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 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.
Director, Compliance
The Director, Compliance will lead the enterprise-wide development, implementation, and oversight of employment related compliance efforts at CAVA to ensure internal policies, procedures, and practices adhere to applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations to mitigate risk while enabling a positive, inclusive, and high-integrity work environment at our Restaurants, Support Centers, and CAVA Foods locations. Reporting to the SVP of People & Culture, the Director, Compliance will serve as a strategic partner in maintaining a culture of compliance while supporting the company’s growth and operational excellence.
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.
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.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead employment related compliance efforts, ensuring CAVA’s policies and practices adhere to applicable regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
- Oversee the development, implementation, and regular auditing of various processes that include company policies, wage and hour standards, predictive scheduling requirements, meal and rest breaks, child labor practices, employment eligibility verifications, and recordkeeping obligations.
- Partner with Legal to monitor and interpret new legislation and employment regulations to develop clear action plans for relevant stakeholders.
- Develop proactive risk mitigation strategies and respond to compliance-related concerns in partnership with Legal, People + Culture, and Operations.
- Partner with Operations, People + Culture, Tech, and other departments to provide guidance on how regulatory changes can be integrated into business processes.
- Lead efforts with cross-functional project teams to conduct risk assessments and provide strategic recommendations on enterprise initiatives.
- Design and deliver training on compliance obligations, including policies and procedures, workplace regulations, and industry-specific standards.
- Drive process improvements and system enhancements to ensure scalable practices across growing multi-state operations.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (HRIS, Payroll, Benefits, Learning + Development) to maintain alignment on compliance related procedures, tools, and documentation.
- Lead recurring compliance audits and prepare required documentation for legal or stakeholder review.
- Advise and report on compliance trends, potential areas of risk, and provide recommendations for mitigation.
The Qualifications:
Education & Experience
- 8–10 years of experience in Human Resources with a strong emphasis on employment compliance, wage and hour standards, policy creation, and project management.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Criminal Justice, Business, or related field required; Advanced HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) strongly preferred.
- Deep understanding of multi-state labor compliance requirements that impact multi-unit operations across multiple states.
- Demonstrated ability to lead compliance initiatives in high-growth, multi-unit environments (restaurant or retail strongly preferred).
- Strong interpersonal and influence skills with experience advising senior leaders.
- Detail-oriented with sound judgement, including strong organizational and project management abilities to lead cross-functional initiatives.
- Must be responsive, proactive, and a self-starter capable of taking projects to completion while problem-solving along the way.
- Willing to work flexibly (including at night and on weekends, as necessary) and to travel as needed.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to maintain stationary position to be able to operate a computer and other office equipment.
- 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 independently and possess strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
- 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
- All exempt and non-exempt employees are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from 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, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or any other characteristic or protected class 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.
