Job Description
Mount Kenya University (MKU), one of East Africa's leading private chartered universities, is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking professional to join its Student Welfare and Alumni Directorate as the Central Catering & Accommodation (CCAS) Manager based at the Thika Campus. This strategic leadership opportunity is designed for an experienced hospitality management professional who possesses the vision, operational expertise, and people management capabilities required to oversee university catering and accommodation services while delivering an exceptional experience for students, staff, visitors, and institutional stakeholders.
The successful candidate will provide executive oversight for all catering, food production, food service, accommodation, and hospitality operations within the campus. The position plays a vital role in ensuring that every service delivered under the department consistently reflects the University's commitment to excellence, safety, efficiency, professionalism, and customer satisfaction. The role requires the ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational management while continuously identifying opportunities to improve service quality, optimize resources, strengthen operational systems, and promote sustainable hospitality practices.
As a departmental leader, the CCAS Manager will work closely with university leadership, finance teams, procurement officers, student affairs personnel, maintenance units, and external service providers to ensure seamless coordination of catering and accommodation activities. The role demands excellent planning, budgeting, compliance monitoring, supplier relationship management, and staff supervision skills. The successful candidate will also champion continuous quality improvement initiatives, implement modern hospitality standards, and ensure that institutional facilities remain welcoming, safe, hygienic, and responsive to the evolving needs of the university community.
The position requires a professional capable of maintaining high operational standards while effectively managing multiple priorities in a dynamic academic environment. Strong leadership, sound decision-making, integrity, and the ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams will be essential for success. The ideal applicant should demonstrate excellent communication skills, exceptional organizational ability, analytical thinking, and a commitment to delivering outstanding customer service through innovative hospitality solutions.
Mount Kenya University offers an engaging working environment that encourages professional growth, accountability, innovation, diversity, and continuous learning. Employees are empowered to contribute ideas that improve institutional performance while supporting the University's mission of delivering quality education and holistic student development. This appointment presents an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution by enhancing the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of essential student support services.
Applicants who possess the required academic qualifications, relevant leadership experience, and a proven ability to manage hospitality operations within complex institutions are encouraged to submit their applications. The University welcomes individuals who are passionate about operational excellence, service delivery, ethical leadership, and continuous improvement while maintaining the highest professional standards expected within a respected higher education institution.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for the University's central catering and accommodation operations while ensuring efficient daily service delivery.
- Develop annual operational plans, departmental objectives, measurable performance indicators, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Lead the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of hospitality programs across university facilities.
- Oversee food production processes to ensure consistency, nutritional value, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction.
- Supervise accommodation services while maintaining comfortable, secure, and well-managed residential facilities.
- Monitor food safety systems and enforce strict compliance with public health regulations and institutional policies.
- Ensure high standards of sanitation, cleanliness, environmental health, and workplace safety throughout catering and accommodation facilities.
- Coordinate procurement planning for food supplies, equipment, consumables, furniture, and operational resources.
- Evaluate supplier performance and maintain productive relationships with approved vendors and service providers.
- Prepare departmental budgets, monitor expenditure, analyze financial performance, and recommend cost optimization strategies.
- Ensure responsible utilization of financial, physical, and human resources while maintaining operational efficiency.
- Implement inventory management procedures to minimize wastage, shortages, and unnecessary expenditure.
- Supervise departmental employees through coaching, mentoring, scheduling, performance reviews, and professional development initiatives.
- Foster teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and excellent customer service within all operational units.
- Resolve operational challenges promptly while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.
- Develop and review departmental policies, standard operating procedures, and service quality frameworks.
- Prepare comprehensive management reports highlighting departmental performance, achievements, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Coordinate emergency preparedness procedures affecting catering facilities and accommodation services.
- Ensure institutional compliance with occupational health, food safety, environmental, and statutory requirements.
- Support student welfare initiatives by ensuring quality hospitality services that contribute positively to campus life.
- Collaborate with finance, procurement, maintenance, security, academic departments, and university administration on cross-functional projects.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, digital transformation, and operational modernization within hospitality services.
- Conduct regular inspections of kitchens, dining facilities, hostels, storage areas, and service points.
- Investigate customer feedback and implement corrective measures that improve user satisfaction.
- Maintain accurate departmental documentation, operational records, compliance reports, and performance statistics.
- Promote ethical leadership, transparency, fairness, and accountability across all departmental activities.
- Coordinate staff training programs on food safety, customer care, emergency response, and professional standards.
- Ensure proper maintenance and efficient utilization of catering equipment and accommodation facilities.
- Participate in institutional committees whenever assigned.
- Perform any additional responsibilities delegated by University Management in support of institutional objectives.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Master's degree in food production, Food & Beverage Service, Hospitality Management, or another relevant discipline from a recognized institution
- or
- Bachelor's degree in food production, Food & Beverage Service, Hospitality Management, or a closely related field from a recognized institution.
- Minimum of 3 years' management experience with a master's degree, or 5 years' management experience with a bachelor's degree in a comparable role within a recognized academic institution.
- Strong knowledge of institutional catering operations.
- Experience managing accommodation or residential services.
- Excellent leadership and people management skills.
- Financial planning and budget management expertise.
- Procurement and inventory management knowledge.
- Sound understanding of food safety, hygiene, and quality assurance standards.
- Strong customer service orientation.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Strategic planning and organizational skills.
- Problem
- solving and analytical thinking.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
- Strong report writing and presentation skills.
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant management systems.
- Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who satisfy the stated requirements should submit their applications through the official Mount Kenya University online recruitment portal before July 18, 2026. Applicants should complete the online application form and upload all required supporting documents, including an updated curriculum vitae, academic and professional certificates, testimonials, and a cover letter indicating their salary expectations. Only applications submitted through the official recruitment system will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. Mount Kenya University is an equal opportunity employer committed to merit-based recruitment. Canvassing in any form will result in automatic disqualification, and the University does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
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