Senior Manager, Learning & Development - Restaurant

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.

Senior Manager, Restaurant Learning & Development

The Senior Manager, Restaurant Learning & Development is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive training programs that enhance the skills and knowledge of CAVA Team Members across the enterprise, with a particular focus on supporting our restaurant talent pipeline. Success in this role requires a strong background in restaurant operations and people development, ensuring that training programs directly connect to building, strengthening, and sustaining the restaurant talent pipeline. This position partners closely with field leadership and cross-functional teams to align training initiatives with organizational goals while cultivating a culture of continuous learning and growth.

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 Development

• Develop and execute a training and development strategy aligned with organizational goals, with emphasis on building capabilities in restaurant operations.
• Assess current training needs and identify future learning requirements to ensure restaurant leaders and Team Members are prepared for growth.

Program Design and Implementation

• Design and implement training programs that strengthen restaurant leadership capability and operational excellence.
• Create and manage a High Performing Team Program at the leadership level that addresses skill gaps in both leadership and restaurant execution.
• Leverage operational experience to ensure all training content reflects the realities of running restaurants, including people leadership, and guest experience.
• Utilize a variety of training methods (e.g., e-learning, classroom training, in-restaurant training, and simulations) to support different learning styles.
• Design career development programs, including mentorship and coaching, that prepare Team Members for growth within restaurant leadership pathways.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead restaurant learning and development, serving as a bridge between Operations, Restaurant Leaders, and People + Culture.
• Collaborate with Operations leadership to identify training needs that support restaurant performance and the talent pipeline.
• Serve as a liaison between restaurant Team Members and management to ensure training is practical, relevant, and actionable.

Budget Management

• Develop and manage the training budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
• Evaluate training vendors and negotiate contracts as needed, prioritizing those with strong restaurant or hospitality expertise.

Assessment and Evaluation

• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of restaurant leadership and operations training programs.
• Conduct regular assessments and feedback sessions with restaurant leaders and field operators to refine and improve initiatives.

Compliance and Best Practices

• Stay current with restaurant and hospitality industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all training content and delivery methods align with operational standards and legal/ethical practices.

Cultural Development

• Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development across the organization, beginning at the restaurant level.
• Champion Human Connection initiatives, embedding hospitality and leadership behaviors into all training.

Career Pathing

• Manage the Career Pathing Project, creating transparent pathways for growth from restaurant Team Member to Restaurant Leader and beyond.
• Conduct one-on-one consultations with Team Members to align career goals with operational realities and future leadership opportunities.

Talent Management

• Identify and develop high-potential Team Members within the restaurant organization to ensure a strong leadership pipeline.
• Support succession planning efforts with a focus on operational excellence and readiness.
• Provide insights and recommendations to leadership on restaurant talent retention strategies.

Resource Development

• Curate and maintain a library of operational and leadership training resources, including digital learning, playbooks, and external opportunities.
• Continuously update training content to reflect operational best practices and evolving restaurant needs.

The Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in training, leadership development, or organizational effectiveness, preferably in a multi-unit restaurant or hospitality environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or related field.
• Master’s degree or professional certifications (e.g., CPLP, SHRM-SCP, ATD) preferred
• Proven experience designing and delivering leadership development programs across multiple levels.
• Strong facilitation skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Experience with career pathing, competency modeling, and succession planning.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring the high level of accuracy.
• Strong people skills and the ability to build relationships.
• Success at executing plans, project management, follow up, dealing with ambiguity and adapting to rapid change.

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. California applicants: Please visit our Notice at Collection and Privacy Policy to learn about our information practices in the job application and employment context.