UC Irvine - Kitchen Lead

A Healthier Future Starts With You

As a Culinary Lead, what we call a Kitchen Lead at Sweetgreen, you are the food quality expert in the kitchen. You own how our food is prepped, cooked, and presented-and you lead by example through craft coaching and consistency.

This is not a people manager role. You wont write schedules or run performance reviews. You will set the standard for how food gets made every single shift. You are not running the shift alone; you are the go-to person for food quality and kitchen execution.

And unlike traditional restaurant kitchens, No grills. No fryers. Just kitchens, smart systems, and real food done right.

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 Youll Actually Do

• Own food quality by ensuring every item meets sweetgreens 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
• 401k
• Team Member Merch Shop - earn and buy custom Sweetgreen gear

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

Who We Are

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people across our restaurants and support center so everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but also help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together.

Equal Opportunities

Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for everyone who works for us and everyone who applies to join our team without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service past, present, or future in the uniformed services of the United States military, or veteran status, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

California Residents

Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.

E-Verify

Sweetgreen participates in the federal governments E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click HERE.

Accommodation Request

To request an accommodation as permitted by law, click here.