[Hiring] Senior New Restaurant Opening Planning Manager @CAVA

Role Description

The NRO Planning Manager supports the tactical execution of the company’s restaurant growth plan by owning schedules, processes, and cross-functional coordination for new restaurant openings. This role plays a critical part in optimizing capacity, controlling costs, and ensuring that the NRO field team can focus on execution. The Planning Manager leads the planning and coordination of all activities related to openings, while maintaining clear communication across departments and providing timely reporting and logistical support.

• Build, manage, and update deployment schedules and opening timelines to ensure timely and efficient execution.
• Track and report on turnover dates, opening schedules, trainer rosters, and key milestones.
• Analyze ROI of deployment plans (travel, labor, time) to inform cost-effective decisions.
• Review and approve team expense reports on a recurring fiscal schedule to ensure policy compliance and budget accuracy.
• Approve invoices for all pre-open expenditures, ensuring accuracy and alignment with budget expectations.
• Partner with the L&D team to ensure effective GM placements and delivery of comprehensive training programs.
• Manage all external inquiries related to permitting and inspections, facilitating seamless communication with internal field teams.
• Facilitate escalation of vendor issues during new restaurant openings, collaborating with both internal teams and external partners to drive resolution.
• Forecast support needs and coordinate sequencing and timing of field logistics.

Team Leadership & Project Oversight

• Lead, develop, and support the NRO Coordinator(s), setting clear goals and performance expectations.
• Own and maintain NRO tools, templates, and project plans to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Conduct post-opening evaluations to capture learnings and inform process improvements.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Support cross-functional collaboration by managing opening updates, meeting cadences, and pipeline tracking reports.
• Serve as the point of contact for scheduling and execution updates across teams and external vendors.
• Collaborate with internal partners on procurement, supply readiness, and vendor coordination for openings.

Process Management & Resource Planning

• Identify gaps in current NRO processes and propose updates to improve scalability and efficiency.
• Enhance and maintain reference materials and operational resources used by the NRO team.
• Ensure adherence to internal processes and company policies across all openings.

Field Support Coordination

• Recommend trainer staffing and placement based on scheduling needs and capacity plans.
• Troubleshoot opening challenges at Turn Over and coordinate responses with the field team.
• Use project management tools to track tasks, updates, and documentation in real time.
• Lead teams to accomplish priorities and initiatives with the impact for the guest in mind.
• Effectively communicate goals, priorities, and action items to direct reports; actively give feedback on progress updates.
• Conduct impactful and meaningful DE&I conversations within team and organization.
• Create opportunities for Team Members to grow in their roles and progress into higher roles in the organization.
• Execute effective decision-making skills to lead team to succeed.
• Oversee innovative solutions proposed by direct reports.
• Maintain emotional stability in stressful situations; lead by example for how our team should handle adversity.
• 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 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.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in new restaurant openings, operations support, or multi-unit coordination.
• Proven experience managing direct reports or project contributors.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with strong attention to detail.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); project management software experience preferred.
• Budget tracking and reporting experience is a plus.
• Strong sense of ownership, follow-through, and ability to work independently.

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.
• Frequent travel may be required, up to 40%.

Benefits

• 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.