Design Director Job at CAVA - Support Center in 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: 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 Director of Special Projects:

Are you an agile design & construction leader that excels at creating and executing special projects and enterprise roll-out programs? Are you able to work cross-functionally, communicate clear goals, set high expectations, and achieve results? 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 four states with further expansion ahead. We are looking for a Senior Director to join the Development Group at CAVA, helping us reach new communities with each new location.

What You’ll Do:

• Establishes metrics of success related to the guest-first mindset; holds self and others accountable to a high standard of performance
• Sets expectations of high-quality work and goal setting across departments
• Leads diversity and inclusion efforts within teams; influences managers to do the same
• Accountable for assessing team’s talent and ensuring the right people are in the right roles
• Establishes what team success looks like and effectively communicates that vision to direct reports
• Oversees innovation and growth at the team level; takes accountability for these elements aligning with our Key Initiatives
• Models emotional resilience and intelligence in all facets of their role
• Lead all design, construction, and purchasing aspects of Remodel Programs, Roll-outs of various scales, and Special Restaurant Projects tied to company Key Initiatives.
• Partner with internal cross-functional stakeholders (including but not limited to Culinary, Digital, Operations, Marketing, Technology) on Key initiatives supporting CAVA restaurants. Areas of work will include but are not limited to – full restaurant remodels, off-premises formats, kitchen-of-the-future innovation, culinary/equipment innovation and continuous improvement, and digital/physical experience. 
• Establish Program guardrails and strategies, lead a team of internal and external partners.
• Prepare initial project schedules in conjunction with internal stakeholders for review/approval by Leadership.
• Partner with cross-functional leads to create Capital Budgets, and work with Finance to establish initiative ROI’s.
• Oversee Kick-Off meetings with internal stakeholders and Consultants, provide support to team members prior to meetings, review meeting materials as necessary. 
• Review design documents and specifications, provide feedback relative to constructability, budget, and schedule impacts, as needed.
• Provide program updates to Leadership, create program reports and perform regular data analysis to track progress against Company Strategy.
• Identify potential Risks to Execution, create recommendations for risk mitigation for review with Leadership.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement. Turn information gathered into results that influence current processes or recommend new/improved initiatives that drive results.
• Prepare high-quality presentations for presentation to Leadership.
• Ensure consultant deliverables are in accordance with Industry Standards and Best Practices. 
• Evaluate cross-functional and vendor deliverables and collaborate with teams to develop improved process, planning/tracking documents and communication protocols.
• Strengthen existing contractor/vendor partnerships by providing ongoing performance feedback, and identify opportunities for  improvement and increased efficiency.
• Hire, onboard and train new team members and third party consultants, vendors, and contractors.
• Own Third Party Consultants’ Master Service Agreements.  Continuously evaluate Consultant performance, evaluate, hire and onboard new Consultants to support work, as needed. Partner with CAVA enterprise Sourcing and Legal Teams to ensure consistency and alignment with company standards.
• Travel to restaurant sites in any CAVA markets, and attend progress meetings as needed, to ensure brand standards and project requirements are met.
• Maintain detailed files for all projects in accordance with CAVA filing standards. 

The Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years’ professional experience in design or construction, with 5 years overseeing restaurant roll-out projects.
• Minimum 5 years in a management role, with at least 1 year as a Director or equivalent, and responsible for overseeing a multi-disciplinary team.
• Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and Adobe Creative Suite proficient. 
• Architectural License, Rendering, 3D modeling, and hand sketching skills a plus. 
• Project Management Certification 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 40% throughout CAVA markets. 

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 posted range is an all-cash range

*Indicates qualifying eligible positions only, and conditions may apply

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.