Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist (Supplier):

CAVA; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus and long-term incentives

Early Wage Access!

Unlimited PTO

Paid parental leave

401k with company contribution

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

Free CAVA food

Casual work environment

Ground floor of rapidly growing brand

Job summary

CAVA in Plano, TX is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist (Supplier) to monitor supplier compliance, review documentation, and conduct audits to ensure they meet GFSI and regulatory standards while supporting supplier onboarding and growth.

You will travel up to 20% and collaborate with cross-functional teams, turning data into trend reports, and driving continuous improvement in food safety and quality across our supplier network.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with food processing plants (USDA and/or FDA), specifically related to food safety, regulatory, supplier and distribution compliance and GFSI auditing.
• Or, 3+ years experience and Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or related field.
• Experience with supplier and distribution center auditing, monitoring, and approval programs.
• Understanding and experience with GFSI standards.
• Must be able to travel 20%+ and work flexible hours as needed.
• Detail oriented and able to manage projects and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Remain current on regulations pertaining to supplier and distribution center requirements, GFSI.
• Support supplier onboarding and compliance process including the review of documentation, follow-up when necessary, monitoring performance and conducting on site food safety or quality audits.
• Utilize data and reporting to help communicate findings and propose recommendations to the FSQA team.
• Support traceability program needs and mock withdrawals/recalls.
• Work closely with other departments to provide guidance on, and assure implementation of, Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs.
• Product Review / Release - Reviewing production checks for completeness in order to release product.
• Assist with planning and coordinating product evaluations and documenting observations and sharing feedback with culinary and supply chain partners.
• Abide by policies and procedures that support the service mindset.
• Manage timeline expectations within and across teams, deliver on our responsibilities accordingly.
• Earn the trust of Team Members and Managers by consistently embracing CAVA’s values.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Project management

Adaptability

Time management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science / Microbiology

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Word

GFSI audit tools

Job description

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.

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist (Supplier): Role requires 4 days/week in our Plano, TX office.

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist will have an opportunity to work with various suppliers and distribution partners to ensure they meet or exceed regulatory requirements and CAVA food safety and quality standards. This position will play an active role in monitoring supplier performance by tracking data, creating trend reports, reviewing trend reports for problem solving, navigating software solutions for supplier and product documentation reviews, conducting product adherence audits as needed to ensure compliance. This role will also help to support CAVA’s growth by evaluating new suppliers for approval, to include travel. The ideal candidate is naturally curious, has the ability to create trend reports, utilize data to identify trends, and successfully investigate to resolve issues.Understand processing plant regulatory compliance as it relates to GFSI standards. Review documentation and engage with suppliers to ensure CAVA food safety standards are met. This person as needed will travel approximately 20%.

What You’ll Do:

• Remain current and aware of relevant regulations, and legislation as they pertain to supplier and distribution center requirements, GFSI.
• Support the supplier onboarding and compliance process including the review of documentation, following up when necessary, monitoring performance and conducting on site food safety or quality audits.
• Utilize data and reporting to help communicate findings and propose recommendations to the FSQA team.
• Support traceability program needs and mock withdrawals/recalls.
• Work closely with other departments to provide guidance on, and assure implementation of, Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs.
• Product Review / Release - Reviewing production checks for completeness in order to release product.
• Assist with planning and coordinating product evaluations as well as documenting observations and sharing feedback with culinary and supply chain partners.
• Abide by policies and procedures that support the service mindset.
• Manage timeline expectations within and across teams, deliver on our responsibilities accordingly.
• Earn the trust of Team Members and Managers by consistently embracing CAVA’s values.
• Show discipline in bringing consistent performance, communication, and attitude to the job every day.
• Actively contribute to your department in order to complete tasks and meet company goals.
• Recognize the emotional stake each Team Member has in personal and organizational success of this business.

The Qualifications:

• Collaborative and able to work well in a team environment with both internal and external contacts and communicate in a clear and concise manner.
• 5+ years of experience with food processing plants (USDA and/or FDA), specifically related to food safety, regulatory, supplier and distribution compliance and GFSI auditing. Or,
• 3 + years experience and Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Food Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry or related field preferred.
• Experience with supplier and distribution center auditing, monitoring, and approval programs.
• Understanding and experience with GFSI standards..
• Direct experience and able to ensure compliance to various regulatory requirements.
• Comfortable analyzing information and communicating findings and insights utilizing data analysis tools (i.e. Excel, Word).
• Proficient in MS Office programs.
• Must be able to create trend reports using Excel.
• Must be able to travel as needed (20%+) and able to work flexible hours as needed.
• Detail oriented and able to manage projects and work independently.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to maintain stationary position to be able to operate a computer and other office equipment
• For certain positions, must be able to occasionally move or transport items up to 50 pounds
• 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
• 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, or local law.