Quality Assurance Specialist

About the Role

Sweetgreen is hiring a Quality Assurance Specialist to support its Supply Chain Quality Assurance team in Los Angeles, California. This is an in-office position with travel expected up to 25% of the time.

The role sits within a quality program built around five focus areas: specification management, supplier qualification, audit and compliance, HACCP and CTQ, and regulatory compliance. Quality is treated as the standard-setter, while business teams are expected to own compliance execution.

This is a hands-on individual contributor role for someone who can convert quality strategy into daily execution. The position involves building and maintaining specifications, handling supplier qualification records, coordinating audits and corrective actions, supporting culinary hand-offs, and keeping records accurate, complete, and on track.

Sweetgreen is focused on connecting people to real food and creating healthier communities. The company values detail, collaboration, food science fundamentals, and a genuine interest in real food.

Key Responsibilities

You will manage quality systems across the supplier and product lifecycle, support compliance work, and partner with cross-functional teams to ensure ingredients and suppliers meet Sweetgreen’s standards before launch and during ongoing operations.

• Set, maintain, and improve ingredient and finished product specifications and critical-to-quality frameworks across the portfolio, making sure they align with quality expectations, regulatory rules, and culinary intent.
• Run supplier qualification from start to finish by reviewing onboarding materials, third-party audit results, HACCP and food safety plans, product specifications, and allergen disclosures, then recommend approval decisions.
• Oversee supplier audit and compliance activities, including scheduling audits, working through corrective actions, and keeping audit records and standards current.
• Act as a subject matter expert for HACCP and CTQ efforts by completing hazard analyses, documenting critical control points, and supporting verification tied to ingredient and supplier risk.
• Manage regulatory compliance tasks such as label and allergen review, FSMA 204 traceability documentation, and ingredient attribute requirements.
• Coordinate the culinary hand-off for new or changed ingredients, working with Culinary and Supply Management so items are ready for launch from a quality, safety, and operations standpoint.
• Create and maintain QA documentation systems, including certificates of analysis, letters of guarantee, allergen statements, and other compliance records.
• Review supplier quality performance data in FoodLogiQ and similar systems, spot trends, and push issues through to resolution.
• Develop SOPs, process documents, and quality system improvements while supporting LTO and new product introduction timelines.

Required Experience and Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a precise, self-directed quality professional with a strong grasp of food science and the ability to manage multiple workstreams at once.

• 4 to 5 years of experience in food quality assurance, food safety, or a related function in food manufacturing, foodservice, or the restaurant supply chain.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven experience developing and managing ingredient specifications, including COAs, allergen records, and nutrition labeling.
• Experience supporting or leading supplier audit programs such as SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or similar systems, along with corrective action tracking.
• Working knowledge of HACCP principles, FDA and USDA food safety requirements, and quality management systems.
• Strong organization and documentation skills, with experience using databases and quality tracking tools; FoodLogiQ or similar platforms is preferred.
• Exposure to culinary development, menu innovation, or new product launches in a restaurant or foodservice setting is highly preferred.

What Success Looks Like

• You take full ownership of specifications, records, and compliance work with consistency and accuracy.
• You can manage several quality initiatives independently across audits, supplier records, and culinary collaboration.
• You communicate clearly with Culinary, Supply Management, and Operations to turn quality needs into workable execution.
• You care deeply about food safety, ingredients, sourcing, and delivering real food at scale.
• You bring a sustainability-minded perspective, including interest in regenerative agriculture, animal welfare standards, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
• You continually look for better standards, tools, and methods that improve the QA function.

Additional Information

This role requires travel to suppliers, co-manufacturers, and distribution facilities for up to 25% of working time.

About Sweetgreen

Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand focused on healthier communities through access to real food. Since 2007, the company has aimed to make fast food fresher, more flavorful, and more connected to farmers and communities. As the business grows, Sweetgreen emphasizes development opportunities for people across both restaurants and the support center.

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay for this position starts within a range of $80,000 to $93,000 USD, depending on experience, and the role also includes eligibility for a bonus plan.

• Three medical plan options
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Flexible PTO
• 401(k) program
• Employee HSA and FSA
• Complimentary greens
• Free Sweetgreen swag
• A collaborative team environment
• Career development opportunities
• The chance to make a meaningful impact through food and people

Equal Opportunity and Eligibility

Sweetgreen offers equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or uniformed service status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

California applicants may review the applicant privacy notice. Sweetgreen also participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm work eligibility.