Director, Menu Strategy

The Director of Menu Strategy is a senior platform leader responsible for two equally important and complementary dimensions of Sarku Japan’s menu agenda: (1) building and executing the next-generation food and beverage platform strategy that drives topline growth, expands consumer appeal, and positions Sarku for success as the brand accelerates into street-level formats; and (2) ensuring that Sarku’s existing menu is the best it can possibly be—through rigorous core product improvement, the codification of brand standards and investment-class recipes, and deliberate simplification and rationalization work that strengthens operational execution and long-term brand viability.While the CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) sets the broader menu and commercial vision, the Director owns the platform-level strategy and executes it end-to-end—from consumer insight and concept development through commercialization, launch, and performance management. This leader also owns the Menu Foundation: leading the Core improvement agenda, championing simplification and rationalization initiatives (such as the next-generation sushi strategy), and establishing the brand standards that define what “excellent” looks like across the Sarku menu. This foundational work is absolutely critical to Sarku’s long-term quality, operational consistency, and brand viability—and it is treated with strategic seriousness alongside the growth agenda. This leader manages a Menu Supervisor who handles day-to-day execution and documentation, while the Director focuses on platform thinking, test & development plan management, cross-functional orchestration and leadership, and business impact assessment.Key ResponsibilitiesNext-Generation Beverage Platform StrategyOwn the strategic platform approach for Sarku’s next-generation beverage portfolio, informed by consumer research, occasion-level opportunity identification, and competitive white space analysisLead platform development across elevated and emerging beverage segments (energy drinks, elevated refreshers, and premium beverage formats such as milk teas, boba, matcha lattes, etc) Define platform architecture including SKU strategy, flavor profiles, ingredient sourcing, format, and pricing positioning in alignment with CCO commercial directionPartner with Marketing on go-to-market strategy, product naming, and beverage storytelling to drive trial and build beverage as a growth driver for the brandEstablish platform performance criteria, monitor post-launch results, and evolve the beverage portfolio based on sales velocity, margin contribution, and consumer feedbackNext-Generation Food Platform StrategyOwn the strategic platform approach for Sarku’s next-generation food portfolio, driving the evolution of core categories and the introduction of new platforms that broaden consumer appeal and support street-level format expansionLead development of new food platforms (ex: fried and handheld formats, noodle and bowl platforms, teppanyaki signature entrees, sauce/flavor development etc), plus other emerging food occasions that position Sarku as a destination beyond mall-based teriyakiEnsure new food platforms are designed for operational execution in street-level environments—with appropriate attention to labor, capacity, equipment, off-premise viability, and timingDevelop platform strategy with a consumer-first lens: identifying unmet needs, validating concepts through research, and delivering products that build frequency, drive trial among new users, and expand Sarku’s competitive relevanceManage the stage-gate process for new food platforms from concept through commercialization, working with culinary consultants/partners, operations, supply chain, and marketing partnersCore Product Improvement & Brand StandardsProvide strategic direction and oversight for Sarku’s core product improvement agenda, with the Menu Supervisor leading day-to-day execution of quality initiatives and documentationChampion the identification and codification of brand standards and investment-class recipes—defining what “excellent” looks like for Sarku’s core menu and ensuring those standards are documented, trainable, and consistently executable across locationsEnsure brand standards are designed to travel across both mall and street-level formats, with clear guidance on product specs, preparation protocols, and quality thresholdsPartner with field leadership and operations to validate that brand standards are achievable at scale and reflected in training materialsMenu Engineering & Commercial PerformanceDrive margin expansion through menu engineering including portfolio optimization, mix management, complexity reduction, and strategic pricing recommendationsExecute periodic menu reviews and rationalization to optimize product-market fit and operational efficiencyOversee item-level COGS tracking and profitability analysis; develop pricing recommendations grounded in cost structures, target margins, and consumer willingness-to-pay, within the over-arching Pricing Strategy as identified and defined by the Chief Commercial Officer & external Pricing ConsultantsConduct ongoing competitive menu analysis and trend monitoring to identify differentiation opportunities and emerging threatsTeam & Cross-Functional LeadershipManage and develop the Menu Supervisor, providing direction on core product improvement priorities, brand standards documentation, and day-to-day pipeline executionCoordinate with Operations and Supply Chain on ingredient availability, cost variance management, and execution feasibility across formatsPartner with Marketing on promotional calendar development, product storytelling, and campaign alignmentWork with Nutrition, Food Safety, and Food Science consultants on regulatory compliance, labeling, and product formulationPrepare and present platform strategy updates, pipeline performance, and menu results to the CCO, executive leadership, and PE sponsorsKey Performance MetricsNew platform launch performance: sales velocity, trial rates, product performance, contribution margin and topline sales & profitability vs. targetsBeverage and food platform penetration and attachment ratesGross margin % and food cost % across managed platformsProduct development cycle time and stage-gate on-time deliveryBrand standards documentation completeness and field adoptionMenu complexity and operational impact metricsQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred10+ years of progressive experience in menu strategy, product management, or platform development within the restaurant industry, ideally at mid-sized brands. Demonstrated experience owning platform-level strategy and delivering consumer-driven innovation pipelines with measurable commercial resultsStrong understanding of QSR or fast-casual menu economics, operational constraints, and competitive dynamicsExperience developing beverage programs and/or food platform strategy with a consumer-first, insight-driven approachExcellent cross-functional leadership skills; able to align culinary partners/consultants, operations, marketing, and supply chain partners around shared objectivesComfortable operating in a high-accountability environment with a PE-backed ownership structureExperience with street-level or non-traditional format expansion a plusEQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Sarku Japan strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.