Senior Director, Product Development and Innovation

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing. At Dutch Bros Coffee, we are more than just a coffee company. We are a fun-loving, mind-blowing company that makes a difference one cup at a time. 

Position Overview:

The Senior Director, Product Development and Innovation is a key role in leading the advancement of food and beverage innovation for Dutch Bros.  This role leads the creation and execution of bold, craveable beverage and food offerings that fuel Dutch Bros customers and reflect the spirit of the brand. This role sits at the intersection of food science, innovation and business acumen, and cross functional collaboration and leadership - guiding the development process from early concept through commercialization.  The ideal candidate combines technical expertise, market and consumer insights, strategic thinking and communication skills, project management and operational know-how to innovate and successfully scale new products.  This role will advance the vision, strategy, and testing methodologies used to innovate new products, managing the company's product portfolio, and enhancing its market position, all while scaling a fast-growing brand in a high change environment. 

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in beverage science, food technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience, required; significant experience with hands-on beverage formulation required

• 15+ additional years of experience in hands-on beverage innovation, product development, or a related field, with a track record of successful product launches, required; 3+ years must have been spent in a leadership role

• In-depth knowledge of food and beverage industry trends, consumer preferences, and regulatory requirements

• Passion for fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments and a love (and skill) for delighting customers, even when the customer’s preferences differ from one’s own

• Proven track record of launching successful QSR / F&B products that connect with core customers

• Exceptional project management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously across internal teams and third party partners

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities

• Strategic communicator and bridge builder - able to translate complexity into clear direction and bring cross-functional teams together around a common vision and guide ideas with clarity and confidence

• Be equally comfortable in the kitchen, in the lab or in the boardroom

Location Requirement: 

• This position is based in Phoenix, AZ.

• In-office expectations Mon - Thurs with optional work remote on Fridays (pending no in-person tastings or meetings needed on any given Friday). 

• Occasional travel for industry events, vendor meetings, and immersive field visits

Key Result Areas (KRAs):

Lead the end-to-end product development lifecycle from idea to in-shop launch - across beverage, food and ingredient innovation pipelines.

• Own overall innovation strategy and pipeline for Dutch Bros, including new LTO product development, continuous improvement initiatives and breakthrough new platforms to keep Dutch at the forefront of QSR innovation. This includes concept testing with Insights, iterative prototype creation with leadership and operational implementation and optimization for testing and launch.   Pipeline must be grounded in consumer insights, brand strategy and operational feasibility. 

• Lead and own all key vendor relationships, ensuring existing workstreams are on track and prioritized while also partnering to co-develop net new innovation to the marketplace

• Lead team of cross-functional stakeholders up/down/across to ensure developed strategies are aligned and are executable within the framework of shop operations

• Validate each project’s progress with key stakeholders to ensure its on track and delivering against aligned scope, timing and expectations

Translate strategic priorities into executable initiatives, balancing creativity with structure, speed and excellence:

• Conduct thorough market and consumer research to identify emerging trends, consumer preferences, and competitive analysis to inform product development and identify business opportunities

• Keep pulse with field teams to understand emerging trends/needs - the best ideas often come from our amazing broistas!

• Implement greater rigor and maturity into the product development process, from product briefs to consumer sensory testing to reliable and detailed documentation of recipes, builds and ingredient specs across teams and vendors

• Stay updated on relevant food and beverage regulations and partner with Food Safety and Legal to ensure that all products meet legal and safety standards

• Regularly present to leadership and influence decision-making through clear communication, technical knowledge and market understanding

Ensure product quality, consistency and scalability through technical formulation, sensory testing and operational testing:

• Regularly interrogate and re-assess product pipeline, troubleshooting formulas as needed, evaluating ingredient performance, assessing product performance and making necessary recommendations for improvements or discontinuations

• Stand up regular sensory testing program with consumers, in partnership with Insights team

• Partner with Operations to implement rigorous quality control and optimization standards to maintain product consistency at scale and meet regulatory requirements

• Act as the voice of product in cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain and external vendor partners

Inspire, coach and grow a team of product developers:

• Ensure clarity of priorities and alignment to business and innovation strategies

• Constantly re-assess workload across the team, ensuring balance of project types and deadlines to aid in team development

• Bring outside thinking in, bolstering team skills with best practices from other brands that have been on similar growth journeys / levels of maturation

• Oversee budgets and portfolio plans for the product development department, ensuring efficient resource allocation

Skills:

• Innovation Strategy

• Product Development

• Market Insight and Vendor Management

• Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written)

• People Leadership

• Project Management

• Curiosity and Creativity

• Flexibility / Adaptability

• Collaboration

Physical Requirements:

• In-Office Environment: Must be able to work in a busy, crowded, and loud office with frequent distractions and interruptions

  • Must be able to collaborate in-person with occasional impromptu in-person meetings 

• Office Conditions: Adaptability to typical office conditions, which may include exposure to air conditioning, heating, artificial lighting, and varying noise levels

• Mobility: Ability to sit, stand, reach, twist, stretch, and work at a desk for long stretches.  Must be able to occasionally move or lift office items up to 25 pounds

• Hearing Requirements: Hearing must be sufficient or correctable to ensure clear understanding of spoken information, including participating in virtual meetings and phone calls. Use of hearing aids or other assistive devices is acceptable if needed.

• Reading and Writing Proficiency: Ability to read and write in English is essential for processing documents, drafting reports, and following up on necessary actions. Proficiency in written communication is required to handle job-related tasks effectively.

• Vision Requirements: Vision must be adequate or correctable to perform essential job duties, such as reading documents on a computer screen and using other visual tools. Use of corrective lenses or other measures to meet visual requirements is expected if needed.

• Technology Proficiency: Must be proficient in operating a computer and other office productivity tools such as printers, scanners, and collaboration software. 

• Effective Communication: Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with team members, clients, and other stakeholders via email, video conferencing, and other in office communication tools.

Compensation:

DOE

If you like wild growth and working in a unique and fun environment, surrounded by positive community, you'll enjoy your career with us!