Recruiter

About Sarku Japan 

Sarku Japan is the largest Japanese quick-service restaurant chain in the United States, with 150+ locations across the country. Backed by Garnett Station Partners, we're entering an accelerated phase of growth and transformation. 

Great restaurants are built by great people. We believe our success starts with the people who bring our values to life every day. By investing in our employees, creating opportunities for growth, and recognizing meaningful contributions, we will become America’s Favorite Japanese Restaurant---because of you. 

Overview 

The Field Recruiter partners with Operations to forecast staffing needs and hire the field management and leadership talent who run Sarku Japan restaurants. This position supports workforce planning, builds pipelines for roles such as Store Managers, General Managers, and Area or District Managers, and owns the full-cycle hiring process from sourcing through onboarding. 

The Field Recruiter brings creative, data-driven recruiting practices to the field, strengthens Sarku Japan’s reputation as an employer of choice, and ensures every candidate has a positive experience. 

Essential Responsibilities 

The Field Recruiter is accountable for the following essential responsibilities: 

• Workforce planning: Partners with Operations leaders to build quarterly and annual staffing plans for field management and leadership roles, using headcount, turnover, new-store openings, and labor market data. Proactively identifies upcoming vacancies and bench-strength gaps in assigned markets. 
• Recruiting strategy: Develops regional recruiting strategies with Operations, tracks the success rate of each recruiting tactic, and coaches Operations leaders on what works. Aligns with Operations on selection criteria to attract diverse, high-quality candidates. 
• Leadership and management hiring: Leads full-cycle recruitment for Store Managers, General Managers, Area/District Managers, and other field leadership positions, including screening calls, virtual and in-person interviews, and assessment of leadership capability, operational experience, and cultural fit. 
• Sourcing and pipelines: Builds candidate pipelines through job boards (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.), direct sourcing, cold calling, referrals, and talent communities. Researches competitor and industry best practices and presents recommendations to Field HR and Operations leadership. 
• Internal mobility: Partners with Operations to identify high-potential internal candidates and support promotion pathways into management and leadership roles. 
• Offers and onboarding: Prepares offer letters and extends offer packages, including negotiating compensation, job terms, and conditions. Supports new leaders through onboarding to ensure a best-in-class candidate experience. 
• Coaching and training: Trains Operations leaders on hiring processes, behavioral interviewing, candidate assessment, recruitment marketing, sourcing, and recruiting technology. 
• New Store Openings: Educates the team and supports Operations on hiring events and new store opening program. 
• Reporting: Collaborates with Talent Acquisition leadership and prepares weekly reports on hiring results, pipeline health, time-to-fill, and project progress. 

Qualifications 

Minimum qualifications include: 

• Bachelor’s degree required; major in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. 
• Minimum three years of experience recruiting restaurant, retail, or hospitality management and multi-unit leadership, including lead generation, creative sourcing, and cold calling. Operations management experience may also be considered. 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. 

Leadership Expectations 

The Field Recruiter is expected to model collaborative, influence-based leadership and reinforce a people-first culture. 

• Builds trusted partnerships with field Operations leaders and influences hiring decisions without direct authority. 
• Coaches managers on interviewing, selection, and candidate experience, raising hiring capability. 
• Champions Sarku Japan’s employer brand and a consistent, respectful experience for every candidate. 
• Uses data to guide recruiting decisions and holds self accountable to hiring goals and timelines. 
• Models integrity, confidentiality, and fair, inclusive hiring practices. 

Knowledge and Experience 

The role requires talent acquisition and workforce planning knowledge and sound business judgment across the following areas: 

• Full-cycle recruiting for restaurant, retail, or hospitality management and multi-unit leadership roles. 
• Workforce planning or headcount forecasting in partnership with operations leaders. 
• Creative sourcing methods, including job boards, LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, and campus recruiting. 
• Offer negotiation, including compensation, job terms, and conditions. 
• Applicant tracking systems, recruiting technology, and recruiting metrics reporting. 
• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and coaching skills. 

Physical Requirements 

This role requires the ability to perform field, travel, and restaurant-based responsibilities, including: 

• Occasional travel by car to restaurants or hiring events, with occasional overnight travel. 
• Extended periods of computer and phone use for sourcing, screening, and reporting. 
• Standing and walking during restaurant visits and recruiting events. 

Working Conditions 

Works primarily in an office with periodic travel to the field. 

• ​​Periodic (10-20%) travel required.​ 
• Standard business hours, with flexibility for evening and weekend hiring events, open houses, and college recruiting events. 

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.

Salary

$75000.00 - $95000.00 per year

Benefits

Bonus pay, Paid time off

Remote Type

Fully Remote

Job Type

Full time