Kitchen Shift Lead

Sweetgreen is a nationally recognized restaurant brand dedicated to creating healthier communities by connecting individuals to real, wholesome food. Established in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized the fast food industry by focusing on fresh, flavorful meals grounded in meaningful relationships with farmers and local communities. The company values sustainability, quality ingredients, and a mission-driven approach that prioritizes people and purpose. With numerous locations nationwide, Sweetgreen continues to grow its presence, aiming to rewrite the future of fast food by emphasizing nutrition, food integrity, and environmental consciousness. The company's inclusive culture ensures equal opportunities for all employees and applicants regardless of gender, race, age, or background. Sweetgreen actively supports its team members with comprehensive benefits, leadership development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

The Culinary Lead (known internally as Kitchen Lead) role at Sweetgreen is a pivotal position within the kitchen operations. This role centers around being the food quality expert on every shift, responsible for how food is prepped, cooked, and presented. Unlike traditional kitchen leadership roles, Culinary Leads do not engage in people management tasks such as scheduling or performance reviews. Instead, they set the standard for food quality and kitchen execution by leading through craft, coaching, and consistency. Culinary Leads are the go-to person for ensuring every dish meets Sweetgreen's high standards for flavor, safety, and presentation.

The position emphasizes working with innovative kitchen systems where food preparation avoids traditional grills or fryers, focusing instead on knives, kitchen tools, and ovens to craft quality meals. Culinary Leads actively partner with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and overall operational excellence during shifts. They support teammates by providing real-time feedback to improve food execution and maintain par levels to keep the kitchen running smoothly. This role offers a clear career progression path for top-performing individuals, with opportunities to advance to General Manager within 2 to 3 years. It is an excellent fit for individuals passionate about food quality, leadership without direct people management, and who have experience in high-volume kitchen environments such as fast casual, quick service, full service, or corporate dining. Sweetgreen offers competitive wages, tips (where applicable), and benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and a 401(k) plan, making this role both an enriching and rewarding career opportunity.