Restaurant General Manager

Sweetgreen is a prominent national restaurant brand dedicated to creating healthier communities by connecting people with real, nutritious food. Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen has revolutionized the fast food industry by offering fresh, flavorful meals that are deeply rooted in relationships with local farmers and community partners. The company emphasizes sustainability, transparency, and the importance of fostering a culture where people and purpose come together. As an organization, Sweetgreen is committed to the growth and development of its employees, providing substantial opportunities for career advancement and cultivating an inclusive work environment that embraces diversity and equity.

The role of Head Coach (General Manager) at Sweetgreen is a high-impact leadership position responsible for managing the overall operations of a store while inspiring and mentoring the team to achieve excellence. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on management to drive operational efficiency, profitability, and an exceptional guest experience. The Head Coach plays a pivotal role in building a culture of inclusivity, trust, and transparency among team members through coaching and effective communication.

As a Head Coach, you will lead your team by balancing the key components of people management, operational processes, and business performance. This includes overseeing the employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance with food safety and cleanliness standards, and managing financial aspects such as labor, sales, and profit margins. The position demands a proactive and tech-savvy individual who can leverage technology and data-driven insights to optimize operations, forecast performance, and make informed business decisions. You will be accountable for maintaining high-quality food and guest service standards, while continually adapting to a fast-paced, dynamic restaurant environment.

In this role, you will execute a variety of essential functions that encompass leadership, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, business acumen, and system management. Leading by example, you will cultivate a team environment centered on diversity and inclusivity, deliver timely feedback, and foster the development of a strong talent pipeline. Your operational responsibilities include upholding rigorous food safety protocols, managing equipment maintenance, resolving supply chain or facility issues, and prioritizing team safety.

Customer experience is a critical focus area, and you will drive this by ensuring clean, hospitable, and brand-aligned interactions while analyzing guest feedback and operational metrics. Financial management is another core duty, requiring you to analyze sales reports, manage costs effectively, enforce strategic plans, and optimize employee scheduling to meet the business goals.

You will also serve as a systems expert, operating and supporting all relevant technology tools and troubleshooting any operational issues that arise to ensure smooth daily operations. Moreover, the Head Coach is expected to carry out the duties associated with the Assistant Coach role, including responsibilities originating from Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles. This ensures comprehensive operational knowledge and the capability to contribute across various aspects of the store's functions.

The ideal candidate will bring experience from high-volume, fast-paced restaurant environments and demonstrate hands-on expertise with local, organic, and sustainable food products. Certifications such as ServSafe Manager or Regional Manager Food Safety Certification are highly valued. Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, labor management, and profit and loss oversight, is essential to excel in this role. Proven capability in hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams is crucial, as is adaptability and problem-solving in a dynamic, fast-casual or retail setting.

Sweetgreen values a data-driven mindset, encouraging curiosity in identifying and implementing operational improvements continually. The company offers a collaborative team culture that lives core values, a clear path for personal and professional growth, and a salary range from $80,000 to $100,000 USD, commensurate with experience. In addition, Sweetgreen provides competitive benefits and supports equal employment opportunities across all backgrounds and identities, underscoring its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect.