Assistant Production Manager
CAVA Products East•Laurel, MD
•Onsite
About The Position
The Assistant Production Manager serves as a key leader on the production floor, acting as the primary resource for frontline team members and a direct link to plant leadership. This role supports day-to-day operations across production departments—Ingredient Prep, Batching, Filling, and Packaging—ensuring adherence to schedules, quality standards and safety protocols. The Assistant Production Manager is a hands-on leader who answers frequent team member questions, resolves issues quickly, and drives alignment with production and company goals.
Requirements
- 2–4 years in food manufacturing or production environment, with prior leadership or lead experience preferred.
- High school diploma
- Ability to lead by example, answer questions, and maintain team alignment in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with food manufacturing processes and safety standards.
- Understanding of HACCP, GMPs, and regulatory compliance.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Bilingual: English/Spanish preferred.
- Physical dexterity, ability to lift up to 45 lbs and push/pull rolling bowls, carts, and containers with up to 550 lbs of product.
- The ability to work in varied environmental conditions (dry, cold)
- The ability to stand and work on feet for 8 to 10 hours at a time
- Must be able to identify, assess and observe detail
- Ability to communicate with others and exchange information accurately and effectively.
- Ability to squat, kneel, bend and twist
- Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner
- We prepare products with milk and sesame containing ingredients. Team members must be able to work with these ingredients.
Nice To Haves
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Food Science, or related field preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the go-to resource for frontline associates, providing guidance on processes, troubleshooting, and daily priorities.
- Assist in coordinating production activities across departments to meet schedules and uphold quality and safety standards.
- Communicate effectively with the Assistant Plant Manager and Production Supervisors to ensure smooth operations and timely issue resolution.
- Monitor production flow and escalate concerns promptly to minimize downtime and maintain efficiency.
- Participate in daily shift huddles to reinforce priorities and share updates.
- Support coordination of maintenance and sanitation activities
- Uphold Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and ensure compliance with food safety protocols.
- Support FSQA initiatives by monitoring process controls and documentation accuracy.
- Immediately address and escalate any deviations, quality issues, or non-conformances.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and safety-first culture on the production floor.
- Provide informal coaching and feedback to team members to encourage growth and accountability.
- Model CAVA’s mission, values, and leadership behaviors.
- Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve yields, and optimize labor efficiency.
- Support implementation of new processes and equipment to enhance productivity.
- Analize downtime, yields, and labor data to identify improvement opportunities.
Benefits
- Competitive salary, plus bonus and long-term incentives
- Early Wage Access!
- Six (6) paid holidays annually
- Paid sick leave
- Vacation accrual beginning at 3rd month
- 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
- CAVA restaurant employee discount
- Casual work environment
- The opportunity to be on the ground floor of a rapidly growing brand
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
