Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized fast-casual restaurant brand that focuses on building healthier communities by connecting people with real, fresh, and flavorful food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized the fast food industry by emphasizing transparency, sustainability, and quality in every dish. As a company deeply rooted in relationships with farmers, suppliers, and local communities, Sweetgreen is dedicated to creating spaces where food, people, and purpose converge to foster well-being and positive social impact. The brand continues to grow and develop as it empowers its employees and invests in their career growth and personal development through various leadership pathways and inclusive workplace culture.

The Culinary Lead position, known internally as Kitchen Lead, holds a crucial role in maintaining and elevating the quality standards of the food prepared in Sweetgreen kitchens. This role is not a traditional people management job; rather, it is centered on being the food quality expert who ensures each dish is prepared with the highest level of craftsmanship and consistency. Culinary Leads are responsible for overseeing how food is prepped, cooked, and presented every shift. They lead by example and provide real-time coaching to teammates to enhance food execution and safety. The environment is unique - with no grills or fryers - focusing instead on smart kitchen systems and wholesome ingredients.

This role offers a clear path for career advancement, as top-performing Kitchen Leads often progress to General Manager roles within 2-3 years. By joining Sweetgreen as a Culinary Lead, individuals become part of a movement committed to rewriting the future of fast food while growing their careers. The role offers competitive wages, potential tips depending on location, and benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage for part-time and full-time employees. Additional perks include paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, free meals during shifts, 401(k) options, and access to a Team Member Merch Shop.

In this position, Culinary Leads own food quality by ensuring all menu items meet Sweetgreen's standards for flavor, presentation, and food safety. They prepare and cook hot food using kitchen tools and ovens without the use of flames or fryers. The role demands strong attention to detail, environmental awareness, and the ability to handle physically demanding tasks like lifting items weighing up to 50 pounds. Culinary Leads collaborate closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence, making them indispensable advocates for maintaining Sweetgreen's high standards.

Ideal candidates love being in the kitchen and take pride in clean execution and consistent food quality. They seek leadership responsibility without full people management and enjoy training peers, especially during new menu launches. Experience in high-volume kitchens such as fast casual, quick service restaurants, full-service dining, or corporate dining settings is highly valued. Sweetgreen is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion across all aspects of employment, welcoming applicants regardless of sex, gender identity, age, race, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. The company participates in the federal E-Verify program and provides accommodations as permitted by law.