products served are labeled properly so customers can easily identify them. - Reassign student staff if a specific need or service deficiency is noticed. Reduce staff if anticipated customer counts require less service staff. - Ensure sufficient amount of food is properly merchandised and provided to the service lines for presentation to customers. - Establish and monitor operating standards for all service. - Lead staff in providing exceptional service to customers. - Monitor POS terminals, Grubhub Kiosks, and Cash-to-card Kiosks to ensure proper function and customer access. - Orders needed items from designated vendors on a daily, weekly and/or monthly basis. Food Safety: - Oversee closing procedures and ensure that all necessary procedures are followed, and building is secured nightly. - Assist with training of department staff: special emphasis will be placed on customer service; food and personal safety; unit performance and financial reports. - Ensure safe food handling procedures are followed to maintain safe food. Make sure each employee has a current food handler's permit on site. - Schedule food safety and sanitation training on a regular basis. - Assist with food production when necessary to ensure food supply is maintained. - Assist with monthly inventory. - Support department's commitment to recycling and reducing waste. - Support University's commitment to recruiting a inclusive work force and providing access to campus services for all students and guests. - Perform other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications Leadership experience performing such duties as hands-on training and working with teams. Supervisory-level experience in menu execution, including overseeing food preparation, and ensuring adherence to allergen, dietary, and nutritional standards. 2 years of experience working in large commercial/institutional or hotel type kitchen settings. Demonstrated ability and/or experience working collaboratively with students and/or colleagues to foster a supportive and effective learning and work environment. OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Special Conditions of Employment: Ability to obtain valid WA State Food Handler's permit within 30 days of initial hire date. Must be able to obtain SERVSAFE Certification within 6 months of initial hire date. Must be able to obtain Panda Express Certification within 6 months of employment. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Microsoft Office Suite software such as Word, Excel, Access, and e-mail or similar software. Demonstrated experience with cashiering functions and a POS system. Demonstrated ability in ordering, receiving, and storing perishable and non-perishable items. Demonstrated ability in conducting inventories of store product. Ability to deal with difficult customers and diffusing difficult customer situations. Supervisory experience performing such duties as hiring, training, scheduling, and directing employees. Experience preparing and coaching the preparation of food and beverages to standard recipes or customized for customers, including recipe changes such as temperature, quantity of ingredients or substituted ingredients Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote student success. A record of promoting institutional excellence in the work environment. Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds. Competencies Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules. Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action. Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support. Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives. Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive. Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for! Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule Salary : This position is based on the range 41 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $43,980 and maximum annual salary of $58,584. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Schedule/Appointment : Varies; based on business need / 10-month cyclic Working Conditions : Work is performed primarily indoors, at times in hot/cold/noisy/wet areas with some exposure to hazardous equipment and products. Working in temperatures from 0 degrees (freezer) to 350+ degrees (around cooking equipment) is common. Work requires walking and/or standing (often in a stationary position) for the majority of each shift. Bending/climbing/carrying/pulling/pushing/lifting associated with loading/unloading of supplies and preparation, plating, and serving of food is required. Occasional overtime is required, and shift work may be required. May need to drive a service vehicle in congested areas. It is essential to be able to meet the physical demands of standing (or remaining at a workstation) for prolonged periods of time using repetitive arm, hand, and finger movements. Some stooping, kneeling, bending, crouching, and some carrying or otherwise moving and placing of objects weighing up to 50 lbs. may be required. Evening or weekend shifts may be required. Physical requirements of the position include pushing utility and hand carts with up to 150 lbs. of supplies around to various workstations; correctly lifting up to 35 lbs. individually from the floor or shelf locations to heights of 48'' so products can be poured into smaller containers or put on worktables; and mixing together large quantities of ingredients for products either by hand or with a paddle/whip. Occasional overtime is required, and shift work may be required. Schedules are based on business volumes. Benefits : CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator . An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: . How To Apply To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach: A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting; Resume including work history, education, training; and Contact information for three professional references. Screening Begins: February 26, 2026 Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Contact Information Name: Hayden Mckenna Title: General Manager of North Campus Operations Email: Phone: (509) 963-1591 Website: Please contact Human Resources at or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process. Conditions of Employment Background Check/Reference Check Process: Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access. Notice to Prospective Employees:Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University's policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance , 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone 509-963-2050; or email . Reasonable Accommodations Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.

Created: 2026-03-10