Manager of Field Readiness 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 Manager of Field Readiness and Innovation owns the system that translates marketing initiatives, product innovation, digital experiences, and operational changes into executable shop operations across Dutch Bros.

This role ensures that all initiatives are designed, tested, and prepared in a way that enables consistent, efficient, and scalable execution in real shop environments. Acting as the bridge between Marketing, Product, Technology, Supply Chain, and Operations, this leader evaluates operational feasibility, defines execution requirements, and influences initiative design prior to launch.

The Manager of Field Readiness and Innovation is responsible for identifying operational risks early, shaping readiness standards, and ensuring shops are equipped to successfully execute new initiatives. This role plays a critical part in improving the shop experience while enabling innovation to scale effectively.

Key Result Areas (KRAs)

Operational Readiness Ownership

• Own the operational readiness of all marketing initiatives, product launches, digital experiences, and innovation efforts impacting shop execution
• Define what is required for successful shop execution, including workflows, labor considerations, equipment needs, and process requirements
• Ensure all initiatives are designed with real shop environments and constraints in mind
  
  

Operational Feasibility & Design Influence

• Evaluate new initiatives for operational feasibility, complexity, and scalability
• Influence initiative design by providing recommendations that improve execution, efficiency, and team experience
• Partner early with Marketing, Product, and Technology teams to ensure operational considerations are embedded into new initiatives
• Act as the voice of the shop in planning sessions, advocating for practical, executable solutions
  
  

Launch Readiness, Validation, and Cross-Functional Launch Support

• Establish readiness criteria and standards that must be met prior to field rollout
• Partner with Shop Systems & Continuous Improvement to test new products, processes, equipment, and workflows
• Lead or support operational validation through test kitchen, pilot programs, and in-shop testing
• Ensure initiatives are fully vetted and refined before transition to Integration
• Align cross-functional teams on operational requirements and readiness expectations prior to launch
• Ensure all supporting materials, processes, and dependencies are in place before handoff to Operations Integration
• Partner with Integration to ensure readiness requirements are clearly defined and executable
  
  

Post-Launch Insights and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor early execution performance and field feedback to identify gaps in operational readiness
• Use post-launch insights to improve field readiness processes, frameworks, and decision-making
• Identify recurring challenges and drive improvements in how initiatives are designed and prepared
  
  

Operational Readiness Systems and Frameworks

• Define and improve how Dutch Bros evaluates, scopes, and prepares initiatives for field execution
• Develop reusable frameworks, templates, and guardrails to reduce shop complexity and improve consistency
• Establish standards for assessing initiative impact on operations (e.g. speed of service, labor, quality, complexity)
  
  

Skills

• Data Literacy & Analytical Thinking
• Voice of Customer / Field Empathy
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Project & Change Delivery Support
• Operational Requirements Definition
• Documentation & Standardization
• Vendor/Technical Partner Collaboration
  
  

Job Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in a related field, preferred
• Prior management experience, preferred
• 5+ years of experience in food service operations, product development, operational enablement, or equipment testing (QSR or coffee industry preferred)
• Proven experience translating business or marketing initiatives into operational execution within a field environment
• Experience evaluating operational complexity (e.g., workflow, throughput, labor impact, equipment requirements)
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional partners (Marketing, Product, Ops, Supply Chain, Technology)
• Experience working on or contributing to innovation pipelines, pilot programs, or launch readiness processes
• Strong understanding of shop-level operations and execution realities
• Experience identifying operational risks and driving mitigation strategies
• Ability to analyze data and field feedback to inform decisions and improvements
  
  

Location Requirement:

• This role is located in the Greater Phoenix area
• Travel required, up to 25%
• This position is required to be in office 4 days per week (Mon-Thurs); Fridays are optional remote work days
  
  

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!