Senior Director, Benefits

CAVA; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Early Wage Access

Unlimited PTO

Health, Dental, Vision

401(k) with company contribution

Company-paid STD, LTD, Life

Free CAVA meals

Casual work environment

Job summary

CAVA is seeking a Senior Director of Benefits to shape and lead the total wellbeing and benefits strategy for both Support Center and restaurant teams. You will design, implement, and administer medical, retirement, time-off, and wellbeing initiatives with a strong focus on compliance, vendor management, and employee experience.

You will partner with People Operations, Legal, Finance, and external partners to deliver a seamless, high-impact benefits experience across the country, supporting

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in benefits or total rewards with 3–5 years in leadership.
• Deep knowledge of multi-state benefits design, administration, and compliance.
• Proven success leading wellbeing strategies in growth environments.
• Experience with vendors, brokers, and HR tech platforms.
• Strong communication and project management skills.
• Analytical and financial acumen with cost modeling.
• Ability to build scalable processes in a fast-paced setting.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the overall benefits and wellbeing strategy aligned with culture.
• Oversee design, administration, and compliance of all benefit programs.
• Lead wellbeing initiatives like mental health and financial wellness.
• Manage relationships with brokers, vendors, and third-party admins.
• Ensure plans comply with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS.
• Lead annual renewal, cost modeling, communications, and enrollment.
• Partner with Payroll and HRIS for data integration.
• Provide thought leadership on benefits trends and innovation.
• Analyze utilization data and feedback to improve offerings.
• Lead audits and compliance reporting (Form 5500, etc.).

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Benefits Administration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Health, or related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

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, Always: 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.

Senior Director, Benefits

The Senior Director, Benefits is responsible for shaping and leading CAVA’s total wellbeing and benefits strategy to support our team members’ health, financial security, and overall quality of life. This role plays a critical part in building programs that reflect our people‑first values and support CAVA’s rapid growth across the country. You will lead the design, implementation, and administration of benefits programs—including medical, retirement, time‑off, and wellbeing initiatives—for both Support Center and restaurant teams. With a deep understanding of compliance, vendor management, and employee experience, the Senior Director of Wellbeing & Benefits will ensure our offerings are competitive, inclusive, and scalable. You will partner closely with People Operations, Legal, Finance, and external partners to deliver a seamless, meaningful, and high‑impact benefits experience.

Success at CAVA

At CAVA, Directors align teams, foster cross‑functional collaboration, and translate strategy into action. We look for leaders who develop talent, challenge the status quo, and stay grounded in guest and team member service, inclusion, and long‑term impact.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and lead the overall benefits and wellbeing strategy in alignment with CAVA’s culture, values, and business objectives.
• Oversee the design, administration, and compliance of all benefit programs, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), paid time off, and voluntary benefits.
• Lead the development and expansion of wellbeing initiatives, including mental health, financial wellness, and lifestyle programs that enhance team member experience.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits brokers, vendors, and third‑party administrators to manage performance and optimize services.
• Ensure all benefit plans are compliant with federal, state, and local laws, including ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and IRS regulations.
• Lead the annual benefits renewal process, including plan design analysis, cost modeling, communications, and open enrollment execution.
• Create and manage a benefits communication strategy to increase team member awareness and understanding of total rewards offerings.
• Partner with Payroll, People Operations, and HRIS to ensure seamless data integration and accurate benefits administration.
• Provide thought leadership on benefits trends, benchmarking, and innovation to inform future strategy.
• Analyze benefits utilization data and team member feedback to continuously improve offerings and accessibility.
• Lead audits, filings, and compliance reporting including Form 5500s, nondiscrimination testing, and required notices.
• Support DE&I efforts by ensuring benefits and wellbeing offerings are inclusive and accessible for all team members.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, SLAs, and issue resolution to ensure high‑quality service delivery.
• Coach and develop a high‑performing benefits and wellbeing team to support execution and innovation.

The Qualifications

Education & Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in benefits, wellbeing, or total rewards, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of benefits design, administration, and compliance in a multi‑state environment.
• Proven success managing wellbeing strategies and benefits programs in high‑growth or multi‑unit industries such as hospitality, retail, or healthcare.
• Strong experience with benefits vendors, brokers, and HR technology platforms.
• Exceptional communication and project management skills, with a focus on team member education and engagement.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with experience in cost modeling, benchmarking, and ROI evaluation.
• Ability to navigate complexity, build scalable processes, and adapt in a fast‑paced environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Health, or related field preferred.

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 position 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!
• 401(k) 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.

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.

California applicants: Please visit our Notice at Collection and Privacy Policy to learn about our information practices in the job application and employment context.

Skills

• Project Management
• Communication
• Benefits Administration