Assistant Restaurant Manager

sweetgreen; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary + 15% bonus

Medical, dental + vision insurance

Paid Vacation + Wellness time

401(k) program

Paid family leave

Job summary

Sweetgreen in Chicago is seeking an Assistant Coach who will lead a fast-paced team, coach staff, and partner with the Head Coach to drive guest experiences and sales. You’ll deploy scheduling, monitor food safety, and mentor team members to grow into future leaders.

You’ll contribute to a culture of trust, ensure on-brand guest journeys, and use data-driven insights to resolve issues and improve daily operations.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in restaurant management/supervisory role.
• Experience managing and developing 6+ team members per shift.
• Food Handler or ServSafe certification.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Inspires and leads the team to deliver excellent guest experiences.
• Partners with the Head Coach to set goals and monitor performance.
• Oversees scheduling, coaching, and performance oversight to ensure smooth operations.
• Upholds food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance standards.
• Mentors employees and develops future leaders.

Skills

Leadership experience

Scheduling

Communication

Problem-solving

Mentoring

Job description

A Healthier Future Starts With You

As an Assistant Coach (Assistant General Manager), you support your store as a leader, strategist, and mentor. You’ll inspire your team, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional guest experiences using data‑driven insights to build healthier communities through real food.

What You’ll Do

As an Assistant Coach, you’re a hands‑on leader who inspires your team while driving operational excellence. You mentor team members to become future leaders, partner with the Head Coach to set goals and track performance, and use data‑driven insights to navigate challenges and ensure exceptional guest experiences that build healthier communities through real food. Additional supervisory tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Essential Functions

People + Leading the Team

Partners with the Head Coach on hiring, onboarding, and training while fostering a culture of trust and recognition. Anticipates operational needs and adjusts deployment to support smooth operations. Provides hands‑on coaching, steps in during peak times or staffing gaps, and ensures clear communication for consistent execution.

Food Safety + Journey

Upholds high standards for food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance by inspecting food quality, checking temperatures, and ensuring compliance. Partners with the Head Coach to promptly resolve facility, supply, and quality issues while ensuring team member safety and strong audit performance.

Customer Experience

Ensures a clean, hospitable, and brand‑aligned guest journey by upholding SWEET standards, acting on guest experience metrics, and making timely business decisions to deliver fast, accurate, and memorable in‑store and digital experiences.

Financial + Business Acumen

Supports operational excellence by managing controllable costs, executing schedules, and partnering with the Head Coach to drive sales and implement short‑ and long‑term strategies using insights from the Ops Dashboard.

Systems, Process + Tech

Ensures effective team deployment and expert use of systems by supporting daily operations, troubleshooting issues, and prioritizing tasks to drive smooth and efficient execution.

Execute Assistant Coach Career Path Duties

Perform all essential functions outlined in the Shift Leader role, including those from the Kitchen Lead and Team Member roles.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience in fast casual restaurant chains
• Hands‑on experience with local, organic, and sustainable products
• Familiarity with tech tools and systems used in operations and scheduling
• Proven leadership experience with strong problem‑solving skills and ability to make confident decisions under pressure
• Excellent communicator who fosters positive team culture, mentors employees, and delivers exceptional guest experiences
• Highly organized, reliable multitasker with experience in scheduling, coaching, and performance oversight

Minimum Requirements

• Meet all physical requirements for all roles within the career path, including the Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member.
• 2+ years in a restaurant management/supervisory role
• Experience managing and developing 6+ team members per shift
• Food Handler or ServSafe certification
• Must be available to work a minimum of 30 hours per week
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

What Perks You’ll Get

• Competitive base salary + 15% bonus potential
• Medical, dental + vision insurance plans to suit your and your family's needs
• Paid Vacation + Wellness time
• 401(k) program
• Paid family leave; we fully support new parents
• Complimentary greens
• Free sweetgreen swag
• An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and connecting them to real food
• A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back
• A clear career path with opportunities for development, both personally and professionally

Who We Are

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people in our restaurants and at our support center, so that everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together.

Salary range for this role: Starting salary range based on experience $58,000 - $68,000 USD

Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color,