Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand deeply committed to redefining fast food by focusing on fresh, wholesome ingredients and fostering strong relationships with farmers and local communities. Since its establishment in 2007, Sweetgreen has grown rapidly, creating healthier dining options at an accessible pace and scale. Operating at the intersection of food, people, and purpose, Sweetgreen promotes sustainability and transparency in all its restaurant operations across the United States. The company values diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity, offering a welcoming environment where employees can thrive professionally and personally. Sweetgreen provides comprehensive benefits and career development pathways, making it a sought-after employer in the fast casual dining industry.

The Culinary Lead (also known internally as Kitchen Lead) role at Sweetgreen is an essential position within the kitchen team that emphasizes high standards for food quality, preparation, and presentation. Unlike traditional restaurant kitchen roles, Sweetgreen kitchens do not use grills or fryers, focusing instead on efficient, clean, and precise food preparation methods. As a Culinary Lead, you will be the food quality expert on shift, taking ownership of how every dish is prepped, cooked, and plated to meet Sweetgreen’s exacting standards without managing staff schedules or conducting performance evaluations. This role is primarily about leading by example through craft, coaching, and consistency. You will be the go-to person for food quality and kitchen execution, partnering closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to maintain operational excellence across the restaurant.

Candidates for this role should be passionate about working in the kitchen environment and have a keen eye for consistency and food safety. With experience in high-volume kitchens such as fast casual, quick-service, full-service, or corporate dining, Culinary Leads help elevate team performance by providing on-the-spot feedback and supporting timely preparation to meet operational demands. This position is well-suited for those who want to develop leadership skills with responsibility for food quality and execution but without full people management duties. The path for advancing from Kitchen Lead to General Manager is clear, often within 2-3 years, allowing motivated individuals to grow their career within the company.

Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, tips where applicable, and a range of benefits that include medical, dental, and vision options for part-time and full-time team members. Paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, a free meal every shift, 401(k) plans, and access to a team member merchandise shop are also available to support the wellbeing and growth of employees. The company encourages a healthy work-life balance and provides a supportive environment that helps team members thrive in their roles while contributing to the larger mission of promoting healthier communities through real food.