Manager, Talent Acquisition

About the Role

The Manager, Talent Acquisition serves as a strategic Talent Advisor and team leader within Sweetgreen's People Experience function. This role is responsible for driving field leadership recruiting across multiple regions, building and scaling talent systems, and developing a high-performing TA team. The Manager, Talent Acquisition acts as a critical thought partner to field operators; connecting talent intelligence to broader organizational strategy, succession planning, and internal mobility.

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Key Responsibilities

Recruiting Excellence & Execution

• Own full-cycle recruitment for field leadership roles (Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Area Leader) across assigned regions, managing a portfolio of ~30+ active openings at a time
• Partner closely with Regional General Managers, Area Leaders, and People Business Partners to identify talent needs, align on candidate profiles, and move with urgency on P0/P1 priorities
• Lead confidential and executive-level searches with discretion, creativity, and professionalism
• Manage sourcing strategy across tools, including Greenhouse, LinkedIn, Indeed, Fountain, Recruitics, and BrightHire
• Maintain data integrity in ChartHop and Greenhouse; ensure accurate pipeline tracking and timely role management
• Own and manage regional recruiting budgets, maintaining accountability for spend across tools and sourcing channels

Talent Planning & Internal Mobility

• Facilitate monthly Talent Slating calls with Area Leaders across assigned regions, driving accountability for successor identification, readiness assessment, and internal promotion pipelines
• Leverage ChartHop data sheets, assessments (S2, performance/potential ratings), and relocation interest to build an objective, data-driven view of talent readiness across the fleet
• Partner with L&D and People Business Partners to ensure internal successors receive development support aligned to their readiness timeline
• Drive toward a 70%+ internal fill rate for Head Coach and Assistant Coach roles through proactive talent pipeline development

New Restaurant Openings (NRO/NMO)

• Manage full-cycle hiring for new restaurant openings including market research, candidate sourcing, comp analysis, and stakeholder coordination
• Utilize market intelligence (deep research AI tools) to prepare hiring playbooks tailored to local labor market dynamics
• Train and support team members on NRO and hourly hiring processes (ServiceNow, Fountain)

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage 2-3 Talent Advisors, providing regular coaching, development planning, and performance feedback
• Build and maintain a comprehensive Talent Advisor Guide and supporting SOPs to enable team consistency and scalability
• Design and facilitate team learning, calibration sessions, and process improvement initiatives
• Onboard new team members with structured training plans covering field leadership recruiting, hourly hiring, and key systems

Strategic Projects & Influence

• Partner with the Sr. Director, People Experience on workforce forecasting, team structure, and TA capacity planning
• Build and present data-driven analyses on open role trends, internal promotion rates, and pipeline health to inform strategic decisions
• Develop and iterate on tools and resources for field operators (e.g., hiring guides, interview prep materials, AL prep guides for Talent Slating)
• Champion the adoption and continuous improvement of recruiting technology and AI tools (BrightHire, ChartHop, Gen AI research tools)

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What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, ideally in a high-volume, multi-unit environment
• Experience managing or mentoring junior recruiting team members
• Strong consultative partnership skills — able to build trust and drive accountability with field operators and senior leaders
• Data fluency: comfortable using ATS and HRIS platforms (Greenhouse, ChartHop) to track and analyze pipeline data
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across regions simultaneously
• Strategic thinker who can zoom out from day-to-day execution to identify systemic solutions and long-term improvements
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with a "progress over perfection" mindset
• Alignment with Sweetgreen's core values: Win-Win-Win, Act Like an Owner, Grow Together, Build for Tomorrow, Add the Sweet Touch

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Why This Role Is Special

This role sits at the intersection of talent acquisition, talent planning, and people strategy — giving the right person a rare opportunity to directly shape the leadership pipeline of one of the most mission-driven restaurant brands in the country. You'll have autonomy to build systems, influence strategy, and develop a team, all while staying closely connected to the humans and communities that make Sweetgreen's restaurants thrive.

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

Salary range for this role:

Starting salary range based on experience

$130,000—$150,000 USD

Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, 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 in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.

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