Principal Lead, Restaurant Innovation
hace 22 horas
Washington
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. The Role: Can you set up projects for success and ensure they are executed to high brand standards? Are you enthusiastic about assessment, evolution, and innovation that drive operational excellence? Do you have a passion for design, a love for data, and desire to build future-focused restaurants? If this is you, we want you to join our team. CAVA is a rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant and CPG brand focusing on fresh, Mediterranean-inspired, better-for-you cuisine. Born from our full-service restaurants, our chef-driven fast-casual format is currently in 29 states with further expansion ahead. We are looking for a Principal Lead – Restaurant Innovation to join the Development Group at CAVA, helping us drive our business through the evolution of our restaurant spaces. 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: • Leverage industry trends, data analytics, and consumer insights to identify emerging opportunities and lead XF initiatives that elevate guest experience, optimize design strategy, yield operational efficiencies, and drive measurable business growth across the restaurant portfolio., • Lead a cross functional team in developing a systematic kit-of-parts that marries design thinking with operational excellence — creating intuitive tools that enhance efficiency, empower staff, and evolve with the demands of various markets, footprints, and formats., • Develop tools and processes to drive forward design with our cross functional partners and Concepts + Standards Team, • Execute multiple end-to-end projects and programs that range in scale from pilot-testing to enterprise wide that could impact the design, operations, and restaurant processes by working with XF partners including Culinary, Operations Services, OSI, Tech., • Partner with FP&A and key stakeholders to develop ROI models and performance frameworks that set clear, trackable milestones and measurable outcomes for innovation and design initiatives., • Collaborate with Ops Services, Training, and FSQA teams to review SOPs and processes, gather frontline insights, and assess the impact of layout, design choices, and equipment specifications to translate findings into actionable updates and refinements for the NRO Design Studio, • Partner with fabricators and suppliers to co-create and test next-generation design solutions - from kitchen equipment to architectural and environmental components - driving continuous evolution of the restaurant experience., • Conduct robust assessments of restaurant elements, spanning layout, infrastructure, labor, and guest experience to integrate initiative-driven projects such as equipment upgrades, design refreshes, or new operational tactics, • Develop a team of designers, strategist, and analysts, providing hands-on leadership while executing strategic initiatives, • Serve as key stakeholder for cross-functional innovation programs; synthesize information from Enterprise working groups and foster a clear point-of-view on brand standards across design, prototype, and construction practices. Serve as the development team’s representative to ensure alignment and advocacy in cross-functional collaboration., • Mentor and develop direct reports including managers and specialists across Design & Innovation roles, • Drive innovation through multidisciplinary exploration to test, refine, and implement design concepts that bridge creativity, functionality, and constructability., • Leverages advanced visualization tools, scaled models, and physical mockups to prototype and validate new restaurant concepts, to accelerate decision-making and innovation across design and construction phases., • Develop and implement testing protocols that define hypotheses, performance metrics, and evaluation criteria to assess the impact of design and experience innovations, translating findings into actionable insights that drive revenue growth and brand differentiation. The Qualifications: • 10+ years post-collegiate experience designing hospitality, retail, or restaurant projects with a portfolio that demonstrates not only strong design execution but also the ability to apply innovative approaches that improve guest experience, operational flow, or brand impact, • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing restaurants with a proven record of integrating new concepts (equipment, technology, or design features) into layouts that enhance both operational efficiency and the customer journey, • 5+ years of experience within a company executing a large-scale roll-out program (hospitality, retail, or restaurants) including direct involvement in standardizing brand guidelines, adapting prototypes to diverse markets and footprints, and scaling innovative design solutions across multiple locations, • Experience with fabrication of physical mock-ups and prototypes, • Proven track record in design innovation that demonstrates your ability to use design thinking, critical assessment, and iterative testing to evolve restaurant performance; experience in piloting new ideas, evaluating impact, and codifying learnings into brand standards, • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with experience partnering with Operations, Training, Construction, and Concepts + Standards Team to translate innovative design concepts into scalable, real-world applications, • Microsoft Office proficient with emphasis on clear communication via project briefs and PowerPoint read-outs, • AutoCAD, Bluebeam Revu, and Sketchup proficient to utilize multiple architectural pathways to discuss built ideas for wider audiences, • Utilization of AI, 3D modeling, and hand sketching skills a plus, • Able to manage several projects and consultants simultaneously, and work with multiple project stakeholders across the organization, • Strong communication and time management skills, • Knowledge of retail/restaurant/hospitality design industry trends and best practices, • Positive attitude with team-driven mentality and detail-oriented approach, • Ability to travel up to 30% throughout CAVA markets Physical Requirements: • Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, • Must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment, • Must be able to identify, assess and observe detail, • Must be able to push and pull up to 35 pounds, • Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, • Must be able to sit, squat and kneel occasionally, • Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner, • May be required to occasionally work in outdoor weather conditions 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.