Director, Brand Marketing

About sweetgreen

sweetgreen is dedicated to fostering healthy communities by connecting individuals to authentic, nutritious food. We strongly believe fresh and real food should be accessible and convenient for all. Each day, our 5,000 team members prepare food from scratch using fresh, morning-delivered ingredients. We are committed to leaving a positive impact on the communities we serve and revolutionizing the meaning of feeding people. Our teams are our greatest asset, representing the heart of our company, the face of our brand, and what creates the unique sweetgreen experience.

Role Overview

As Director of Brand Marketing, you will define and implement sweetgreen's brand presence globally, overseeing brand strategy from initial concept to execution. This includes spearheading communications, product launches, customer engagement campaigns, brand events, and innovation in menu offerings. You will lead the Brand Marketing team, manage budgets, coordinate agency partnerships, and collaborate with Culinary, Consumer Insights, Creative, Digital, and Operations to boost brand recognition, customer loyalty, and market position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and take ownership of the annual brand plan, translating consumer insights into compelling campaigns that increase brand visibility, customer interaction, and market share.
• Guide menu innovation to keep sweetgreen aligned with culinary trends, driving customer engagement and operational excellence.
• Lead go-to-market tactics for new products and menu rollouts, ensuring a seamless and consistent experience across media and locations.
• Manage brand marketing budgets and annual operating plans in collaboration with Finance, allocating resources to optimize ROI and business impact.
• Secure senior leadership alignment on brand strategy and marketing calendar by presenting insights and business cases.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Brand Marketing team to build capabilities aligned with growth targets.
• Oversee coordination with internal and external teams—including experiential, PR, social, digital, media, creative, and agencies—to successfully launch brand initiatives.
• Partner across departments to bring data-driven communication, packaging, and innovation strategies to fruition, with success measured against key performance indicators.
• Maintain brand leadership by continuously analyzing competitors, consumer trends, and cultural shifts to stay ahead in the market.
• Work on-site at the sweetgreen Support Center in Los Angeles at least four days per week.

Desired Characteristics

• Strategic thinker with experience setting clear visions and actionable priorities.
• Proven ability to inspire and cultivate high-performing teams.
• Strong financial literacy and ownership mindset, managing budgets and ROI.
• Exceptional communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Data-driven approach using consumer insights to inform decisions.
• Experienced in managing creative teams and agency relationships.
• Adaptable, culturally aware, and resilient within fast-paced, growing environments.

Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in brand development and integrated marketing communications, ideally in restaurant, food, beverage, retail, or consumer sectors.
• Minimum 4 years of leadership experience managing marketing teams.
• Proven track record leading brand strategies and executing market campaigns and product launches.
• Experience in overseeing menu strategies for food brands.
• Demonstrated budget management and P&L accountability, including business case development and annual planning with measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading agency and cross-functional collaborations to deliver large-scale campaigns.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $155,000 to $191,000 annually, based on experience.
• Bonus plan included.
• Choice of three medical insurance plans tailored to employee and family needs.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Flexible paid time off policy.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Employee Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.
• Complimentary meals (greens) during shifts.
• Opportunity to influence lives by connecting communities to real food while fostering personal and professional growth.
• Supportive culture that embraces core values and collaboration.
• Clear career advancement pathways.
• Company swag provided.

Equal Opportunity and Legal Policies

sweetgreen provides equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on gender, identity, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, military service, or other legally protected categories. The company participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility. This position adheres to California applicant privacy standards.