Position: Product Development & Quality Manager
Location: Torrance, CA
Industry: Restaurant / Food & Beverage
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Travel: Local store visits required
Salary: $60,000 – $85,000
*E-2 visa sponsorship may be considered for qualified candidates
Position Summary
Our client, a Japanese restaurant chian is seeking a Product Development & Quality Manager to lead menu innovation, product quality assurance, and operational consistency across restaurant locations.
This role will be responsible for developing new menu items, maintaining product standards, evaluating customer feedback, and ensuring recipes and quality standards are consistently executed at the store level.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Menu Innovation
- Develop and test new menu items and seasonal offerings
- Improve existing menu items based on customer feedback and business needs
- Adapt Japanese food concepts and products to local market preferences
- Conduct tastings and product evaluations to ensure consistency and quality
- Collaborate with vendors and suppliers during new product development and launch processes
Product Quality Management
- Monitor and maintain product quality standards across all restaurant locations
- Ensure recipes are consistently followed and properly executed
- Conduct regular store visits to evaluate food quality, presentation, and operational compliance
- Identify quality issues and implement corrective actions
- Provide recommendations and feedback to store operations teams
Inventory & Product Management
- Manage product ordering and inventory processes
- Monitor inventory levels and coordinate purchasing activities
- Oversee imported products and specialty food items, including sauces and ingredients
- Coordinate with vendors regarding product specifications, sourcing, and quality concerns
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Communicate and coordinate with restaurant operations, management, vendors, and corporate stakeholders
- Liaise with Japan-based teams regarding product development, quality standards, and menu initiatives
- Support implementation of new products and operational procedures
- Partner with store teams to improve execution and maintain consistency
Qualifications
- Experience in menu development and product creation
- Experience within Japanese restaurants, Japanese-inspired concepts, or similar food service environments
- Strong understanding of Japanese cuisine, food culture, and dining concepts
- Restaurant operations, store management, or leadership experience
- Ability to objectively evaluate food quality, taste, and consistency
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with operations teams, management, and vendors
- Experience with product standardization and quality management systems
