Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized restaurant brand that is committed to building healthier communities by connecting people to real, fresh food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has transformed the concept of fast food by emphasizing fresh ingredients, flavorful meals, and strong relationships with farmers and local communities. Their mission focuses on creating spaces where food, people, and purpose intersect, promoting wellness and sustainability. As Sweetgreen continues to expand, it also invests in its people, offering opportunities for career growth within their restaurants and support centers. Sweetgreen values diversity and equal opportunity, embracing all individuals regardless of gender, race, religion, age, or other protected statuses. Their inclusive culture encourages a supportive and respectful workplace for all team members.

The Culinary Lead role, known internally as Kitchen Lead, is a key position in Sweetgreen's kitchen operations. This role is distinct from traditional kitchen management roles as it focuses exclusively on food quality expertise without the responsibilities of people management, such as scheduling or performance reviews. As the food quality expert, the Culinary Lead owns the standards for how food is prepped, cooked, and presented during every shift, ensuring adherence to Sweetgreen's high standards for flavor, food safety, and presentation. The role involves using knives, kitchen tools, and ovens—but notably excludes traditional fryers and grills—allowing a clean, efficient, and health-focused kitchen environment.

In addition to executing high culinary standards, the Culinary Lead serves as a mentor and coach to teammates, providing real-time feedback to improve food preparation and execution. This position requires a proactive attitude toward managing kitchen flow by monitoring prep timing and par levels to maintain operational consistency during busy periods. The Culinary Lead collaborates closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety policies, cleanliness, and overall operational excellence.

This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about kitchen work and food quality, enjoy guiding peers without taking on full managerial duties, and are excited about working in a modern, fast-casual environment. Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, tips depending on location, and benefits including 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) plans, and exclusive access to the Team Member Merch Shop. The Culinary Lead position also provides a clear career path, with strong performers having the opportunity to advance to General Manager roles within 2-3 years. By joining Sweetgreen, team members invest in their own futures and contribute to changing the future of fast food for the better.