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 4,000 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. Our teams are our most valuable ingredient - the heart of our company, the face of our brand, and what truly makes the sweetgreen experience special and unique.

The Associate Category Sourcing Manager has the following main responsibilities:

1. Manage national, regional and local strategic supplier relationships by building out and implementing sweetgreen's three year sourcing & growth strategy.
2. Build and execute category specific strategies to deliver on favorable cost, quality, and service from the strategic supplier base. Additionally, develop line of sight, risk, and SRMP analysis for each category managed. Manage Key Performance Indicators including meeting or exceeding annual COGS targets.
3. Engage and lead ingredient & supplier development process with cross functional teams including Culinary, Marketing, Demand Management, and Finance by delivering a range of affordable options.
4. Optimize ingredient supply logistics within the supplier network, for inbound ingredient shipments into DC network leading to freight efficiencies and minimizing inventory risks.
5. Manage the supplier onboarding process from pre-approval through to first PO placement including facilitating the legal contract process, food safety & quality assurance, and development of supplier commercial terms.

How to Build our Supply Network

Supplier Relationship & Contract Management

• Act as a key liaison for sweetgreen’s local, regional, and national produce suppliers.
• Support the development of new supplier relationships by identifying growth opportunities and aligning with sweetgreen’s sourcing goals.
• Negotiate annual pricing and contracts, and contribute to supplier performance reviews through Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Partner with internal teams on food safety concerns related to growers and producers.

Crop Planning & Product Alignment

• Collaborate with growers on annual crop planning to secure supply continuity.
• Work cross-functionally to align product specifications with grower capabilities, ensuring consistency and quality.

Logistics Evaluation & Integration

• Support the assessment of current and future logistics needs across sweetgreen’s distribution network. Recommend and help implement efficient, cost-effective logistics solutions to improve freight performance and regional responsiveness.

Quality Management & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor produce quality and coordinate with growers to address and resolve quality issues. Track corrective actions and support long-term improvements through consistent communication and follow-up.

Desired Traits

• Desire to build an unparalleled food supply chain that supports farmers, sweetgreen, and our customers
• Create win/win/win scenarios across the supply chain by tracking and organizing all of the information required to drive success
• Ability to successfully handle many projects at once
• Excellent communication skills, ability to communicate clearly across multiple channels and supply chain partners
• Proficient time management, task management, and project prioritization skills
• Place the team’s success before individual accolades
• Ability to deeply connect with farmers, growers, and producers of all types

Desired Experience

• Minimum of 5-7+ years of experience working with North American growing regions, foodsheds, farmers and producers. Knowledge and familiarity with general soil health principles and regenerative practices including but not limited to: soil biology, cover cropping, soil organic matter, carbon sequestration, no-till farming methods.
• Bachelor's degree with technical background in Environmental Health, Food Science, Agriculture, or Supply Chain related course of study or equivalent experience
• Experience moving perishable product through distribution channels
• Familiarity with food-related certifications and the requirements for a grower to achieve various certifications (specially food safety certification)
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing and agricultural practices

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.