Menu & Equipment Innovation Manager

Menu & Equipment Innovation Manager
Reports to: Director, Ops Services

About the Role

Sweetgreen is building the future of fast-casual dining — and menu innovation is at the center of that work. The Manager, Menu & Equipment Innovation will own the end-to-end testing lifecycle for new menu items, core menu development and limited-time offerings, from field execution through fleet readiness. This is a highly cross-functional role requiring equal parts strategic thinking, operational rigor, and collaborative instinct.

What You'll Do

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  Own the end-to-end cross-functional market test lifecycle for new menu and core menu development — from equipment and smallware needs to test design and site selection through data analysis, readout, and go/no-go recommendations.

  
  


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  Lead field execution for menu tests in partnership with marketing, engineering, culinary, and operations; ensure operational fidelity and consistent data capture across test locations.

  
  


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  Synthesize quantitative and qualitative signals (sales, labor impact, throughput, yield/waste, customer feedback) into clear, actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

  
  


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  Build and maintain cross-functional project plans that align culinary, operations, marketing, supply chain, and engineering on test timelines and launch sequencing.

  
  


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  Develop and maintain menu test protocols, tracking tools, and post-test documentation to build institutional knowledge.

  
  


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  Partner with the operations and technology teams to build automation compatibility into menu development from day one, ensuring test learnings inform how items are designed, sequenced, and scaled.

  
  

What You'll Bring

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  Bachelor's in Business, Hospitality, Food Science, Operations, Culinary Management, or related field.

  
  


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  5+ years of experience in restaurant operations, consulting, strategy, innovation, operations services, project management, or product management required; fast-casual or high-growth food & beverage experience is preferred.

  
  


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  Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects from inception through execution with minimal oversight.

  
  


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  Strong analytical skills — comfortable working with sales data, labor metrics, and operational dashboards to build a complete picture of test performance.

  
  


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  Exceptional communicator with the ability to distill complexity into crisp, decision-ready recommendations for cross-functional and executive audiences.

  
  


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  Operates comfortably at both altitudes — able to set strategic direction on a test program and then get into the details of a store-level execution plan without losing the thread between the two.

  
  


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  High collaboration instinct — this role touches nearly every function, and a low-ego, high-trust working style is essential.

  
  


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  Experience with project management tools (Smartsheet, Asana, or equivalent).

  
  

Nice to Have

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  Familiarity with automation or tech-enabled kitchen environments.

  
  


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  Experience designing or analyzing menu tests at scale (10+ locations).

  
  


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  Working knowledge of SQL sufficient to independently query sales and operational data in support of test readouts and analyses.

  
  


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  Exposure to ingredient sourcing or supply chain coordination.

  
  

What you'll get:

• Highly competitive pay + bonus plan


• Three different medical plans to suit your and your family's needs


• Dental and Vision insurance


• Flexible PTO plan


• 401k program


• Employee HSA and FSA


• Complimentary greens


• An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and by connecting them to real food


• To live the sweetlife and celebrate your passion + purpose


• A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back


• A clear career path with opportunities for development, both personally and professionally


• Free sweetgreen swag

Come join the sweetlife!

About sweetgreen

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 in our restaurants and at our support center, so that everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together