Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a pioneering national restaurant brand redefining fast food through a commitment to health, sustainability, and community. Established in 2007, Sweetgreen has evolved beyond the typical fast-casual dining experience by focusing on fresh, organic, and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The company is dedicated to connecting people with real food and building healthier communities by fostering transparent relationships with farmers and emphasizing environmental responsibility. Recognized for its innovative approach, Sweetgreen offers a unique environment where passion for food meets purpose, encouraging staff to grow professionally while contributing to a larger movement for better food systems.

The Culinary Lead role, also known internally as Kitchen Lead, is pivotal in ensuring that the brand's promise of quality and excellence is consistently delivered in every kitchen shift. This position centers on the expertise in food preparation, cooking, and presentation, acting as the guardian of food standards within Sweetgreen kitchens. Unlike traditional kitchen leadership roles that emphasize managing people and schedules, this role distinctly focuses on food quality without the responsibilities of writing schedules or conducting performance reviews. The Culinary Lead sets the benchmark for kitchen execution by leading with craft and coaching skills, influencing the team through modeling excellence in food preparation and quality assurance.

In this role, you will not operate a grill or fryer; rather, you will utilize Sweetgreen's smart kitchen systems and tools to prepare and cook fresh, flavorful, and health-conscious meals. The Culinary Lead is the go-to expert for food quality and kitchen operations, collaborating closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to maintain food safety, cleanliness, and operational effectiveness. They play a critical role in managing prep timing and inventory par levels to ensure smooth kitchen workflow, providing real-time feedback to teammates to elevate food execution consistently.

This opportunity is ideal for someone passionate about culinary arts and food quality who desires leadership responsibilities without the traditional full spectrum of people management duties. Sweetgreen encourages career growth, as top-performing Kitchen Leads have a clear advancement path toward becoming General Managers within two to three years. The role offers not just a job but a meaningful career stepping stone in a forward-thinking company dedicated to transforming the food industry. Employees at Sweetgreen benefit from competitive wages, potential tips (depending on location and role), medical, dental, and vision benefits for both part-time and full-time team members, paid vacation, wellness time, parental leave, free meals during each shift, 401(k) options, and access to a unique team member merchandise shop. Sweetgreen also fosters an inclusive environment committed to equal opportunities regardless of gender, age, race, religion, disability, or any other legally protected status. This is an excellent opportunity for culinary professionals seeking to grow within a values-driven and innovative restaurant brand.