Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized restaurant brand that is dedicated to fostering healthier communities by connecting people with real, wholesome food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen revolutionized the idea of fast food by focusing on fresh, flavorful meals sourced directly from relationships with farmers and local communities. The company prioritizes sustainability, quality, and community-building, making it a sought-after place to work for those passionate about food and meaningful impact. Sweetgreen not only aims to provide nutritious food options but also builds a culture where employees can grow and thrive professionally and personally. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Sweetgreen ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, gender, age, or other protected characteristics, reflecting its core values of respect and fairness. They also participate in the federal government’s E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility.

As a Culinary Lead, also known internally as a Kitchen Lead, you will be the food quality expert within the kitchen team. This role carries critical responsibility for owning how food is prepped, cooked, and presented to meet Sweetgreen's high standards. Unlike typical kitchen roles, the Culinary Lead position is not a people management job—you will not be responsible for scheduling or performance reviews. Instead, the focus is on setting the standard for food quality and consistency during every shift. You will lead by example through your craft and your ability to coach your teammates on food execution.

The kitchen environment at Sweetgreen is unique and modern — no grills, no fryers, just smart systems helping prepare real food done right. You will prep and cook hot food using knives, kitchen tools, and ovens, ensuring every meal meets the flavor, food safety, and presentation standards Sweetgreen is known for. As a Culinary Lead, your responsibilities include managing prep timing and inventory levels to ensure smooth kitchen operations, spotting and correcting food quality issues as they arise, and partnering with Shift Leaders and Managers to maintain food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence.

This role is an excellent fit for individuals who love working in kitchens, take pride in delivering consistent and high-quality food, and want to take on leadership responsibility without the full scope of managing people. It offers a pathway to advance toward shift leader and general manager roles within two to three years. The position requires availability for at least 30 hours per week and the ability to meet the physical demands of kitchen work. Sweetgreen also offers competitive wages, tips where applicable, medical and dental benefits, paid time off, free meals on every shift, and opportunities to purchase branded merchandise through the Team Member Merch Shop. You will join a movement that rewrites the future of fast food with fresh vision and real impact while growing your own professional future.