Full-Time
Head Coach
Posted on 9/9/2026
sweetgreen
1,001-5,000 employees
Fast-casual salad and grain bowls chain
Compensation Overview
$80k - $100k/yr
New York, NY, USA
In Person
 Food Service & Hospitality (1) |
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- Meet all physical requirements of the Head Coach career path, including the Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles.
- Have at least 3 years of food-service experience, including at least 2 years of hands-on management experience.
- Have experience hiring, developing, training, and motivating team members.
- Be skilled in planning, managing, and forecasting financials, labor, and inventory.
- Have hands-on experience managing and optimizing processes in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to lead and mentor teams collaboratively.
- Lead the store team by balancing people, operations, and business performance.
- Build an inclusive culture while coaching talent, using technology to optimize operations and drive profitability.
- Maintain high standards of food quality, safety, and cleanliness while adapting to a dynamic environment.
- Lead the full employee lifecycle and foster a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion.
- Ensure compliance, deliver timely feedback, and develop a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
- Maintain high standards for food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance.
- Resolve facility, supply, and food-quality issues while prioritizing team safety.
- Deliver clean, hospitable, and brand-aligned guest experiences.
- Act on guest metrics and make data-informed business decisions.
- Drive sales and profit by analyzing reports, managing costs, executing strategic plans, and creating effective schedules aligned with business goals.
- Operate and support all systems, troubleshoot issues, and prioritize daily operations to ensure smooth business and guest experiences.
- Perform all essential functions outlined in the Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles.
- Have experience in high-volume, fast-paced restaurants.
- Have hands-on experience with local, organic, and sustainable products.
- Hold a ServSafe Manager or Regional Manager Food Safety Certification.
- Be comfortable using digital tools for operations, reporting, and team communication.
- Have strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, labor, and profit and loss.
- Have proven experience hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
- Demonstrate adaptability and problem-solving in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
- Use a data-driven approach to identify and implement operational improvements.
- Demonstrate commitment to operational excellence, hospitality, and team engagement.
- Have experience in fast-casual or retail operations.
Sweetgreen operates in the fast-casual dining space, offering made-to-order salads and grain bowls using whole, seasonal produce. Its business combines brick-and-mortar cafes with a strong digital platform, including an app that enables delivery and pickup alongside in-store ordering. The company differentiates itself through a commitment to seasonal menus, fresh ingredients, and sustainability, using technology to improve user experience and streamline operations. Its goal is to grow its footprint while promoting community health and wellness, maintaining a clear focus on nutritious options and responsible sourcing.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
2007
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sweetgreen opened McLean on August 20, 2026, and Utah on September 8, 2026.
- The company ended Q2 2026 with 287 restaurants, up from 260 a year earlier.
- Wraps, Omega Glow, and SG Rewards broaden frequency and support new-customer acquisition.
What critics are saying
- Q2 2026 same-store sales fell 6.2%; management guided 2026 comp declines of 7%-8%.
- A multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak hit demand and forced Sweetgreen to cut 2026 guidance.
- The New York discrimination lawsuit and prior wage settlement expose recurring labor-compliance failures.
What makes sweetgreen unique
- Sweetgreen built a digitally led ordering model; Q2 2026 digital sales exceeded 65%.
- Sweetlane turns app orders into drive-up pickup; McLean opened August 20, 2026.
