Director, Ops Innovation

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 service 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.

Director, Ops Innovation

*This role is located in the Washington, D.C. area and is not remote*

The Director of Operations Innovation is a strategic leadership role responsible for transforming our operational capabilities through innovative solutions, technology integration, equipment optimization, and menu innovation. This leader will drive enterprise-wide initiatives that revolutionize the guest and team member experience while delivering measurable business results across our restaurant portfolio.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations Services, this is a player/coach role that oversees dual functions encompassing Operations Technology & Equipment and Menu Innovation, managing a team of 4-6 professionals across both pillars while partnering with department heads and cross-functional teams to execute our strategic vision.

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.

What You’ll Do:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and execute a comprehensive 3-5 year operations innovation roadmap aligned with company growth objectives
• Lead cross-functional innovation steering committees to prioritize and resource strategic initiatives
• Present innovation strategies and ROI outcomes to executive leadership team and board of directors
• Establish innovation metrics and KPIs that directly impact company-wide P&L performance

Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead high-performing teams of 4-6 professionals across two key pillars:
• Operations Technology & Equipment: Process engineering, mechanical engineering, operations technology testing and implementation
• Menu Innovation: Pipeline innovation, ingredient validation, prep process optimization, and culinary operations integration
• Serve as player/coach, providing hands-on leadership while executing strategic initiatives
• Mentor and develop direct reports including managers and specialists in both technology/equipment and menu innovation domains
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with Culinary, FSQA, Learning & Development, Supply Chain, and Field Operations teams
• Partner with HR to attract talent and establish career development pathways across technical and culinary disciplines

Operations Transformation

• Spearhead enterprise-wide process reengineering initiatives to streamline operations and reduce complexity
• Lead comprehensive testing strategies including ops testing, market testing, and national rollout validation
• Oversee design and deployment of next-generation restaurant technologies, equipment, and food innovation programs
• Establish rigorous testing protocols with measurable KPIs in partnership with FP&A and Insights teams
• Drive culinary validation processes for prep procedures and ingredient optimization
• Coordinate restaurant selection for testing, ingredient procurement, and cross-functional project execution
• Create feedback loops between operations, culinary teams, and field leadership to ensure successful implementations
• Balance operational efficiency needs with marketing objectives and culinary innovation requirements

Financial Impact & Performance

• Drive initiatives that generate annual cost savings or revenue enhancement
• Manage innovation investment portfolio with accountability for ROI and payback periods
• Develop business cases for major capital investments and operational changes
• Monitor and optimize labor efficiency, food costs, and operational margins through innovation

External Partnerships & Industry Leadership

• Cultivate strategic partnerships with technology vendors, equipment manufacturers, and industry consultants
• Represent the company at industry conferences and innovation forums
• Conduct competitive intelligence and market research to identify emerging trends and opportunities
• Lead pilot programs with external partners and startup companies

The Qualifications:

Experience & Background:

• 6+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, innovation, or transformation roles—preferably in the restaurant, hospitality, or consumer-facing industries
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable business impact across operational, culinary, or product domains
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders such as Culinary, FSQA, Supply Chain, and Field Operations (or equivalent functions in other industries)
• History of building and developing high-performance teams in fast-paced, dynamic environments
• Experience with testing, piloting, and scaling new processes, technologies, or offerings across multiple locations or markets
• Player/coach mentality with a hands-on approach to problem-solving and team development
• Experience in restaurant operations, engineering, or related field is most important
• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required with relevant hands-on experience
• Industry certifications in operations, project management, or innovation methodology a plus
• Continuous learning mindset with commitment to staying current on industry trends

Technical & Strategic Skills:

• Deep understanding of operational systems and workflows—ideally including kitchen design, service flow, or analogous process optimization in other industries
• Familiarity with validation processes, product or ingredient optimization, and procedural development
• Strong analytical skills with experience using data and KPIs to inform decision-making and measure outcomes
• Background in mechanical, process, or systems engineering as applied to operations or product development
• Proficiency in project management methodologies (Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Awareness of emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, and mobile platforms, and their application to operational innovation
• Experience collaborating with Learning & Development or Training teams to support change adoption

Leadership Capabilities:

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with ability to influence audiences from C-level executives to restaurant team members
• Proven ability to drive change management across complex, multi-location organizations
• Strategic thinking with tactical execution capabilities across both technology and food innovation domains
• Experience working with franchisees, vendors, culinary teams, and external stakeholders
• Strong project management skills with ability to work on multiple initiatives with quick turnaround times
• Professional presence in corporate environment with passion for food innovation and operational excellence

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”

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