Product Development & Quality Assurance Manager(Asian Cuisine)

Triup, Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established international 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 role focuses on developing new menu items, standardizing recipes, creating training materials, and supporting successful menu rollout across corporate and franchise locations, with a strong emphasis on Japanese-inspired concepts and operational feasibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hospitality Management, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5–10+ years in restaurant product development, culinary innovation, or related food service field.
• Experience developing recipes from concept through commercial implementation.
• Strong knowledge of food costing, ingredient sourcing, and restaurant operations.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Research food trends and consumer preferences in Japanese, international, and casual dining markets.
• Develop new menu items, seasonal offerings, and product enhancements.
• Create standardized recipes, preparation procedures, and product specifications.
• Develop menu implementation plans for corporate and franchise locations.
• Visit corporate locations to evaluate product quality and recipe execution.
• Verify compliance with recipes and preparation standards.
• Partner with Operations and Area Managers to improve execution standards.
• Create recipe manuals, preparation guides, and training materials.
• Support training programs and menu launches.
• Coordinate with U.S. and international stakeholders on product initiatives.

Skills

Restaurant product development

Menu development

Food cost analysis

Quality assurance

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

A well-established international 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 is responsible for developing new menu items, standardizing recipes, creating training materials, and supporting successful menu implementation across corporate and franchise restaurant locations.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in Japanese or Japanese-inspired cuisine, restaurant product development, and operational execution. This individual will work independently to develop new menu concepts while ensuring consistency, profitability, and operational feasibility.

This is a full-time, exempt management position.

Responsibilities

• Research food trends and consumer preferences within Japanese, international, and casual dining markets
• Develop new menu items, seasonal offerings, and product enhancements
• Develop and expand food and beverage menu categories
• Conduct recipe testing, refinement, and product evaluations
• Create standardized recipes, preparation procedures, and product specifications
• Develop menu implementation plans for corporate and franchise 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 corporate restaurant locations to evaluate product quality and recipe execution
• Verify compliance with established recipes and preparation standards
• Identify operational challenges impacting product consistency
• Partner with Operations and Area Managers 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 related to new menu launches
• Collaborate with Operations teams to ensure successful implementation
• Present new menu concepts and product recommendations to leadership
• Support menu rollouts for corporate and franchise locations
• Coordinate with U.S. 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 experience
• 5–10+ years of experience in restaurant product development, culinary innovation, menu development, or a related food service field
• Experience developing recipes from concept through commercial implementation
• Strong knowledge of food costing, ingredient sourcing, and restaurant operations
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Experience with Japanese cuisine, Japanese-inspired cuisine, or international casual dining concepts
• Experience working with multi-unit restaurant operations
• Experience supporting franchise restaurant systems
• Primarily based at the corporate office 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