Vice President, FSQA

Company Profile:

At CAVA we make it deliciously simple to eat well and feel good every day. We are guided by a Mediterranean heritage that's been perfecting how to eat and live for four thousand years. We prioritize authenticity, curiosity and the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. We are working towards something big, together.

We foster a culture built on five core values:

• Generosity First, Always: We lead with kindness. Our best work happens when we act in of others.
• Constant Curiosity: We are eager to learn, grow, and explore beyond the obvious.
• Act with Agility: We welcome change; it's the only constant. We embrace, adjust, adapt.
• Passion for Positivity: We greet each day with warmth and possibility.
• Collective Ambition: We have high aspirations that are achieved when we work together with a shared purpose.

VP FSQA

The VP of FSQA is a strategic leader responsible for developing and executing a company-wide food safety and quality strategy that ensures regulatory compliance, brand protection, and operational excellence. This role partners across functions to embed safety and quality into every aspect of the business, provides expert guidance as the company scales, and leads continuous improvement initiatives that elevate product integrity, training, and compliance with all regulatory standards.

Success at CAVA:

At CAVA, a Vice President shapes functional direction and leads major strategic decisions. We look for leaders who think big, guide transformation and cultivate high-performing, inclusive teams that drive sustained growth across the business.

What You'll Do:

• Set and execute CAVA's FSQA strategy, aligning with business objectives and cultivating a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence across the organization.
• Provide executive leadership to FSQA functions across manufacturing, distribution, and field operations, ensuring alignment and accountability throughout the supply chain.
• Serve as the company's primary authority on food safety compliance, maintaining proactive relationships with regulatory bodies and representing CAVA in external industry and regulatory forums.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and third-party certification programs, ensuring all suppliers, facilities, and restaurants meet or exceed FDA, USDA, and industry standards.
• Lead enterprise risk management for FSQA, including strategic oversight of product withdrawals, recalls, regulatory inspections, and food safety incidents.
• Drive continuous improvement through the use of metrics, KPIs, and trend analysis, ensuring performance targets are met across suppliers, internal operations, and restaurants.
• Champion innovation in FSQA systems and technology, identifying tools that enhance traceability, real-time monitoring, and product integrity.
• Set the strategic direction for supplier quality programs, overseeing audits, onboarding, and corrective action processes to ensure accountability and high performance.
• Ensure implementation of SOPs, SSOPs, and training frameworks, reinforcing food safety protocols and cultivating leadership at all levels of the organization.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration on quality initiatives, partnering with multiple departments to embed FSQA into core business processes.
• Establish and monitor FSQA benchmarks and performance metrics, using industry insights to guide internal standards and strategic decision-making.
• Mentor and develop FSQA leadership, driving organizational capability, succession planning, and a scalable team structure to support growth.

The Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in food science, food safety, food technology, microbiology, chemistry, quality assurance or related field (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of experience with QSR sector, food manufacturing processes, specifically related to food safety matters, corporate regulatory work, audit procedures and fresh produce with specific knowledge and direct experience related to overseeing compliance with FDA, USDA and International regulations (FSMA training).
• Advanced certifications such as PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner, or equivalent preferred.
• Proven success leading cross functional teams and overseeing a large network of partners, suppliers and vendors.
• Extensive expertise in food safety regulations including FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP, GFSI, FSMA, and other industry standards.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing supplier quality programs, audits, risk assessments, and crisis management.
• Experience managing third-party audits, regulatory inspections, and external partnerships.
• Experience with digital traceability platforms and food safety technology.
• Comprehensive understanding of supply chain processes, food production environments, and the implementation of robust quality management systems.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence, educate, and lead across multiple stakeholders and levels of the organization.
• Ability to travel as needed to production facilities, restaurants, and supplier locations.

Physical Requirements: Ability to maintain stationary position to be able to operate a computer and other office equipment

• Must be able to identify, analyze and assess details
• For certain positions, must be able to occasionally move or transport items up to 50 pounds
• Ability to communicate with others and exchange information accurately and effectively
• Constantly positions self and move about to support ordinary restaurant or food production support or office operations, as applicable
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner

What we offer:

• Competitive salary, plus bonus and long-term incentives*
• Early Wage Access!
• Unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, plus paid opportunities to give back to the community
• Health, Dental, Vision, Telemedicine, Pet Insurance plus more!
• 401k enrollment with CAVA contribution
• Company-paid STD, LTD, Life and AD&D coverage for salaried positions*
• Free CAVA food
• Casual work environment
• The opportunity to be on the ground floor of a rapidly growing brand
• All exempt and non exempt employees are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days of service and you have until the day before the effective date to enroll. A new hire can enroll in our benefit program by selecting a link that is emailed directly to the new hire at their personal email address once hired.
• Please note that visa sponsorship is not available.
• The posting range is an all cash range.
• Indicates qualifying eligible positions only

CAVA - Joining "A culture, not a concept"

As an equal opportunity employer, CAVA considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or any other characteristic or protected classes as defined by federal, state, or local law.

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