Culinary Lead: Food Quality & Kitchen Mastery

Sweetgreen; New York (NY); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips

Competitive wages

Shift leader opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision options

Paid vacation, wellness time, and par*

Free meal every shift

401(k)

Team Member Merch Shop

Job summary

Sweetgreen is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) in New York to own food quality, prep, and presentation across shifts. You will set standards for how food is made and lead by example through craft, coaching, and consistency.

This is not a people manager role; you won’t write schedules or conduct reviews, but you will train peers, ensure safety, and support high-volume operations with smart systems and real food done right.

Qualifications

• 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

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

Job description

Sweetgreen is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) in New York to own food quality, prep, and presentation across shifts. You will set standards for how food is made and lead by example through craft, coaching, and consistency.

This is not a people manager role; you won’t write schedules or conduct reviews, but you will train peers, ensure safety, and support high-volume operations with smart systems and real food done right.