Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a renowned national restaurant brand that is passionately dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people with real, fresh food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has transformed the fast food industry by offering fresh, flavorful meals rooted in genuine relationships with farmers and local communities. The company’s essential mission is to provide customers with food that is not only delicious but also nutritious, sustainably sourced, and made with integrity. As Sweetgreen continues to expand, it remains committed to growing and investing in its people across restaurants and corporate support centers. This commitment ensures that every team member can actively contribute to and thrive in the growing movement toward healthier eating habits and more conscious food choices. Sweetgreen is an equal-opportunity employer fostering an inclusive workplace free from discrimination based on a wide range of protected identities or statuses, emphasizing its core belief in diversity, equity, and inclusion. The company also complies with federal programs like E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility and supports legal accommodations for those who need them.

The Culinary Lead role, known within Sweetgreen as the Kitchen Lead position, is a critical role within the kitchen responsible for maintaining and elevating food quality through expert preparation, cooking, and presentation. This is a non-management role focused on food craft rather than scheduling or performance evaluation. Culinary Leads are the experts in food quality, setting the standard every shift by leading through example, coaching team members, and ensuring consistent excellence. Unlike traditional restaurant kitchens, Sweetgreen kitchens operate without grills or fryers and are equipped with smart kitchen systems that help create real food done right. The Culinary Lead works collaboratively with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold the company’s high standards for food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence while keeping pace with high-volume service environments.

In this role, Culinary Leads take on vital responsibilities like owning food quality by guaranteeing that every menu item meets Sweetgreen's flavor and food safety standards, prepping and cooking hot food to specification with knives, kitchen tools, and ovens, and providing real-time coaching to their teammates to improve food execution. Managing prep timing and par levels is also a key function, ensuring the kitchen runs smoothly during busy periods. Culinary Leads act as advocates for food quality during shifts, identifying and resolving issues swiftly. This position is ideal for individuals who love being in the kitchen and take pride in consistency, quality, and clean execution without the additional duties of managing people or schedules. It is also a fantastic stepping stone for those interested in eventually advancing to Shift Leader or General Manager positions within 2 to 3 years, as top-performing Kitchen Leads have clear growth opportunities.

The role offers attractive benefits including competitive wages, tips where applicable, medical, dental, and vision plans for both part-time and full-time employees, paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, free meals during every shift, access to a 401(k) plan, and a Team Member Merch Shop. Sweetgreen values individuals with experience in high-volume kitchens such as fast casual, quick-service restaurants, full-service establishments, or corporate dining, making this role accessible to a broad range of culinary professionals. The company also requires team members to meet physical demands essential to the role like standing for long periods, handling weights between 5-50 pounds, and maintaining a strong attention to detail, especially around food safety certifications like Food Handler or ServSafe. Overall, the Culinary Lead role at Sweetgreen is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking company that genuinely prioritizes food integrity, employee growth, and community impact.