Head Coach

sweetgreen•Cary, NC

15d

About The Position

As a Head Coach (General Manager), you lead, strategize for, and mentor the store. You inspire the team, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional guest experiences, using data-driven insights to help build healthier communities through real food. The role balances people leadership, operations, and business performance while fostering an inclusive culture, coaching talent, and using technology to optimize operations and profitability. The Head Coach maintains high standards of food quality, safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance; resolves facility, supply, and food-quality issues; and prioritizes team safety. The role delivers clean, hospitable, brand-aligned guest experiences, acts on guest metrics, analyzes business reports, manages costs, executes strategic plans, and creates schedules aligned with business goals. The Head Coach also operates and supports systems, troubleshoots issues, and prioritizes daily operations. The role includes the essential functions of the Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles. Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. It describes its mission as reimagining fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities, and is committed to developing employees in its restaurants and support center. Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for employees and applicants.

Requirements

At least 3 years of food-service experience, including at least 2 years of hands-on management experience.
Experience hiring, developing, training, and motivating team members.
Skill in planning, managing, and forecasting financials, labor, and inventory.
Hands-on experience managing and optimizing processes in a fast-paced environment.
Proven ability to lead and mentor teams collaboratively.
Meet the physical requirements of all roles in the Head Coach career path, including Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member.

Nice To Haves

Experience in high-volume, fast-paced restaurants.
Hands-on experience with local, organic, and sustainable products.
ServSafe Manager or Regional Manager Food Safety Certification.
Comfort with digital tools for operations, reporting, and team communication.
Strong financial acumen, including managing budgets, labor, and profit and loss.
Proven experience hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
Exceptional adaptability and problem-solving in dynamic environments.
A data-driven mindset and curiosity to identify and implement operational improvements.
Commitment to operational excellence, hospitality, and team engagement.
Experience in fast-casual or retail operations.

Responsibilities

Lead the team by balancing people, operations, and business performance.
Foster a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion throughout the employee lifecycle.
Ensure compliance, provide timely feedback, and develop a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
Maintain food safety, cleanliness, equipment maintenance, and team safety standards.
Resolve facility, supply, and food-quality issues.
Deliver clean, hospitable, brand-aligned guest experiences and act on guest metrics.
Use data and business reports to make decisions and identify operational improvements.
Drive sales and profit by managing costs and executing strategic plans.
Create effective schedules aligned with business goals; plan and manage financials, labor, and inventory.
Operate and support systems, troubleshoot issues, and prioritize daily operations.
Perform essential functions of the Assistant Coach, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles.
Hire, develop, train, coach, and motivate team members.