Assistant Production Manager

CAVA; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus and long-term incentives

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Vacation accrual

Health, Dental, Vision, Telemedicine

401k enrollment

Company-paid STD, LTD, Life and AD&D

Employee discount

Casual work environment

Ground floor of a growing brand

Benefits for all employees

Job summary

CAVA Foods is seeking a Bilingual Assistant Production Manager to lead and support production operations on the floor, ensuring adherence to schedules, quality standards, and safety protocols. This role provides English/Spanish translation and support as needed.

The ideal candidate brings 2–4 years in food manufacturing with leadership experience, strong communication, and problem-solving abilities, and a background in GMP/HACCP compliance. Join a growing brand with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish and English required.
• 2–4 years in food manufacturing or production with lead experience preferred.
• High school diploma required; Associate's or Bachelor's in Operations Management or related field preferred.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead & support production operations, guiding frontline associates and coordinating with plant leadership.
• Coordinate production activities across departments to meet schedules and uphold quality and safety standards.
• Communicate with the Assistant Plant Manager and Production Supervisors to ensure smooth operations and timely issue resolution.
• Monitor production flow and elevate downtime or quality issues to minimize disruption.
• Participate in daily shift huddles and assist with maintenance and sanitation activities.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish-English

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma

Associate's or Bachelor's in Operations Management or related

Job description

Company Profile: At CAVA Foods we love what we do, and we manufacture every product to be as fulfilling as the last. At our manufacturing center we are looking for fanatics in food who take pride in our products and are ready to ensure every CAVA Restaurant and retail partner receives products that uphold the high-quality standards of our brand. Our mission is to bring heart, health, and humanity to food-we do that through hiring great people who care about our commitment to hospitality and generosity. At CAVA Foods, we produce food you can be proud of. And we employ people you want to grow with. Discover the right opportunity for you and flavor your future 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. Love the food at our restaurants? CAVA Foods team members enjoy a Restaurant Meal Benefit that provides free and discounted meals every day of the week.

Bilingual Assistant Production Manager

The Assistant Production Manager serves as a key leader on the production floor, acting as the primary resource for frontline team members and a direct link to plant leadership. This role supports day-to-day operations across production departments, communicating clearly in both Spanish & English-Ingredient Prep, Batching, Filling, and Packaging-ensuring adherence to schedules, quality standards and safety protocols. The Assistant Production Manager is a hands‑on leader who answers frequent team member questions, resolves issues quickly, and drives alignment with production and company goals. In addition, this role provides English/ Spanish translation and interpretation support as needed.

What You’ll Do:

Lead & Support Production Operations Serve as the go‑to resource for frontline associates, providing guidance on processes, troubleshooting, and daily priorities. Assist in coordinating production activities across departments to meet schedules and uphold quality and safety standards. Communicate effectively with the Assistant Plant Manager and Production Supervisors to ensure smooth operations and timely issue resolution. Monitor production flow and elevate concerns promptly to minimize downtime and maintain efficiency. Participate in daily shift huddles to reinforce priorities and share updates. Support coordination of maintenance and sanitation activities.

Ensure Food Safety & Quality Uphold Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and ensure compliance with food safety protocols. Support FSQA initiatives by monitoring process controls and documentation accuracy. Immediately address and elevate any deviations, quality issues, or non‑conformances.

Drive Team Engagement Foster a positive, collaborative, and safety‑first culture on the production floor. Provide informal coaching and feedback to team members to encourage growth and accountability. Model CAVA's mission, values, and leadership behaviors.

Continuous Improvement Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve yields, and optimize labor efficiency. Support implementation of new processes and equipment to enhance productivity. Analize downtime, yields, and labor data to identify improvement opportunities.

The Qualifications:

• Bilingual: Fluency in Spanish and English required
• Experience: 2-4 years in food manufacturing or production environment, with prior leadership or lead experience preferred.
• Education: High school diploma required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Food Science, or related field preferred.
• Leadership: Ability to lead by example, answer questions, and maintain team alignment in a fast‑paced environment.
• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with food manufacturing processes and safety standards.
• Food Safety Knowledge: Understanding of HACCP, GMPs, and regulatory compliance.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Physical Requirements: Physical dexterity, ability to lift up to 45lbsand push/pull rolling bowls, carts, and containers with up to 550 lbs of product. The ability to work in varied environmental conditions (dry, cold). The ability to stand and work on feet for 8 to 10 hours at a time. Must be able to identify, assess and observe detail. Ability to communicate with others and exchange information accurately and effectively. Ability to squat, kneel, bend and twist. Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner. Allergens: We prepare products with milk and sesame containing ingredients. Team members must be able to work with these ingredients.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary, plus bonus and long-term incentives*
• Early Wage Access!
• Six (6) paid holidays annually
• Paid sick leave
• Vacation accrual beginning at 3rd month
• 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*
• CAVA restaurant employee discount
• Casual work environment
• The opportunity to be on the ground floor of a rapidly growing brand
• All employees are eligible for benefits.

*Indicates qualifying eligible positions only CAVA - Joining "A culture, not a concept" 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. 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.