FSQA Specailist

CAVA; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Telemedicine

Pet insurance

401k plan

Paid parental leave

Free CAVA food

Casual work environment

Early wage access

Job summary

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist at CAVA Foods will collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to ensure compliance with FDA/USDA and CAVA quality standards. You will monitor supplier performance, review documentation, generate trend reports, conduct audits, and help qualify new suppliers for approval, including travel as needed.

You will analyze data to identify trends, support traceability and recalls, and partner cross-functionally to implement food safety and quality

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in food processing plants (USDA/FDA) or similar regulatory setting.
• 3+ years experience with BS in Food Science or related field.
• Experience with supplier and distribution center auditing, monitoring and approval programs.
• Understanding of GFSI standards and regulatory requirements.
• Must travel ~20% and be able to work flexible hours.

Responsibilities

• Stay current with relevant regulations for supplier and distribution center requirements.
• Support supplier onboarding, document review, and on-site audits.
• Review supplier documentation to ensure CAVA food safety standards are met.
• Trend nonconformances, investigate issues, and resolve promptly.
• Use data to communicate findings and propose FSQA improvements.

Skills

Data analysis

Communication

Detail oriented

Project management

Education

BS in Food Science

Tools

Excel

MS Word

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, : We lead with kindness. Our best work happens when we act in 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 (CAVA Foods):

The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist will have an opportunity to work with various suppliers 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, and building and maintaining a raw material inspection program. 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, successfully investigate to resolve issues and understand processing plant regulatory compliance as it relates to GFSI standards. 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.
• 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.
• Review documentation and engage with suppliers to ensure CAVA food safety standards are met.
• Monitoring supplier performance includes trending nonconformances, initiating investigations as needed and ensuring concerns are adequately resolved in a timely manner.
• Utilize data and reporting to help communicate findings and propose recommendations to the FSQA team.
• Support traceability program needs and mock withdrawals/recalls.
• Manage the holds and corrective actions program associated with food manufacturing plant
• Work closely with other departments to provide guidance on, and assure implementation of, Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs, including training as needed.
• Product Review / Release - Reviewing production checks for completeness in order to release product.
• Backfill QA tech responsibilities (line checks, daily qa checks, etc), support operations and production as needed
• 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 a positive 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.
• Report to the Sr. FSQA Manager of Cava Foods

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, able to manage projects, work independently and self-motivated.

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
• 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
• *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.