Kitchen Lead

Sweetgreen; New York (NY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tips

Competitive wages

Path to leadership

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Wellness time

Parental leave

Free meals

401(k)

Merch shop

Job summary

Sweetgreen in New York is seeking a Kitchen Lead to uphold flavor, safety, and presentation across all menu items. You’ll prep and cook hot foods, train peers, and support the kitchen to stay ahead of volume during busy shifts.

This full-time role offers a clear path to Shift Leader and Manager, competitive wages, and benefits. You’ll use your eye for detail to ensure quality from prep to plate and help the team execute meals efficiently.

Qualifications

• Meet all physical requirements for Kitchen Lead roles, including standing for long periods.
• Comfortable working on your feet and maintaining attention to detail.
• Food safety knowledge (Food Handler or ServSafe).
• 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 standards for flavor, safety, and presentation.
• Prep and cook hot food to standard using knives, kitchen tools, and ovens.
• Provide real-time feedback to teammates to improve food execution.
• Manage prep timing and par levels to keep the kitchen running smoothly.
• 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

Join our movement to rewrite the future of fast food and grow your own future too! Top-performing Kitchen Leads have a clear path to General Manager within 2-3 years.. .

What You’ll Actually Do

• 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.

This Role is a Great Fit If You

• Love being in the kitchen and take pride in food quality, consistency, and clean execution.
• Want leadership responsibility without full people management.
• Enjoy training peers and getting them excited about new menu launches.
• Have experience in high-volume kitchens (fast casual, QSR, full service, or corporate dining all welcome).

The Perks

• Tips'* (subject to location and role).
• Competitive wages.
• This role is a key step toward Shift leader and Manager opportunities.
• Medical, dental, and vision options for part-time and full-time team members'*.
• Paid vacation, wellness time, and parental leave'*.
• Free meal every shift.
• 401(k)'*.
• Team Member Merch Shop - earn and buy custom Sweetgreen gear.
• '*Depending on eligibility

Minimum Requirements

• Meet all physical requirements for all roles within the Kitchen Lead career path, including Team Member..
• Comfortable working on your feet.
• Maintain attention to detail and environmental awareness during operations.
• Use touch to assess quality and complete detail-oriented tasks.
• Routinely handling items up to 5-25 lbs, and occasionally handling items 40-50 lbs.
• Food safety knowledge (Food Handler or ServSafe certification).
• Able to follow food safety, cleanliness, and quality standards.
• 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

Experience

Not required

Employment

Full-time

Salary

$18.21 hourly

Starting time

Immediate start!

About sweetgreen:

Sweetgreen, Inc. (NYSE: SG) is an American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in scratch-made salads, warm grain bowls, and protein plates. Founded in 2006 by Georgetown University graduates Jo