Sr Spec Menu Ops

CAVA•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Sr. Specialist, Ops Innovation helps drive menu strategy and operational innovation across CAVA’s restaurant system. Sitting at the intersection of Operations, Culinary, and Analytics , this role supports the testing, refinement, and scaling of new menu items, equipment, and operational processes. Working closely with the Manager, Ops Innovation, this role blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution , focusing on process optimization, throughput efficiency, clear training and execution standards, and team member experience . This role is responsible for ensuring that CAVA’s innovation pipeline delivers scalable, high-performing solutions . You will directly influence how new menu items and processes are designed, tested, and executed across hundreds of restaurants , impacting both team member experience and business performance .

Requirements

3+ years of experience in restaurant operations, menu innovation, culinary operations, or a related field
Strong understanding of restaurant workflows, station design, and speed-of-service drivers
Experience supporting cross-functional initiatives from concept to execution
Strong communication and organizational skills
You bring a strong operational mindset and understanding of restaurant teams, processes, and workflows
You are comfortable working cross-functionally with large teams
You are organized and balance creativity with discipline and structure
You are data-informed, and execution-driven
You have strong project management experience at scale
You thrive in fast-paced environments and are energized by building things that scale

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting menu launches or LTO programs in fast-casual or QSR
Exposure to operational testing, pilots, or test-and-learn environments
Experience working with field operations teams
Familiarity with operational metrics such as labor, throughput, waste, or prep efficiency

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end test-and-learn cycles , including pilot design, execution, and iteration
Define innovation test success metrics, gathering field feedback, and ensuring initiatives are launch-ready for system-wide rollout
Evaluate and optimize new menu items through an operational lens, focusing on build complexity, station flow, prep processes, and throughput impact
Lead process and performance improvement efforts by identifying operational inefficiencies and implementing solutions that improve business KPIs
Leverage store performance analytics and field insights to assess impact, inform decision-making, and drive scalable improvements across a multi-unit system
Apply change management principles to ensure successful adoption of new processes, tools, and menu initiatives in the field
Partner cross-functionally with Culinary, Operations, Supply Chain, Training, and Analytics to translate innovation into clear, repeatable processes, including the development of SOPs, training materials, and rollout plans
Act as a key connector between innovation, strategy, and restaurant execution , ensuring initiatives are practical, efficient, and deliver measurable business impact

Benefits

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 nonexempt employees are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from 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