Culinary Lead: Elevate Food Quality & Prep

Sweetgreen; Huntington Station (NY); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips* (subject to location and role)

Competitive wages

Shift leader and Manager opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision options

Paid vacation, wellness time, and Par-

Free meal every shift

401(k)

Team Member Merch Shop - earn and buy

Job summary

Sweetgreen is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) in New York to own food quality and kitchen execution. You will set the standard for how food is prepped, cooked, and presented, leading by example with craft, coaching, and consistency.

This role focuses on food quality and operational excellence without managing schedules or performance reviews, with a clear path to higher roles within 2–3 years.

Qualifications

• Food safety knowledge and ability to maintain quality standards.
• Experience in fast casual or high-volume kitchens.
• Ability to train peers on new menus.

Responsibilities

• Own food quality by ensuring every item meets Sweetgreen’s 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

Skills

Food quality

Leadership without people management

Training teammates

High-volume kitchens

Food safety knowledge

Kitchen prep and cook

Job description

Sweetgreen is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) in New York to own food quality and kitchen execution. You will set the standard for how food is prepped, cooked, and presented, leading by example with craft, coaching, and consistency.

This role focuses on food quality and operational excellence without managing schedules or performance reviews, with a clear path to higher roles within 2–3 years.