Join CAVA as a Senior Project Manager in Category Management & Culinary Innovation, a pivotal role that shapes the future of our menu offerings and drives sustainable growth across our rapidly expanding restaurant chain. In this position, you will spearhead initiatives that blend culinary creativity with strategic category management, directly impacting customer satisfaction, revenue streams, and market leadership in the fast-casual Mediterranean dining sector. Your work will influence everything from new product launches to supply chain optimizations, ensuring CAVA remains at the forefront of flavorful, health-focused innovation. As a Senior Project Manager, your day-to-day will involve leading end-to-end project lifecycles for culinary innovation projects, from ideation to execution. You will collaborate closely with R&D teams, chefs, procurement specialists, and marketing to develop and launch new menu categories, managing timelines, budgets, and deliverables with precision. Weekly tasks include conducting market analysis on emerging food trends, supplier evaluations, and competitive benchmarking to identify opportunities for product differentiation. Monthly, you will oversee pilot testing of new recipes in select locations, analyzing sales data, customer feedback, and operational feasibility to refine strategies. Key responsibilities encompass negotiating with suppliers for cost-effective sourcing of high-quality ingredients, developing category growth roadmaps targeting 15-20% annual revenue uplift, and cross-functionally aligning stakeholders through structured project meetings and progress reports. You will also mentor junior project coordinators, ensuring team adherence to innovation pipelines and risk mitigation protocols, while tracking KPIs such as time-to-market, cost savings, and innovation success rates. To succeed, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Culinary Arts, or a related field, with an MBA or advanced certification in project management (PMP preferred) highly advantageous. We require at least 7-10 years of progressive experience in category management, product development, or culinary innovation within the retail-restaurant or CPG industry, including 3+ years in a senior project leadership capacity. Proficiency in project management tools like Asana, Microsoft Project, or Smartsheet is essential, alongside expertise in data analytics platforms such as Tableau or Excel for forecasting and performance tracking. Deep knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, HACCP), sustainable sourcing practices, and fast-casual restaurant operations is critical, with proven track record in launching successful food products from concept to commercialization. The ideal candidate excels in strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and meticulous project execution, complemented by strong analytical skills for translating data into actionable insights. You will thrive with exceptional communication abilities to influence executives and external partners, coupled with adaptability in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Industry-specific competencies include trend forecasting in culinary innovation, vendor relationship management, and agile methodologies tailored to food product development, ensuring seamless integration of creativity and operational efficiency. CAVA is a vibrant Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain founded on the mission to bring bold, craveable flavors to everyday meals, with over 300 locations nationwide and ambitious expansion plans. Our culture emphasizes joy, integrity, and teamwork, fostering an inclusive environment where innovative ideas flourish amid collaborative teams of chefs, operators, and strategists. What sets us apart is our commitment to fresh, wholesome ingredients and community impact, creating a workplace that's as energizing as our pitas and dips. We offer competitive compensation reflective of experience (salary not specified), comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, and generous paid time off including parental leave. Additional perks include performance-based bonuses, equity opportunities, flexible hybrid work arrangements, wellness stipends, and employee discounts on CAVA meals, supporting your work-life balance and long-term financial wellness. Advance your career at CAVA through clear promotion paths to Director-level roles, robust professional development via leadership training and industry conferences, and mentorship programs. Take the next step by applying today to contribute to our innovative journey.