Research & Development Manager (Restaurant Chain)

Research & Development Manager (Restaurant Chain)

Location: Mandaluyong City
Work Setup: On-site
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Research & Development Manager to lead the development, commercialization, and continuous improvement of food products across restaurant and commissary operations. This role is responsible for ensuring that new menu items and operational innovations are successfully transitioned from concept to full-scale implementation while maintaining quality, consistency, food safety, operational efficiency, and profitability.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in restaurant R&D, product commercialization, process standardization, and cross-functional project leadership within a multi-unit restaurant or QSR environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end product development and commercialization process from concept through nationwide rollout.
• Develop and improve recipes, production processes, and product specifications for restaurant operations.
• Manage product commercialization activities, including kitchen trials, pilot runs, commissary validation, and store implementation.
• Standardize recipes, preparation methods, yield, portioning, and production procedures.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation including SOPs, BOMs, product specifications, process flow diagrams, and operational manuals.
• Collaborate with Operations, QA, Supply Chain, Procurement, Industrial Engineering, Marketing, and Training to ensure successful product launches.
• Evaluate raw materials and suppliers to support product innovation and cost optimization.
• Monitor commercialization performance and recommend process improvements based on operational feedback.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, HACCP, GMP, and company quality standards.
• Lead and develop the R&D team while managing multiple commercialization projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Culinary Management, Nutrition, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Restaurant R&D, Food Manufacturing, Technical Services, or Product Development.
• At least 5 years of people management experience.
• Strong background in product commercialization within restaurant chains, commissaries, or QSR operations.
• Experience in recipe standardization, pilot testing, and operational rollout.
• Knowledge of SAP/ERP systems is an advantage.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder management skills.