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We are seeking an experienced Food Research & Development Manager to join a rapidly growing, multi-location QSR restaurant organization in Los Angeles. This is a hands-on opportunity for an R&D professional with experience developing and evaluating food products in a multi-unit restaurant environment and who enjoys working at the intersection of food science, product development, nutrition, suppliers, culinary, and restaurant operations. The ideal candidate is comfortable taking products from kitchen testing through restaurant trials and multi-location rollout and will serve as a key internal subject-matter expert on the ingredients and products used throughout the restaurant system.
QSR Restaurant Food Research and Development Manager Benefits
- Hybrid work environment with a combination of remote work, office time, and hands-on restaurant and kitchen testing
- Opportunity to play a key role in the food R&D strategy of a rapidly growing, multi-location QSR organization
- High level of autonomy and ownership with direct impact on products, ingredients, suppliers, and menu development
- 3 weeks of PTO
- Health, Dental, Vision
- Laptop and phone stipend
- Base Salary up to $115K + Performance-based bonus opportunity
QSR Restaurant Food Research and Development Manager Requirements
- 3-5+ years of food R&D or product development experience, with QSR or multi-unit restaurant experience required
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Culinary Science, Nutrition, Food Chemistry, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with dairy/yogurt, frozen yogurt, Greek yogurt, and/or plant-based products strongly preferred
- Strong knowledge of food formulation, nutrition, ingredients, allergens, labeling, and product specifications
- Experience evaluating products based on taste, texture, nutrition, functionality, quality, consistency, availability, and cost
- Proven experience working directly with food manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, co-packers, or other external food partners
- Must be Los Angeles-based and be comfortable driving between local restaurant locations as needed
QSR Restaurant Food Research and Development Manager Responsibilities
- Research, evaluate, test, and develop food products and ingredients for use across multiple QSR restaurant locations and markets
- Conduct product tastings, sensory evaluations, kitchen testing, and restaurant-level trials to assess product performance under real operating conditions
- Manage products from initial concept and supplier sampling through testing, approval, specification management, and multi-location rollout
- Partner with suppliers and manufacturers to develop products, resolve quality or consistency issues, evaluate alternatives, and improve formulations
- Evaluate key ingredients and products, including yogurt, frozen yogurt, plant-based products, toppings, sauces, inclusions, and sweeteners, for taste, texture, nutrition, functionality, quality, consistency, and cost
- Partner with Culinary, Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance to balance guest experience, nutritional goals, operational requirements, supply reliability, and cost
- Maintain product specifications and technical documentation while helping ensure consistent product quality and execution as the restaurant organization continues to grow
JOB ID: 181466
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