Product Development Specialist

We are looking for a passionate and creative Product Development Specialist to join our team. In this role, you will be at the heart of our culinary innovation — crafting new flavors, developing exciting dishes, and bringing fresh ideas to life across our restaurant brands.

You have experience in dessert and bakery creation, with a love for the craft and a keen eye for detail. But your curiosity doesn't stop there — you thrive on exploring diverse flavor profiles, drawing inspiration from Asian culinary traditions and beyond, and turning bold ideas into menu-worthy creations that surprise and delight our guests.

If you are someone who lives and breathes food, gets excited by the endless possibilities of ingredients and techniques, and wants to leave your mark on some of Finland's most exciting restaurant concepts — we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stay on top of restaurant and food trends across Finland, Estonia, and other markets we operate in — bringing fresh inspiration back to the team

• Regularly develop new dishes, products, and desserts that reflect our brand identity and excite our guests

• Collaborate closely with our restaurant, Sushibar, and factory teams to test and refine new creations before they hit the menu

• Write clear, detailed recipes, product standards, and step-by-step procedures that make it easy for our teams to deliver consistent quality

• Continuously improve existing products by listening to customer feedback, tracking sales performance, and responding to operational needs

• Support new product launches from start to finish — including staff training and hands-on in-store implementation

• Make sure every product you develop meets our standards across taste, quality, presentation, cost, and day-to-day operational efficiency

Expectations & Requirements:

• A background in culinary arts or demonstrated experience as a Pastry Chef, Dessert Chef, or Bakery Chef; formal professional training in patisserie or baking is considered an advantage.

• Good English communication skills are needed for everyday work, writing recipes, and production procedures; knowing Finnish or Chinese is a great bonus.

• Hands-on experience in new product development and product launches

• Familiarity with Western cuisine is a plus

• Creative and practical, with a genuine passion for food and the restaurant industry

• High personal standards when it comes to taste, presentation, and product quality

• Detail-oriented, responsible, and a team player who communicates well across different teams

• Comfortable working in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of the restaurant industry

• Willing to work hands-on alongside our restaurant, Sushibar, and factory teams

• Legally eligible to work in Finland

• Flexible and willing to travel when needed

• Valid salmonella and hygiene certificates

• Driving licence is a plus

We offer to you:

• A competitive salary that grows with your skills and experience

• A dynamic and rewarding role in one of Finland's fastest-growing restaurant companies

• A flexible working schedule that supports a healthy work-life balance

• Great employee benefits that take care of you inside and outside of work

• A positive and welcoming work environment where you'll feel valued from day one

• Regular team-building activities and events that bring our people together and make work genuinely fun

Spartao Oy is a fast-growing Finnish catering and restaurant company with a passion for Asian cuisine. Since our founding in 2018, we've expanded to over 80 locations across Finland and Estonia and we're just getting started.

Our flagship brand, Itsudemo Sushi, is one of Finland's most recognized sushi concepts, operating through both Itsudemo Sushibar and Itsudemo Restaurant.

Alongside it, we've built a family of exciting, distinct brands:

• Itsuyaki — Authentic Japanese teppanyaki experience

• Seoul Good — Korean fried chicken done right

• Miss Yao — Innovative Asian fusion à la carte, where tradition meets creativity

At Spartao, you'll be part of a dynamic, multicultural team that's reshaping the dining scene in Northern Europe. Whether you're passionate about food, hospitality, or simply want to grow your career in a company that moves fast and rewards ambition — this is the place for you.

Read more about us: Spartao Oy https://www.spartao.com

Itsudemo Sushi https://itsudemo.fi/

Itsuyaki https://www.itsuyaki.fi/

Seoul Good https://www.seoulgood.fi/

OurMissionis to bring the world happiness with Asian food culture.

OurValuesare:

Empathy: Whether it is treating our employees or customers, we care and respect. Because employees are our assets while customers are the meaning of our existence.

Innovation: We never stop thinking because there is always a better way.

Passion: We believe that the work can be fun even under pressure because we enjoy it. OurActionsare:

Support:We support our team and value our customers because wonderful things can be only achieved when we unite our strengths.

Study:We keep learning about Asian food knowledge because we always want to create better Asian food.

Smile:We serve every customer with a smile because the smile spreads happiness