- Infinite Kitchen automation and chef-crafted seasonal menus differentiate Sweetgreen from standard salad chains.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Vacation
401(k) Retirement Plan
Parental Leave
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
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↑ 1%Sweetgreen to open first Utah restaurant. Sep 2 2026 sweetgreen, the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, will open its first Utah restaurant on September 8 at 2188 Highland Drive, Suite #103, in Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood. In celebration of the grand opening, guests will be able to enjoy exclusive special offerings including an OLIPOP Soda Float Bar featuring local ice cream from The Creamery, alongside a week-long lineup of festivities and exciting local collaborations. The new 3,160-square-foot restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and feature sweetgreen's signature menu of chef-crafted salads and warm bowls, protein-forward plates, and handheld wraps. In addition to fan favorites like the Crispy Rice Bowl and Miso Glazed Salmon, guests can explore sweetgreen's newest menu innovations, including its lineup of wraps, which bring the brand's signature ingredients into a more portable format, and the limited-time Fall Harvest menu, featuring the seasonal-favorite Autumn Harvest Bowl, a new Maple Glazed Salmon plate and Roasted Bacon Brussels side. sweetgreen's menu is built around fresh, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, prepared daily in an open kitchen. Each restaurant features a source board highlighting the farmers and growers behind the food. In Salt Lake City, sweetgreen is partnering with Nicholas and Company, a nearly fourth-generation, family-owned foodservice distributor, to help bring ingredients from its growers and suppliers to the Sugar House restaurant. "Opening our first sweetgreen in Utah is an exciting step for the brand as we continue to thoughtfully grow into new markets," said Ryan Slemons, Chief Development Officer at sweetgreen. "Sugar House is a natural fit for us, with a strong community and a lifestyle that aligns closely with the way our guests think about food and wellness. We're excited to establish a presence in Salt Lake City and build a long-term relationship with the community as we grow." The Sugar House restaurant will feature a large-scale original work by multidisciplinary artist Jason Hackenwerth, whose practice spans painting, sculpture and installation. Hackenwerth previously created the artwork for sweetgreen's St. Petersburg Edge District restaurant, one of the largest paintings featured in any sweetgreen space. Given the scale of the wall in Sugar House, the team immediately thought of Hackenwerth and his ability to create work that responds to and transforms a space. The new piece was painted acrylic on canvas and will be installed directly on the wall, creating a bold focal point within the restaurant. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Hackenwerth has exhibited internationally and is a recipient of the 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, the 2018 and 2022 Creative Pinellas Professional Artist Grants, and the 2024 Palladium Theater Creative Fellowship. Grand opening festivities kick off Tuesday, September 8, and continue through the week with a lineup of local and Utah-based partners: * Tuesday, September 8* - Grand Opening Celebration: Soda floats with OLIPOP and The Creamery, a Utah dairy brand rooted in local family farms, plus limited-edition water bottles, sweetgreen x Junes tote bags, and postcards created with Craft Club SLC, a Salt Lake City creative community that brings people together through arts, crafts and local pop-up events. * Wednesday, September 9* - Community Run: A 2.8-mile run with Salt Lake City Run Club, starting and finishing at sweetgreen, followed by menu samples. * Thursday, September 10* - Shades of Green: Complimentary aura photos from Ignite Your Aura alongside a plant pop-up with Cactus & Tropicals. * Saturday, September 12* - Kids' Day: Kids can customize sweetgreen tomato bucket hats with fabric markers, stickers and more. *Available while supplies last with the purchase of a bowl, salad, wrap or plate. The opening will also support WasteLess Solutions, a Utah nonprofit focused on food insecurity. sweetgreen will donate one meal for every meal purchased on opening day, supporting Waste Less Solutions' work to nourish Utahns experiencing food insecurity. Orders can be placed in-restaurant, online or through the sweetgreen app, where guests can sign up for SG Rewards to start earning 10 points per eligible dollar spent toward personalized offers, perks and free menu items. Full program details are available here. To learn more about sweetgreen, its menu, and its loyalty program, visit www.sweetgreen.com. Follow @sweetgreen on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
