Product Research & Development Manager

$102,529 - $102,529/Yr

DB Franchising USA - Phoenix, AZ

Full-time - Mid Level

Phoenix, AZ

Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)

About the position

The Product Research & Development Manager at Dutch Bros Coffee plays a crucial role in overseeing the research and development of all shop-level consumable products and associated tools, as well as vendor qualification and setup. This position is integral to the company's mission of making a massive difference one cup at a time, ensuring that all managed projects align with brand standards and Dutch Bros specifications. The manager will be responsible for developing products that support national marketing campaigns, enhance supply chain redundancy, drive equipment innovation, and improve operational efficiency. This role requires fostering strong, supportive relationships with key leaders across various departments to ensure seamless collaboration and communication. In this position, the manager will create, coordinate, and manage all R&D product projects and expenses according to company procedures. They will keep stakeholders informed of project statuses through timely documentation and communication. The role also involves researching and securing product samples to support campaign and product drop needs, as well as partnering with procurement to qualify new vendors. The manager will deliver technical product specification sheets for both third-party and proprietary items, ensuring they are updated and accessible for broad use. Additionally, the Product Research & Development Manager will act as a liaison between R&D, vendors, Brand/Innovation, Supply Chain, Procurement, Legal, Finance, and Field Services. They will provide support and technical expertise to coordinate projects and resolve issues efficiently. The manager will also oversee the onboarding of new ingredients and recipe builds, ensuring proper specifications are communicated to cross-functional leaders, including the Food Safety Manager and Supply Chain. This role requires a proactive approach to managing vendor relationships and product improvement strategies, staying current with product trends and innovations through education and research.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the research and development of all shop-level consumable products and associated tools.
• Manage vendor qualification and setup for product development projects.
• Develop products to support national marketing campaigns and supply chain redundancy.
• Ensure all managed projects are conducted according to brand standards and specifications.
• Create, coordinate, and manage all R&D product projects and expenses according to company procedures.
• Research and secure product samples to support campaign and product drop needs.
• Partner with Procurement to qualify new vendors for product needs.
• Deliver technical product specification sheets for third-party and proprietary items.
• Act as the liaison between R&D, vendors, and various departments to coordinate projects and resolve issues.
• Manage onboarding of new ingredients and recipe builds, providing specifications to cross-functional leaders.
• Support vendor onboarding and management, ensuring contracts protect proprietary products and information.
• Stay current with vendor offerings and product trends through education and research.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in product development, preferably in food or beverage.
• 2 years of project management experience.
• BA/BS in a related field, or 4 additional years of experience.
• Experience in research and trend tracking preferred.
• Experience in marketing or closely working with marketing preferred.
• Proven experience in 3rd party vendor management.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in research and trend tracking.
• Experience in marketing or closely working with marketing.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Short Term Disability/Life insurances
• Paid Sick Days
• 401(k) plan with employer match after one year of employment
• Education Benefit Program
• Vacation/Floating Holidays/Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Schedule
• Paid Volunteer Days
• Various employee discounts
• Office perks, such as hi-lo desks, snacks provided daily, casual dress code, and an in-house coffee bar with a dedicated Broista.