Product Development & Quality Assurance Manager

Position Summary

A rapidly growing and high-performing restaurant company is seeking an experienced Product Development & Quality Assurance Manager to lead menu innovation, recipe development, food cost analysis, and product quality initiatives.

This position will be responsible for developing new menu items, standardizing recipes, creating training materials, and supporting successful product implementation across multiple restaurant locations.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Japanese or Japanese-inspired cuisine and restaurant product development, with the ability to independently develop new menu concepts from idea through implementation while ensuring consistency, profitability, operational feasibility, and quality.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Menu Innovation (60–70%)

• Research food trends and consumer preferences within Japanese, international, and casual dining markets
• Develop new menu items, seasonal offerings, and product enhancements
• Explore and expand menu categories, including appetizers, salads, breads, beverages, and other complementary products
• Conduct recipe testing, refinement, and product evaluations
• Create standardized recipes, preparation procedures, and product specifications
• Develop implementation plans for new menu items across multiple restaurant locations

Food Cost & Profitability Analysis

• Calculate recipe costs and food cost percentages
• Evaluate ingredient sourcing and vendor options
• Recommend products that balance quality, operational efficiency, and profitability
• Prepare product costing reports and menu recommendations for management review

Quality Assurance & Operational Support

• Visit restaurant locations to evaluate product quality and recipe execution
• Verify compliance with established recipes and preparation standards
• Identify operational challenges affecting product consistency
• Partner with Operations and Area Management teams to improve execution standards
• Recommend process improvements and product quality enhancements

Training & Documentation

• Create recipe manuals, preparation guides, and training materials
• Develop step-by-step product photography and instructional materials
• Support training programs for new menu launches
• Collaborate with Operations teams to ensure successful implementation

Corporate & Franchise Support

• Present new menu concepts and product recommendations to leadership
• Support menu rollouts across corporate and franchise locations
• Coordinate with domestic and international stakeholders on product initiatives
• Assist with product-related business development opportunities

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of experience in restaurant product development, culinary innovation, or menu development
• Hands-on experience developing Japanese or Japanese-inspired cuisine
• Experience developing recipes from concept through commercial implementation
• Strong knowledge of food costing, ingredient sourcing, and restaurant operations
• Ability to independently develop new menu concepts and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Business-level or higher Japanese language proficiency required
• Professional working proficiency in English required

Preferred

• Experience working with multi-unit restaurant operations
• Experience supporting franchise restaurant systems

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with regular visits to restaurant locations for product development, quality assurance, recipe validation, and menu implementation
• Flexibility to work in office, restaurant, and kitchen environments as required