Culinary Lead: Master Food Quality, Fast-Casual Growth

Sweetgreen; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips

Competitive wages

Medical, dental, and vision

Paid vacation

Free meal

401(k)

Team Member Merch Shop

Job summary

Sweetgreen in Chicago is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) to own food quality across each shift, ensuring flavor, safety, and presentation meet our standards. This role emphasizes leadership without direct people-management, guiding teammates and upholding best practices in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen.

Compensation starts at $18.99/hour. This position offers growth toward Shift Leader and General Manager within 2–3 years, with benefits and a strong team culture in a fast-casual

Qualifications

• Food safety knowledge (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

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

Leadership

Train peers

Food quality

High-volume kitchen

Job description

Sweetgreen in Chicago is seeking a Culinary Lead (Kitchen Lead) to own food quality across each shift, ensuring flavor, safety, and presentation meet our standards. This role emphasizes leadership without direct people-management, guiding teammates and upholding best practices in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen.

Compensation starts at $18.99/hour. This position offers growth toward Shift Leader and General Manager within 2–3 years, with benefits and a strong team culture in a fast-casual