Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since its inception in 2007, Sweetgreen has set out to reinvent the fast food industry by making fresh, flavorful meals that are also sustainable and rooted in strong relationships with farmers and local communities. The company fosters a culture that focuses on health, quality, and environmental responsibility, driving a movement towards a healthier future for both individuals and the planet. Sweetgreen is more than just a restaurant; it is a purpose-driven organization committed to developing its people across every level, from restaurant team members to corporate support staff, encouraging growth and career advancement in a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diversity and equal opportunity.

The Culinary Lead position at Sweetgreen, also referred to as Kitchen Lead, is a critical role focused on maintaining and elevating the standard of food quality in the kitchen. Unlike traditional kitchen lead roles, this position does not involve people management duties such as scheduling or conducting performance reviews. Instead, the Culinary Lead serves as the food quality expert on each shift, owning how food is prepped, cooked, and presented. This role is designed for someone who loves working in the kitchen and takes pride in consistently delivering high-quality food through professional craft, coaching, and adherence to strict standards. The Kitchen Lead works closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to ensure food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence while providing real-time feedback to teammates to improve their food execution skills.

The Sweetgreen kitchen operates without grills or fryers, emphasizing smart kitchen systems and real food done right, which makes this position unique within the fast-casual dining segment. This role also offers clear potential for career progression, with top-performing Culinary Leads typically advancing to General Manager roles within 2-3 years, making it an excellent step for individuals seeking leadership responsibility without full people management duties. The Culinary Lead enjoys competitive wages, opportunities for tips where applicable, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision options for both part-time and full-time workers, paid vacation and wellness time, free meals during shifts, and access to a 401(k) plan and custom team member merchandise. This role requires a minimum commitment of 30 hours per week and is open to individuals 18 years or older who are authorized to work in the United States.