Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized restaurant brand committed to fostering healthier communities through a deep connection to real food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen revolutionized the fast food industry by emphasizing fresh, flavorful meals made from quality ingredients sourced directly from trusted farmers. This approach not only ensures nutritional value but also supports sustainable agricultural practices and local economies. Sweetgreen prides itself on creating a welcoming environment for its employees and customers alike, where food, people, and purpose align to promote well-being and community engagement. The company actively promotes diversity and inclusion by providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and team members regardless of gender, race, age, or any protected status under federal, state, or local laws. Sweetgreen also prioritizes compliance with employment eligibility verification programs such as E-Verify and accommodates applicants with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. By joining Sweetgreen, employees become part of a larger movement dedicated to reshaping the fast-casual dining landscape while contributing to their own personal and professional growth.

The Culinary Lead role, known internally as Kitchen Lead, is a pivotal position within Sweetgreen’s kitchen operations. This role is distinct from traditional kitchen leadership positions as it does not entail managing schedules or conducting performance reviews but focuses intensively on ensuring the highest standards of food quality. The Culinary Lead acts as the food quality expert in the kitchen, responsible for overseeing how food is prepped, cooked, and presented every shift. Unlike typical restaurant kitchens with grills and fryers, Sweetgreen’s kitchens utilize smart systems designed for clean, flame-free cooking methods, thereby promoting healthier food preparation and streamlined operations.

As a Culinary Lead, you will own the standards of food preparation and consistency, serving as the primary advocate for quality and kitchen execution during your shifts. Your leadership is demonstrated through craftsmanship, real-time coaching, and maintaining consistent food standards. This role requires a passion for food quality, attention to detail, and the ability to manage kitchen workflows efficiently, including prep timing and inventory levels to accommodate volume demands. While you won’t be responsible for people management duties such as scheduling, you will collaborate closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence.

This position offers a clear growth path within the company, with top-performing Kitchen Leads progressing to General Manager roles within 2-3 years. The role is ideal for candidates who love working in a kitchen environment, take pride in food quality, and desire leadership responsibility without full managerial duties. Sweetgreen provides competitive wages, tips where applicable, and benefits including medical, dental, vision coverage for both part-time and full-time employees, paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, free meals during shifts, and 401(k) retirement plans. Position holders will also gain valuable experience in high-volume kitchens and develop skills essential for future leadership opportunities in the company.