Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand that is dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since its founding in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized fast food by emphasizing fresh, flavorful meals made from high-quality ingredients, rooted in strong relationships with local farmers and communities. The company continues to grow and aims to develop its team members across its network of restaurants and support center, promoting a workplace culture where food, people, and purpose come together. Sweetgreen is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees, ensuring an inclusive environment free from discrimination based on factors such as sex, gender identity, race, national origin, disability, and more. Candidates can expect a workplace that respects diversity and offers support, including accommodations as permitted by law.

The role of Culinary Lead, also known as Kitchen Lead, at Sweetgreen is a key position centered around food quality and kitchen excellence. This is not a people management role; rather, the Culinary Lead is the expert responsible for how food is prepared, cooked, and presented. Unlike traditional kitchen roles, this position does not involve managing schedules or conducting performance reviews but instead focuses on setting and maintaining standards for food quality every shift. The Culinary Lead acts as the go-to individual for all matters concerning food preparation and kitchen execution, ensuring that every dish meets Sweetgreen’s standards for flavor, safety, and presentation. Sweetgreen’s kitchens are unique, incorporating smart systems and tools without grills or fryers, making the work environment efficient and modern.

Culinary Leads own the quality of food items and contribute to a smooth-running kitchen by managing prep timing and par levels. They play a leading role in giving real-time feedback to teammates to enhance food execution and partner with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence. The company emphasizes growth opportunities for top Kitchen Leads, who have a clear path to becoming General Managers within 2-3 years. This role is an excellent fit for individuals who take pride in culinary craft, enjoy leadership responsibility without full people management duties, and thrive in high-volume kitchen environments such as fast casual, QSR, full-service, or corporate dining. Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, tips at certain locations, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, paid vacation and parental leave, free meals during shifts, a 401(k) plan, and access to a Team Member Merch Shop for custom gear. This is a pivotal role for those looking to grow their career in the restaurant industry while contributing to a movement towards healthier food and communities.