Manager, Development Strategy & Operations

The  Manager, Development Strategy & Operations serves as a key strategic, analytical, and execution resource to the Chief Global Development Officer and the Global Development leadership team. The role is responsible for translating data into actionable business insights, driving strategic and cross-functional initiatives, strengthening Development governance and reporting, and ensuring visibility and follow-through on the organization's highest-priority initiatives.

Operating across Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Construction, Customer Experience & Design, Franchise Development, and International Development, this individual will combine strong analytical capabilities with project leadership, business judgment, organizational skills, and executive communication. The role will independently lead selected strategic projects, develop executive and Board-level materials, coordinate key Development meetings and priorities, monitor performance indicators, and help improve the processes, systems, and operating cadence of the Global Development organization.

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy, Analytics & Business Insights

• Develop and maintain executive-level reporting, dashboards, and scorecards covering the development pipeline, new restaurant openings, remodels, relocations, portfolio initiatives, franchise development, and other key priorities.
• Analyze development, portfolio, project, and financial data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and required actions; translate findings into clear recommendations for leadership.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, capital planning, strategic reviews, and long-range development initiatives.
• Perform market, portfolio, competitive, and ad hoc analyses supporting growth and development decisions.
• Establish and monitor Development KPIs, cycle times, milestones, and performance against annual objectives.
• Prepare concise executive summaries and decision-support materials that convert complex information into clear business insights and actions.

Strategic Projects & Program Management

• Lead selected strategic and cross-functional projects on behalf of the Chief Global Development Officer from scoping through implementation and completion.
• Develop project plans, milestones, owners, dependencies, and timelines; maintain visibility to progress and proactively identify risks or roadblocks.
• Drive follow-up and accountability across project teams to ensure commitments and deliverables are completed on time.
• Coordinate initiatives spanning Real Estate, Construction, Design, Portfolio Management, Franchise Development, Operations, Finance, Legal, Technology, and other functions.
• Support business cases, pilot programs, process redesign, technology implementations, and other strategic initiatives as assigned.
• Conduct post-project reviews and identify opportunities to improve execution, governance, and organizational effectiveness.

Development Leadership & Executive Coordination

• Provide organizational and execution support to the Chief Global Development Officer and Development leadership team, helping ensure priorities, commitments, and key decisions remain visible and on track.
• Help manage the Development leadership operating cadence, including key internal meetings, committees, business reviews, planning sessions, and external engagements.
• Coordinate the CGDO's Development-related calendar and meeting priorities, ensuring appropriate preparation, sequencing, participation, and follow-up for critical meetings and initiatives.
• Develop agendas, coordinate pre-read materials, capture key decisions and action items, and drive follow-up to completion.
• Maintain visibility to key deadlines, commitments, and priorities across the Development organization and proactively follow up with responsible parties.
• Coordinate preparation for Real Estate Committee, Development Committee, Executive Leadership, GSP, and Board meetings, including presentation development and consolidation of cross-functional inputs.
• Support planning and coordination of market visits, conferences, landlord/broker meetings, and other strategic Development activities as needed.
• Identify items requiring leadership attention or escalation and help prioritize competing initiatives.

Development Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a business owner and power user for Development reporting and workflow platforms, including Leasecake, Buxton, Placer.AI, and other current or future systems.
• Partner with functional owners to ensure data used for Development reporting is accurate, consistent, timely, and decision-ready.
• Support implementation, optimization, and adoption of Development technology platforms, dashboards, workflow tools, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Document and improve Development processes, governance, templates, and standard operating procedures.
• Identify opportunities to automate recurring reporting, improve information flow, reduce manual work, and increase organizational scalability.
• Maintain departmental SharePoint sites, key templates, and centralized Development reference materials to support effective collaboration and knowledge management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Real Estate, Portfolio Management & Legal, Construction, Customer Experience & Design, Franchise Development, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Technology, and other functions.
• Serve as a central point of coordination for cross-functional Development priorities, helping ensure alignment, communication, accountability, and timely execution.
• Build effective working relationships across levels of the organization and with selected external partners to facilitate execution of Development initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Analytics, Real Estate, Strategy, or related field preferred.
• 4-7 years of experience in corporate strategy, business analytics, development operations, FP&A, management consulting, PMO/strategic initiatives, real estate/development strategy, or related functions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with demonstrated ability to analyze complex information and develop executive-level presentations and recommendations.
• Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to structure ambiguous problems, establish workplans, coordinate stakeholders, and drive initiatives to completion.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills with strong attention to detail and judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Experience with business intelligence, CRM, project management, real estate technology, or reporting platforms preferred.
• Experience supporting multi-unit restaurant, retail, franchise, hospitality, real estate, or other consumer-facing organizations preferred.

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with periodic travel as required to support business initiatives, meetings, site visits, or operational needs.
• May require flexibility in work schedule based on business priorities and operational demands.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Responsibilities and duties may change or be modified at any time based on business needs, operational requirements, organizational changes, or leadership direction.

Sarku Japan reserves the right to amend, modify, interpret, or discontinue this job description at its discretion and in accordance with applicable law.

Grounded from the operational scope and role-transition context contained in the attached materials.

EQUAL 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.

Founded in 1987, Sarku Japan began with four entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to introduce Japanese teppanyaki cooking to the United States. Starting with a single location in the Liberty Tree Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, they built the company through hard work, shared responsibility, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: serve fresh, made-to-order meals cooked directly in front of customers while delivering an experience that stood apart from traditional food court dining. Through energy, showmanship, and quality, Sarku Japan quickly built a loyal customer following.
The early years required determination, long hours, and an unwavering belief in the brand. As the company grew throughout the Northeast, Florida, Texas, and eventually across the country, the founders stayed committed to the philosophy of Kaizen — continuous improvement. That mindset continues to shape how we operate today, from refining recipes and operations to investing in our people and guest experience.
Today, Sarku Japan has grown into a nationally recognized brand with locations across the United States, including shopping centers, street-front restaurants, and military bases. While we have grown significantly since 1987, our commitment to quality, teamwork, innovation, and growth remains at the center of everything we do.