Supplier Quality Assurance Manager

Are you task-focused and detail-oriented, with a passion for food quality and vendor management? Are you a natural doer who’s motivated to serve the best quality food for CAVA? Do you want to get in on the ground floor of a fast growing, entrepreneurial-minded business? If this is you, we want you to join our team!

CAVA is a fast-growing culinary brand with a portfolio of fast casual restaurants and a packaged goods line dedicated to fresh, Mediterranean inspired, better-for-you cuisine. Born from a full service restaurant collaboration between three first-generation Greek American childhood friends in the Washington, D.C. area, our chef-driven fast casual format has currently more than 45 restaurants in ten states, with further expansion ahead.

We are looking for a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager to join our Food and Beverage Team and lead the implementation and management of our Supplier Quality Assurance program. As the Supplier Quality Assurance Manager, you will contribute to CAVA’s success by developing, implementing and monitoring the highest levels of food safety and vendor audit program in the industry. You will ensure all purchasing categories meet rigorous quality and food safety standards.

Our ideal candidate is energetic, communicative, and highly organized has a passion for food and adapts to growing change easily.

As a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager, you will:
• Develop, implement, and manage all CAVA Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) programs and policies related to the purchase of raw materials (Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Paper, and Chemicals)
• Assess the risk of suppliers and ingredients, and categorizing the level of scrutiny for each
• Audit distributor and suppliers, including food processors, packaging facilities, and storage facilities and understand their capabilities and limits.
• Maintain a thorough profile for every supplier, including documentation of supplier visits and mandatory supplier-provided QA and food safety documentation.
• Align SQA Program to third party requirements, such as FDA regulations, USDA Organic program, NonGMO Project, Star-K, and SQF Level 2 certifications.
• Ensure vendor regulatory compliance with USDA, FDA, State and local authorities and act as division’s primary liaison with these agencies.
• Serve as the main point of contact for all recall communication from suppliers and coordinate recall plan with operations and the public relations team.
• Manage Supply Chain Software FoodLogIQ that includes recalls, withdraws, and traceability.
• Stay current of new food safety or regulatory changes as it relates to ingredients purchased by CAVA.
• Provide technical support and expertise in quality related problem solving, risk analysis and crisis management.

You’ll need:
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, food safety, food technology, microbiology, engineering, chemistry or related field.
• Minimum 6-year experience with audits, writing reports, and interpreting corrective action responses.
• Experience in auditing a wide range of facilities (minimum of two: Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Paper, Chemicals.)
• A comprehensive understanding of quality systems, food safety programs, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GMPs, HACCP, Organic compliance and standards (e.g. NOP), food microbiology, and chemistry.
• An understanding of food safety regulations, laws, and best practices, including those from FDA, USDA, and other state and local agencies
• Any combination of the following (Minimum of Two):
o Microbiological background
o Knowledgeable of USDA regulations
o Prior experience in USDA facility
o Experience with Food and Drug Administration (Direct Dealing)
o Nutritional background
o Organic/natural regulations
o Kosher certification experience
o Food science background
• Ability to work flexible hours, as needed.
• Must be able to be away from home and willing to travel by car and/or airplane. Estimated travel can be up to 50%.
• Experience with SQF and FoodLogIQ is preferred.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and planning skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.

We Offer:
• Competitive base salary and annual bonus potential
• Benefits options including: health, dental, vision, telemedicine, short and long term disability insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and 401K with CAVA match
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO)
• Free CAVA food
• Four Community days per year to help the world with acts of services/volunteering
• The opportunity to be on the ground floor of helping craft the vision of a rapidly growing brand

CAVA – joining “A culture, not a concept™”

Are you task-focused and detail-oriented, with a passion for food quality and vendor management? Are you a natural doer who’s motivated to serve the best quality food for CAVA? Do you want to get in on the ground floor of a fast growing, entrepreneurial-minded business? If this is you, we want you to join our team!

CAVA is a fast-growing culinary brand with a portfolio of fast casual restaurants and a packaged goods line dedicated to fresh, Mediterranean inspired, better-for-you cuisine. Born from a full service restaurant collaboration between three first-generation Greek American childhood friends in the Washington, D.C. area, our chef-driven fast casual format has currently more than 45 restaurants in ten states, with further expansion ahead.

We are looking for a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager to join our Food and Beverage Team and lead the implementation and management of our Supplier Quality Assurance program. As the Supplier Quality Assurance Manager, you will contribute to CAVA’s success by developing, implementing and monitoring the highest levels of food safety and vendor audit program in the industry. You will ensure all purchasing categories meet rigorous quality and food safety standards.

Our ideal candidate is energetic, communicative, and highly organized has a passion for food and adapts to growing change easily.

As a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager, you will:
• Develop, implement, and manage all CAVA Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) programs and policies related to the purchase of raw materials (Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Paper, and Chemicals)
• Assess the risk of suppliers and ingredients, and categorizing the level of scrutiny for each
• Audit distributor and suppliers, including food processors, packaging facilities, and storage facilities and understand their capabilities and limits.
• Maintain a thorough profile for every supplier, including documentation of supplier visits and mandatory supplier-provided QA and food safety documentation.
• Align SQA Program to third party requirements, such as FDA regulations, USDA Organic program, NonGMO Project, Star-K, and SQF Level 2 certifications.
• Ensure vendor regulatory compliance with USDA, FDA, State and local authorities and act as division’s primary liaison with these agencies.
• Serve as the main point of contact for all recall communication from suppliers and coordinate recall plan with operations and the public relations team.
• Manage Supply Chain Software FoodLogIQ that includes recalls, withdraws, and traceability.
• Stay current of new food safety or regulatory changes as it relates to ingredients purchased by CAVA.
• Provide technical support and expertise in quality related problem solving, risk analysis and crisis management.

You’ll need:
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, food safety, food technology, microbiology, engineering, chemistry or related field.
• Minimum 6-year experience with audits, writing reports, and interpreting corrective action responses.
• Experience in auditing a wide range of facilities (minimum of two: Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Paper, Chemicals.)
• A comprehensive understanding of quality systems, food safety programs, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GMPs, HACCP, Organic compliance and standards (e.g. NOP), food microbiology, and chemistry.
• An understanding of food safety regulations, laws, and best practices, including those from FDA, USDA, and other state and local agencies
• Any combination of the following (Minimum of Two):
o Microbiological background
o Knowledgeable of USDA regulations
o Prior experience in USDA facility
o Experience with Food and Drug Administration (Direct Dealing)
o Nutritional background
o Organic/natural regulations
o Kosher certification experience
o Food science background
• Ability to work flexible hours, as needed.
• Must be able to be away from home and willing to travel by car and/or airplane. Estimated travel can be up to 50%.
• Experience with SQF and FoodLogIQ is preferred.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and planning skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.

We Offer:
• Competitive base salary and annual bonus potential
• Benefits options including: health, dental, vision, telemedicine, short and long term disability insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and 401K with CAVA match
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO)
• Free CAVA food
• Four Community days per year to help the world with acts of services/volunteering
• The opportunity to be on the ground floor of helping craft the vision of a rapidly growing brand

CAVA – joining “A culture, not a concept™”