Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has transformed the fast food industry by focusing on fresh, flavorful meals made from real ingredients sourced through strong relationships with farmers and local communities. It positions itself uniquely in the fast-casual dining sector by promoting healthy eating habits and sustainability. Sweetgreen is committed to fostering growth and development for its employees across its restaurants and support centers. The company prides itself on offering equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, age, disability, or veteran status, reflecting its inclusive culture and values. Sweetgreen also supports federal compliance with programs like E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility.

The Culinary Lead, known as the Kitchen Lead at Sweetgreen, is a critical role within the company's operational framework, primarily focusing on maintaining exceptional food quality standards. This position is distinct from traditional kitchen roles as it does not involve people management responsibilities such as scheduling or performance reviews. Instead, the Culinary Lead serves as the food quality expert in the kitchen, responsible for ensuring that every item prepared meets Sweetgreen's high standards for flavor, safety, and presentation. The role involves leading by example, providing real-time coaching, and ensuring consistent food execution across all shifts. The Culinary Lead works closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety and operational excellence, making it a pivotal position for maintaining the brand's reputation and customer satisfaction.

Unlike typical restaurant kitchens, Sweetgreen kitchens operate without grills or fryers, focusing instead on smart systems and carefully prepared real food. The Culinary Lead takes pride in overseeing all kitchen processes related to prepping and cooking hot food using safe and efficient methods such as knives, kitchen tools, and ovens. This role is ideal for individuals who love working in a fast-paced kitchen environment, who are passionate about food quality and consistency, and who enjoy sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with their teammates. It offers a pathway to further leadership opportunities, allowing top performers to progress to General Manager positions within two to three years.

Employment for this position includes competitive wages with opportunities for tips depending on location and role, along with benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage available to part-time and full-time employees. Additional perks include paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, a free meal every shift, a 401(k) plan where eligible, and access to a Team Member Merch Shop featuring custom Sweetgreen gear. The role requires a commitment to working at least 30 hours per week and mandates compliance with food safety certifications such as Food Handler or ServSafe. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and be at least 18 years old, with the ability to handle physically demanding tasks and maintain high attention to detail and cleanliness throughout kitchen operations. Sweetgreen invites those who are passionate about health, food quality, and sustainable fast-casual dining to join their movement and grow their futures with the company.