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At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.
Blue Bottle Coffee Korea is seeking a Product Culinary Manager who will lead the strategic direction of our local food and beverage portfolio - from concept to launch to in-cafe performance. You will identify opportunities by staying closely connected with global product R&D and management teams and understanding local consumer insights, food trends, and cafe dining behaviors, proposing new culinary products that can elevate Blue Bottle’s guest experience in Korea.
This role requires a blend of culinary passion, commercial acumen, and strong partner management skills—overseeing the entire lifecycle of our food products (such as baked goods, desserts, and savory items) through strategic external partnerships and inspiring cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional results. This position will be based in Seoul, Korea, and report to the Head of Product Management APAC directly with dotted reporting to the GM of Korea.
Set a comprehensive product vision and strategy for the culinary category, including menu positioning, pricing, flavor profiles, and seasonal rollout plans.
Collaborate with cross-functional global and local teams to develop food strategies and menus that complement Blue Bottle’s core coffee offerings.
Lead the development of product concepts and final menus based on local food trends and business strategies, identifying clear growth opportunities.
Drive the execution of the Product & Marketing Calendar, ensuring seamless integration and alignment across Product R&D, Marketing, and Menu/Product Management.
Collaborate with external partners (OEM/ODM) to translate Blue Bottle’s culinary vision into high-quality, scalable food products, overseeing the recipe standardization, tasting, and shelf-life validation processes.
Manage cafe-level execution testing and monitor category performance throughout its lifecycle by analyzing sales data, financial metrics (COGS, P&L, food cost margins), and guest feedback.
Conduct comprehensive post-launch reviews to measure guest acceptance and product-market fit, proposing data-informed menu optimizations or future iterations.
Work closely with SCM and QA to ensure demand planning, ingredient sourcing alignment, and high-quality, fresh delivery to cafes.
Strategic and creative with strong business acumen
A culinary enthusiast with a sharp sensory palate and a strong eye for food presentation, plating, and premium quality.
An excellent communicator and influencer who builds strong, collaborative relationships across external partners, internal global and local teams.
Analytical and commercially minded, effectively balancing culinary innovation with food cost efficiency and operational feasibility in cafes.
A proactive problem-solver with an entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced retail environment.
8+ years of experience in food product, brand, or category management (Premium F&B experience preferred)
Extensive experience in managing full food product lifecycles through external partner collaborations (OEM/ODM vendor management, commercial kitchen scale-up).
Strong knowledge of local food regulations, hygiene standards, allergen labeling requirements, and food safety compliance in Korea.
Proven track record of launching successful food/bakery items, with a solid understanding of how food pairs with specialty coffee.
Exceptional cross-functional collaboration skills, with proven experience working closely with global HQ or regional teams.
Native fluency in Korean and business-level English (written and verbal).