Senior Director Talent Acquisition

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, Talent Acquisition

As the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, you will lead the development and execution of enterprise-wide talent acquisition strategies that support CAVA’s dynamic growth and continued success. This role is responsible for building and scaling best-in-class hiring practices across all parts of our business, including the Support Center, Restaurant Operations, and CAVA Foods. You’ll manage a high-performing team of talent acquisition leaders and partner closely with business and People + Culture leadership to ensure we are attracting, engaging, and hiring exceptional talent aligned with CAVA’s mission and values.

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.

Success at CAVA: At CAVA, Senior Directors align teams across multiple areas, manage large regions or functions, and shape cross-functional strategy and execution. We look for leaders who foster collaboration, shape culture, and build scalable practices that drive performance and long-term value.

What You’ll Do:

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide talent acquisition strategy aligned with workforce planning, overseeing dedicated leaders for the Support Center, Restaurant Operations, and CAVA Foods hiring efforts.
• Act as a strategic advisor to business leaders on hiring best practices, organizational structure, and talent market dynamics.
• Partner with People + Culture leadership, department heads, and cross functional leaders to understand workforce planning needs and proactively align recruiting strategies.
• Mentor and develop a team of TA leaders and recruiters, fostering a high-performing and mission-driven team culture.
• Collaborate with key functions within People + Culture (Compensation, Learning + Development, and other partners) to ensure a seamless and aligned experience from hire to onboarding.
• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion through thoughtful sourcing, outreach, and hiring practices.

• Oversee high-volume recruitment for field-level roles (hourly, restaurant managers) while also managing talent pipelines for corporate and executive positions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Marketing, Finance, and HR to align recruiting priorities with business goals.
• Build scalable, efficient, and inclusive hiring processes that drive both quality and speed of hire.

• Build and elevate the employer brand, a consistent and compelling one that reflects CAVA’s mission and culture across all candidate touchpoints.
• Develop attraction strategies for top talent across all levels; lead initiatives related to social media, careers site, job fairs, and community partnerships.
• Champion a best-in-class candidate experience that reflects our values and creates advocates for our brand—even among non-hires.

Operational Excellence & Analytics

• Design and optimize recruiting processes, systems, and tools to drive efficiency, consistency, and compliance.
• Own talent acquisition metrics and reporting (time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, quality of hire, DEI pipeline data, etc.) and use insights to drive continuous improvement
• Champion a world-class candidate experience and continuously improve the full lifecycle recruiting process.

The Qualifications:

• You have 10+ years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, including experience leading enterprise TA teams across multiple functions and geographies, preferably within restaurant, hospitality, or retail industries
• You have successfully built and scaled high-performing recruiting functions in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments.
• You are equally comfortable thinking strategically and rolling up your sleeves to solve problems and drive execution.
• You are passionate about building inclusive teams and driving equitable hiring outcomes.
• You have deep expertise in high-volume, corporate, and/or manufacturing recruitment.
• You are a strong communicator who can build trust and influence across a wide range of stakeholders.
• You bring a data-driven mindset and use metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• You thrive in a mission-driven, people-first culture and care deeply about creating meaningful experiences for candidates, hiring managers, and your team.

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 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  
• Occasional travel may be necessary to attend in-person meetings, restaurant visits, or conferences

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
• All full -time exempt and non-exempt employees are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective the 1st of the month following 30 days of service.  

*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.

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.

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