Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand that has been dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food since 2007. Recognized for revolutionizing fast food by making it fresh, flavorful, and rooted in strong relationships with farmers and local communities, Sweetgreen is committed to sustainability, health, and transparency. As a fast-casual restaurant chain, Sweetgreen prides itself on delivering nutrient-rich, wholesome salads, grain bowls, and seasonal menu offerings that cater to health-conscious customers and emphasize environmental stewardship. The company fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, offering opportunities for career growth across its restaurants and corporate support centers. Sweetgreen values diversity, equity, and inclusion and provides equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of their background or identity. The brand also participates in the federal E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility and complies with all applicable labor laws.

The Culinary Lead role, referred to internally as the Kitchen Lead, is a pivotal position at Sweetgreen serving as the food quality expert within the kitchen. Unlike traditional kitchen managerial roles that focus heavily on scheduling and performance reviews, this role centers around ownership of food preparation, cooking, and presentation standards. Culinary Leads guide their teammates through craft, coaching, and consistency, playing a vital part in ensuring that every menu item meets the brand's high standards of flavor, safety, and appearance. This is not a people manager role but rather a leadership role focused on food quality and kitchen execution. The Culinary Lead is the go-to person on shift for all matters relating to food and kitchen operations, helping to identify and resolve any quality issues promptly.

In this position, the Culinary Lead will use knives and kitchen tools to prepare and cook hot foods to standard without the use of grills or fryers. They will provide real-time coaching to teammates, manage prep timing and par levels to maintain smooth kitchen flow, and act as an advocate for food quality throughout the shift. They partner closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold critical standards of food safety, cleanliness, and overall operational excellence. This role offers an excellent pathway for individuals interested in advancing toward managerial positions such as General Manager within 2 to 3 years.

Sweetgreen offers its Culinary Leads competitive wages with potential tips depending on location, medical, dental, and vision options for eligible team members, paid vacation, wellness time, and parental leave. Additionally, employees receive a free meal each shift, access to a 401(k) plan, and the opportunity to earn and purchase custom Sweetgreen merchandise. This role requires individuals who love working in a kitchen environment, take pride in delivering consistent, quality food, and enjoy training and supporting their peers in a high-volume fast casual or quick-service restaurant setting. The Culinary Lead position demands physical stamina, attention to detail, food safety knowledge including certifications like Food Handler or ServSafe, and availability to work at least 30 hours per week. Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old and authorized to work in the United States.