Director People Compliance + Relations

Cava•Washington, DC

59d

About The Position

The Director, Team Member Relations & Compliance leads enterprise-wide efforts to ensure CAVA's people practices, policies, and procedures meet all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations. This role serves as the subject matter expert on employment compliance, wage and hour standards, workplace policy interpretation, and internal governance. As a trusted advisor to legal, operations, and People + Culture leaders, this role helps mitigate risk while enabling a positive, inclusive, and high-integrity work environment across all Support Center, Restaurant, and CAVA Foods locations. In addition, this role fosters team collaboration to uphold our practices, policies, and procedures by guiding the team member relations function and promoting shared accountability across the enterprise. This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all the duties and responsibilities of the position, and such duties and responsibilities may change without notice Success at CAVA: At CAVA, Directors align teams, foster cross-functional collaboration, and translate strategy into action. We look for leaders who develop talent, challenge the status quo, and stay grounded in guest and team member service, inclusion, and long-term impact.

Requirements

8-10 years of experience in Human Resources with a strong emphasis on employment law, policy creation, and compliance management.
Deep knowledge of multi-state labor laws and regulations including wage & hour, ADA, FMLA, EEO, and state-specific leave laws.
Demonstrated ability to lead compliance initiatives in high-growth, multi-unit environments (restaurant or retail preferred).
Strong interpersonal and influence skills with experience advising senior leaders.
Exceptional attention to detail, judgment, and discretion when handling sensitive matters.
Experience in conducting investigations and leading responses to employment-related complaints.
Strong project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Resources, Criminal Justice, Business, or related field required; JD or advanced HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) strongly preferred.
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

Responsibilities

Serve as the enterprise lead for employment law compliance, ensuring CAVA's policies and practices adhere to applicable regulations across all jurisdictions.
Oversee the development, implementation, and auditing of company policies, including wage and hour standards, scheduling laws, meal and rest break compliance, and recordkeeping.
Develop proactive risk mitigation strategies and respond to compliance-related concerns or investigations in partnership with Legal, People + Culture, and Operations
Lead efforts with project teams to conduct risk assessments and provide strategic recommendations on initiatives across the enterprise
Design and deliver compliance training for People+ Culture, leadership, and corporate teams, ensuring understanding of key requirements and accountability.
Partner with Legal to monitor and interpret new legislation and employment regulations; translate them into clear action plans for relevant stakeholders.
Manage escalated team member issues, policy interpretations, and workplace complaints to resolution with fairness and consistency.
Drive process improvements and system enhancements to ensure scalable compliance across a growing multi-state operation.
Partner with cross-functional teams (HRIS, Payroll, P+C, Learning + Development) to maintain alignment on procedures, tools, and documentation.
Lead compliance audits, support internal and external investigations in partnership with Employee Relations teams, and prepare required documentation for legal or regulatory reviews.
Provide strategic counsel and reporting to senior leadership, maintaining accurate record keeping regarding compliance trends, risk areas, and mitigation efforts.

Benefits

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.