Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand committed to revolutionizing the fast food industry by focusing on fresh, flavorful food and fostering strong relationships with farmers and communities. Established in 2007, Sweetgreen has grown into a leader in the fast-casual dining sector, dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. The company values its people as much as its food, investing in their development to help them grow within the organization. Sweetgreen prides itself on inclusivity and equal opportunity, ensuring a diverse workforce free from discrimination of any kind. The work environment promotes sustainability, community impact, and the personal growth of every team member.

The Culinary Lead, or Kitchen Lead as it is known at Sweetgreen, plays a pivotal role in maintaining and elevating food quality standards in their kitchens. This role centers around being the go-to food quality expert, ensuring that every menu item is prepped, cooked, and presented to meet Sweetgreen's high standards for flavor, food safety, and presentation. Unlike traditional kitchen leadership roles, this position is not a people manager role—there are no responsibilities for scheduling or performance reviews. Instead, the Culinary Lead sets the standard each shift by leading through craft, coaching, and consistency. Kitchen Leads work closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to ensure operational excellence and food safety but are primarily responsible for the food quality side of kitchen execution.

In this role, Culinary Leads use their expertise with knives, kitchen tools, and ovens (without the use of grills or fryers) to prepare and cook hot food items. They take pride in providing real-time feedback and coaching teammates to improve food execution, managing prep timing and par levels to ensure the kitchen operates smoothly even during high-volume periods. Their attention to detail allows them to spot and resolve food quality issues early, creating an environment where every dish served aligns with Sweetgreen's mission of healthy, delicious food.

This role is perfect for those passionate about kitchen craft and food quality who desire leadership responsibilities without full people management duties. It's an excellent stepping stone toward higher leadership positions such as Shift Leader and General Manager, with top-performing Kitchen Leads often advancing within 2-3 years. Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, opportunities for growth, and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision options, paid vacation, and a retirement savings plan. Employees also enjoy perks such as a free meal every shift, access to team merchandise, and potential tip earnings depending on location.

By joining Sweetgreen as a Culinary Lead, individuals become part of a broader movement striving to change the future of fast food. They contribute to creating healthier communities through real food, while developing their own skills and careers in a supportive, innovative environment dedicated to quality and purpose.