Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a pioneering national restaurant brand dedicated to revolutionizing fast food by prioritizing health, sustainability, and community connection through real, fresh food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has established itself as a leader in the fast-casual dining space, offering flavorful, nutritious menu options made with ingredients sourced directly from farmers and local communities. The company believes in cultivating relationships that go beyond just food service, aiming to build healthier communities and inspire sustainable practices. Sweetgreen values diversity and inclusion deeply, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees regardless of gender, race, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. They also comply with federal programs like E-Verify to maintain legal employment standards.

The Culinary Lead role, known internally as Kitchen Lead, is a crucial position within Sweetgreen’s team that focuses entirely on food quality, preparation, and kitchen execution. Unlike traditional managerial roles, this position does not involve managing people through scheduling or performance reviews but instead leads by setting exemplary standards in the kitchen. The Culinary Lead is a food quality expert responsible for making sure every dish meets Sweetgreen’s high standards for flavor, food safety, and presentation. The role requires hands-on engagement with food prep and cooking using precise kitchen tools such as knives and ovens, and emphasizes a clean, efficient kitchen environment free from grills or fryers.

This position is dynamic, working collaboratively with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold operational excellence, food safety, and sanitation while maintaining smooth kitchen flow through effective prep timing and inventory management. The Culinary Lead also acts as a coach on the floor by providing real-time feedback to teammates, helping improve overall food execution standards. This role offers a clear career growth pathway, with top-performing Culinary Leads often advancing to General Manager positions within 2 to 3 years. Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and perks like free meals each shift and access to a team member merchandising shop. This role is ideally suited for individuals passionate about high-quality food preparation, who seek leadership responsibilities without the full scope of personnel management, and want to contribute to a healthier future through food. Candidates with experience in high-volume kitchens such as fast casual, QSR, or corporate dining environments will find this role an excellent fit and a strong foundation for career advancement within Sweetgreen.