Manager of Food Safety & Quality Assurance

CAVA•Verona, VA

About The Position

CAVA is a category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Our non-negotiable? Taking care of the people and things that feed us. This is the cornerstone of our company culture and paramount to everything we do and achieve. Our mission is to bring heart, health, and humanity to food—we do that through hiring great people who care about our commitment to hospitality and generosity. At CAVA, we serve food you can be proud of. And we employ people you want to grow with. Discover the right opportunity for you and flavor your future At CAVA Foods we love what we do, and we manufacture every product to be as fulfilling as the last. At our manufacturing center we are looking for fanatics in food who take pride in our products and are ready to ensure every CAVA Restaurant and retail partner receives products that uphold the high-quality standards of our brand. 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. Love the food at our restaurants? CAVA Foods team members enjoy a Restaurant Meal Benefit that provides free and discounted meals every day of the week. The CAVA Foods FSQA Manager is a detail-oriented and accountable leader of our Food Safety and Quality Assurance program. This role is critical in ensuring compliance with regulatory and third-party standards, maintaining high food safety and quality benchmarks, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The FSQA Manager will oversee a team of Quality Assurance Technicians and collaborate cross-functionally to uphold our commitment to safe, high-quality food in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Safety, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing, including 2+ years in a supervisory or management role.
Strong knowledge of HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, sanitation, and food safety regulations.
Experience with GFSI schemes (BRC preferred), FDA inspections, and audit preparation.
PCQI and HACCP certification required.
Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills and accountability.
Strong leadership, communication, and team development capabilities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
Ability to work flexible hours and adapt to a fast-paced, evolving environment.
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
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
Physical dexterity, ability to lift up to 50 lbs and push/pull rolling bowls, carts, and containers.
The ability to work in varied environmental conditions (dry, cold)
The ability to stand and work on feet 8-10 hours a day.
Must be able to identify, assess and observe detail.
Ability to squat, kneel, bend and twist
Allergens: We prepare products with milk and sesame containing ingredients. Team members must be able to work with these ingredients.

Nice To Haves

Experience with High Pressure Processing (HPP) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Maintain and continuously improve the facility’s Food Safety Plans and prerequisite programs.
Ensure full compliance with regulatory (FDA, State) and third-party certifications (GFSI, Organic).
Lead internal audits and prepare for external inspections and certification renewals.
Manage traceability, recall, and product hold/release programs with precision and accountability.
Supervise, mentor, and develop Quality Assurance Technicians, fostering a high-performance team culture.
Provide ongoing training in food safety, sanitation, and quality protocols.
Promote ownership and accountability across the facility to foster and grow a strong Food Safety and Quality Culture.
Oversee sanitation processes including manual and automated systems (CIP), ensuring validation and documentation are complete and accurate.
Manage third-party vendors for pest control, sanitation, and chemical supplies.
Support new product development by maintaining specifications, standards, and quality protocols.
Investigate and analyze consumer complaints and quality issues, using data to drive corrective actions.
Lead environmental monitoring programs and support supplier performance reviews.
Provide technical expertise in risk analysis, root cause investigations, and corrective/preventive actions.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements and corrective and preventive actions.
Provide critical thinking and problem solving skills to tackle issues as they arise

Benefits

Restaurant Meal Benefit that provides free and discounted meals every day of the week.
Competitive salary, plus bonus and long-term incentives
Unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, plus paid opportunities to give back to the community
Six (6) paid holidays annually
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