Job Description
A Healthier Future Starts With You! As a Culinary Lead (what we call a Kitchen Lead at Sweetgreen), you are the food quality expert in the kitchen. You own how our food is prepped, cooked, and presentedand you lead by example through craft, coaching, and consistency. This is not a people manager role. You wont write schedules or run performance reviews. You will set the standard for how food gets made every single shift. You are not running the shift alone; you are the go-to person for food quality and kitchen execution. And unlike traditional restaurant kitchens: No grills. No fryers. Just kitchens, smart systems, and real food done right. Join our movement to rewrite the future of fast food and grow your own future too! Top-performing Kitchen Leads have a clear path to General Manager within 2-3 years. What Youll Actually Do: Own food quality by ensuring every item meets sweetgreens standards for flavor, food safety, and presentation Prep and cook hot food to standard using knives, kitchen tools, and ovens (no flames, no fryer oil) Help teammates improve food execution through real-time feedback Stay ahead of volume by managing prep timing and par levels to keep the kitchen running smoothly Be the advocate for food quality on shift, spotting issues early and fixing them fast Partner with Shift Leaders and Managers to uphold food safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence This Role is a Great Fit If You: Love being in the kitchen and take pride in food quality, consistency, and clean execution Want leadership responsibility without full people management Enjoy training peers and getting them excited about new menu launches Have experience in high-volume kitchens (fast casual, QSR, full servic