Utah's first location of Sweetgreen announces grand opening, with freebies. Posted: Sep 1, 2026 / 03:11 PM MDT Updated: Sep 1, 2026 / 03:11 PM MDT SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) - Sweetgreen has announced the opening date for its location in Sugar House, and its grand opening will feature a few special events and collaborations. Sweetgreen is a California-based fast food restaurant that offers healthy food options made from fresh ingredients. The Salt Lake City location in the Sugar House neighborhood will be the brand's first foray into Utah, opening Tuesday, Sept. 8. The store is located at 2188 Highland Drive, Suite 103, across the street from the Sugar House Whole Foods. When it opens, its hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Sweetgreen's signature menu of salads and warm bowls, protein-forward plates, and handheld wraps will be available at the restaurant, with local food distributor Nicholas and Company providing ingredients. The grand opening kicks off on Sept. 8 and continues through the week with a lineup of local and Utah-based partners. * Tuesday, September 8 - Grand Opening Celebration: Soda floats with OLIPOP and The Creamery, a Utah dairy brand rooted in local family farms, plus limited-edition water bottles, Sweetgreen x Junes tote bags, and postcards created with Craft Club SLC, a Salt Lake City creative community that brings people together through arts, crafts and local pop-up events. * Wednesday, September 9 - Community Run: A 2.8-mile run with Salt Lake City Run Club, starting and finishing at Sweetgreen, followed by menu samples. * Thursday, September 10 - Shades of Green: Complimentary aura photos from Ignite Your Aura alongside a plant pop-up with Cactus & Tropicals. * Saturday, September 12 - Kids' Day: Kids can customize Sweetgreen tomato bucket hats with fabric markers, stickers and more. All of the above are available while supplies last and with the purchase of a bowl, salad, wrap, or plate. The opening will support Waste Less Solutions, a Utah nonprofit focused on food insecurity. Sweetgreen is planning to donate one meal for every meal purchased on Sept. 8 to support the nonprofit's work to feed Utahns. "Opening our first Sweetgreen in Utah is an exciting step for the brand as we continue to thoughtfully grow into new markets," said Ryan Slemons, Chief Development Officer at Sweetgreen. "Sugar House is a natural fit for us, with a strong community and a lifestyle that aligns closely with the way our guests think about food and wellness. We're excited to establish a presence in Salt Lake City and build a long-term relationship with the community as we grow." The Sugar House restaurant will also feature a large-scale original work by artist Jason Hackenwerth, who previously created artwork for Sweetgreen's St. Petersburg Edge District restaurant.
Sweetgreen will open its first Utah location on 8 September in Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighbourhood. The 3,160-square-foot restaurant will serve the chain's signature salads, warm bowls, protein plates, and wraps daily from 10am to 10pm. The opening includes week-long festivities featuring local partnerships, including an OLIPOP soda float bar with ice cream from The Creamery, a community run with Salt Lake City Run Club, and a kids' customisation event. The restaurant will showcase original artwork by multidisciplinary artist Jason Hackenwerth. Sweetgreen will donate one meal for every meal purchased on opening day to WasteLess Solutions, a Utah nonprofit addressing food insecurity. The company now operates more than 285 locations nationwide.
Sweetgreen to open at Mall of America with giveaways, exclusive merch. The new location in the Culinary on North food court will be the salad chain's fifth in Minnesota. Aug 25, 2026 3:37 PM CDT Sweetgreen will open its fifth Minnesota restaurant at the Mall of America next month. The California-based salad chain has announced that it'll celebrate its grand opening at the Culinary on North food court on Tuesday, Sept. 8. What to eat and drink in different areas of the Minnesota State Fair in 2026 Festivities scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. include a farmers market pop-up with fresh produce, a flower bar and kits for kids. Known for offering seasonal menus and locally-sourced ingredients, Sweetgreen was founded in 2006 by a group of Georgetown University students and is currently headquartered in Los Angeles. The chain opened its first Twin Cities location in 2022 at the Galleria in Edina and later expanded to Minneapolis and St. Paul. "Sweetgreen has built a loyal following by redefining what it means to eat fresh, flavorful, and responsibly sourced food," Carrie Charleston, head of leasing at Mall of America, said in an announcement last year. The brand joins Giordano's and Roni's Mac Bar on the list of new Mall of America restaurants, and more openings are on the horizon. Noriteo is on track to bring cook-your-own ramyeon and other popular South Korean convenience store foods to the mall later this year. Fire & Wave, a hot pot and all-you-can-eat sushi spot, expects to open next spring. Amorino Gelato, a Paris-born shop known for flower-shaped gelato scoops, is also headed to MOA.
Sweetgreen is opening its first East Coast sweetlane location in McLean, Virginia, on 20 August. The order-ahead drive-up format, first piloted in 2022, allows customers to collect pre-ordered meals through a dedicated window at Chesterbrook Shopping Center. The McLean restaurant marks the brand's fourth sweetlane location overall. Customers order through Sweetgreen's app or website, selecting sweetlane as their pickup method before driving through to collect their meals from staff. The location will also offer dine-in seating and traditional in-store pickup. Operating from 10:00 to 22:00 daily, the restaurant will serve Sweetgreen's menu of salads, warm bowls, protein plates and wraps, including new items like the Omega Glow. Chief Development Officer Ryan Slemons said sweetlane combines drive-through convenience with scratch-cooked food whilst making Sweetgreen more accessible.