Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand committed to building healthier communities by connecting people to real, fresh food. Established in 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined the fast-food experience, focusing on providing flavorful, wholesome meals made from quality ingredients sourced directly from farmers and local communities. Sweetgreen’s dedication lies not only in the food it serves but also in fostering a culture of sustainability, health, and empowerment across its network of restaurants and support centers. The brand prioritizes equal opportunity and inclusivity, ensuring a welcoming environment for all team members and applicants without regard to race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics by law. Sweetgreen is actively engaged in supporting its employees’ growth and success, providing a clear pathway to leadership roles for top performers. It also complies with employment eligibility verification programs, such as E-Verify, underscoring its commitment to lawful and fair hiring practices. For California residents and other interested parties, Sweetgreen provides transparency about applicant privacy and offers accommodations per legal requirements.

The Culinary Lead position, known internally as Kitchen Lead, is a pivotal role focused on maintaining exceptional food quality within the kitchen environment. This is a hands-on leadership role where the Kitchen Lead is responsible for ensuring that all food preparation, cooking, and presentation meet Sweetgreen’s high standards of flavor, food safety, and consistency. Unlike traditional restaurant leadership roles, this position does not involve managing people schedules or conducting performance reviews but emphasizes leading by example through superior culinary skills, coaching teammates, and maintaining consistency every shift. The Kitchen Lead is the food quality expert during shifts, serving as a reliable resource for kitchen execution without the use of grills or fryers—relying instead on kitchen tools, knives, and ovens to prepare high-quality, nutritious meals.

This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about food quality, enjoy training peers, and seek leadership opportunities without full people management responsibilities. A Culinary Lead works closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety standards, cleanliness, and operational excellence. This position represents a critical step on the career path toward shift leadership and management roles within Sweetgreen, with a typical progression timeline of 2 to 3 years toward becoming a General Manager. The company offers competitive wages and numerous benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees, paid time off, free meals during shifts, access to a 401(k) plan, and a Team Member Merch Shop where employees can earn and purchase custom Sweetgreen gear. Tips may also be available depending on the location and role. This opportunity is perfect for candidates with experience working in high-volume kitchens—such as fast casual, quick-service restaurants (QSR), full service, or corporate dining environments—who desire to grow their culinary leadership skills within a forward-thinking company devoted to changing the future of fast food.