Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand committed to building healthier communities by connecting people to real, fresh food. Since its founding in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized the fast food industry by emphasizing quality ingredients, flavor, and sustainable relationships with farmers and local suppliers. The company’s focus on health, sustainability, and community has made it a leader in the fast casual dining space, inspiring a movement toward better eating habits and a more conscious food culture. Sweetgreen continues to grow rapidly across the United States, offering innovative menu options that prioritize nutrition and environmental responsibility while maintaining convenience and accessibility for customers.

As a Culinary Lead at Sweetgreen, also known as a Kitchen Lead, you will be the expert responsible for maintaining the highest standards of food quality within the kitchen. This role eschews the traditional restaurant kitchen environment by eliminating grills and fryers, instead focusing on kitchens equipped with smart systems that enable food to be prepped, cooked, and presented to perfection without flame or fryer oil. Unlike typical management roles, this position does not involve people management duties like writing schedules or conducting performance reviews, but rather centers on leading by example in craft, consistency, and coaching on food preparation and quality. You will be the go-to person for food execution, ensuring every item prepared meets Sweetgreen’s standards for flavor, safety, and presentation during every shift.

The Culinary Lead plays a critical role in supporting the team by providing real-time feedback to teammates, managing prep timing and inventory par levels to maintain smooth kitchen operations, and partnering with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety practices and cleanliness standards. This role offers a leadership opportunity for individuals passionate about food craftsmanship who seek responsibility and influence over food quality without the full scope of people management. It is also an excellent stepping stone for career growth within Sweetgreen, with a clear path to becoming a General Manager typically within 2 to 3 years.

Working as a Culinary Lead at Sweetgreen means joining a culture that values detailed attention to the food itself, environmental awareness in the kitchen, and accountability for operational excellence. Sweetgreen provides competitive wages, opportunities for advancement, and benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible part-time and full-time team members. Additional perks include paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, free meals every shift, a 401(k) plan, and access to a team member merchandise shop where employees can earn and purchase custom Sweetgreen gear. The role also offers the potential for tipping depending on location and eligibility. Overall, this position is ideal for individuals who love working in the kitchen, take pride in quality and consistency, and want to make a meaningful impact on the way food is crafted and served at one of today’s most innovative fast casual dining brands.