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

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