About the Role

We’re looking for a highly analytical and strategic Manager, Workforce Management to lead initiatives that improve labor efficiency and workforce management across our restaurant network. This role is dedicated to driving sustainable labor savings and productivity through data-driven programs that streamline scheduling, optimize team deployment, and enhance operational consistency–while preserving the guest and team member experience Sweetgreen is known for.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in analytics, financial modeling, and workforce strategy, with proven experience turning insights into scalable field programs. This role collaborates closely with Operations, People, Finance, and Technology to design, test, and execute initiatives that improve labor planning, scheduling practices, and operational efficiency. Leveraging Sweetgreen’s workforce management system will be a key part of enabling these improvements and ensuring lasting impact.

This role requires both analytical rigor and field presence–spending time in restaurants to understand team workflows, validate program effectiveness, and gather feedback that shapes long-term operational strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Labor Productivity & Workforce Management

• Own and evolve Sweetgreen’s labor optimization programs, balancing efficiency with guest experience & team member engagement.

• Partner with Operations and Finance to analyze labor performance, identify opportunities, and design field-ready solutions.

• Translate labor modeling into actionable programs that improve scheduling accuracy, reduce unplanned spend, and strengthen productivity.

Program Development & Execution

• Design, launch, and sustain workforce programs that streamline scheduling, optimize deployment, and enhance hourly and management effectiveness.

• Lead pilots and market tests to validate new labor initiatives, deployment strategies, and workforce tools.

• Define success criteria, capture structured feedback, and make go/no-go recommendations grounded in data and operator insights.

Workforce Management System Ownership

• Partner with Technology and People teams to maximize the value of Sweetgreen’s workforce management system.

• Enhance scheduling accuracy, labor forecasting, and compliance by improving system configuration and adoption.

• Serve as a subject matter expert, ensuring restaurant teams have the tools, training, and support to use the system effectively.

• Identify opportunities to expand system capabilities and integrate with other operational tools.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a connector between Operations, People, Finance, and Technology to align on workforce strategies and ensure smooth implementation.

• Partner with field leaders to ensure new initiatives are practical, sustainable, and scalable across the restaurant network.

• Communicate clearly and persuasively to influence decision-making and align stakeholders.

Systems, Tools & Reporting

• Build and maintain reporting dashboards to track labor performance, identify outliers, and measure ongoing savings.

• Ensure field teams have simple, effective tools and processes that support consistent execution and decision-making.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in operations strategy, workforce management, or multi-unit restaurant operations

• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to translate insights into field-ready solutions

• Experience implementing or managing workforce management systems (e.g., scheduling, forecasting, labor optimization) preferred

• Highly organized with attention to detail and a track record of executing complex initiatives across functions

• Clear, confident communicator who can influence at multiple levels of the organization

• Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on field work

• Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets (advanced functions and modeling), Google Suite, and workforce management systems

• Willingness to spend up to 30-40% of time in restaurants and 10–25% traveling to key markets

What You’ll Bring

• A strategic mindset paired with a bias for execution and measurable impact

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining clarity and focus

• Curiosity and adaptability, with the humility to test, learn, and iterate in real time

• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to cross-functional work

• A passion for people, operational excellence, and driving sustainable business performance

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 on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day in each sweetgreen, our 3,500 team members make food from scratch, using fresh ingredients and produce delivered that morning. And in our local communities, we’re committed to leaving people better than we found them. We’re in the business of feeding people, and we’re out to change what that means.

sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, 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.

sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.