Culinary Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized restaurant brand that is passionately dedicated to building healthier communities through the power of real food. Established in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized the fast food industry by creating a unique fast-casual dining experience focused on fresh, flavorful meals that are thoughtfully sourced and prepared. The company's mission centers around fostering connections between people, food, farmers, and the community. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, transparency, and quality, Sweetgreen continues to grow rapidly across the United States and strives to empower its team members with opportunities to build meaningful careers.

At Sweetgreen, the Culinary Lead position, also known as Kitchen Lead, is a pivotal role focused on maintaining food quality and ensuring exceptional kitchen execution. This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about crafting high-quality food and want to take on leadership responsibilities without the traditional elements of people management such as scheduling or conducting performance reviews. The Culinary Lead is the expert in food preparation, cooking, and presentation, setting the standard for how each dish is executed during every shift. They act as the go-to person for all kitchen-related food quality issues and work closely with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence. Unlike typical restaurant kitchens that rely on grills and fryers, Sweetgreen kitchens use smart systems and innovative cooking methods involving knives, kitchen tools, and ovens to create delicious meals without traditional frying or flame-based techniques.

This role offers a great path for career advancement as top-performing Culinary Leads often progress to General Manager roles within 2-3 years. Sweetgreen encourages its Culinary Leads to grow professionally by improving their craft, coaching peers, and demonstrating consistency in food quality standards. The position requires working in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment where timing and precision are critical to keeping the kitchen running smoothly and ensuring customer satisfaction.

By joining Sweetgreen as a Culinary Lead, you become an integral part of a movement to redefine the future of fast food and contribute to the company’s mission of promoting health and sustainability through food. The role also includes competitive wages and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible team members, paid vacation, wellness time, and parental leave. In addition, Culinary Leads receive a free meal every shift and access to a unique team member merchandise shop. This role combines the excitement of working in the culinary field with the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a supportive and innovative environment.