Culinary Lead: Quality-Driven Kitchen Leader

Sweetgreen; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthy meal per shift

Medical, dental, vision options

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and wellness time

Free meal every shift

Team Member Merch Shop

Job summary

Sweetgreen in Berkeley is seeking a Kitchen Lead to own food quality, prep, and presentation on every shift. You lead by example through craft, coaching, and consistent execution in a kitchen with smart systems and real ingredients.

This role is not a people manager position; you will set culinary standards, train peers on new menu launches, and work with Shift Leaders to uphold safety and cleanliness. Opportunity to grow into leadership roles.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume kitchens (fast casual, QSR, or corporate dining) preferred.
• Food safety knowledge and ServSafe or equivalent certification preferred.
• Must be available to work a minimum of 30 hours per week.
• Must be 18 years of age or older and 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

Food quality leadership

Team coaching

Quality control

Job description

Sweetgreen in Berkeley is seeking a Kitchen Lead to own food quality, prep, and presentation on every shift. You lead by example through craft, coaching, and consistent execution in a kitchen with smart systems and real ingredients.

This role is not a people manager position; you will set culinary standards, train peers on new menu launches, and work with Shift Leaders to uphold safety and cleanliness. Opportunity to grow into leadership roles.