Director of Preconstruction & Entitlements

About this role

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   Director of Preconstruction & Entitlements   is a strategic leader responsible  

for driving the early-stage execution of Dutch Bros’ new shop pipeline. This role owns the   pre-development lifecycle from site approval   through construction permitting, with a   focus   on accelerating timelines, reducing risk, and improving project predictability.   This role is primarily accountable for solving upstream development   challenges,   particularly entitlements, jurisdictional approvals, and utility procurement to ensure   projects are fully positioned for successful   execution. The   Director partners cross-functionally with Real Estate, Design, Construction, and   Operations to proactively remove barriers, streamline approvals, and enable scalable   growth.  

Job Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree   required ; advanced degree preferred in Real Estate, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or   a related   field.    

• 7+ years of experience leading multi-state or national development programs, preferably within high-growth retail, restaurant, convenience, or QSR environments, with the ability to   operate   strategically while driving execution across multiple projects and markets.    

• Deep   expertise   in entitlements, zoning, permitting, municipal processes, and site due diligence, including environmental, geotechnical, traffic, ADA, and utility assessments.    

• Experience building scalable pre-development processes and managing complex development projects across multiple markets, with a strong understanding of construction processes and project lifecycles to align pre-development efforts with construction readiness.    

• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, including hiring, coaching, performance management, organizational change, and process improvement.    

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering across Real Estate, Design, Construction, Finance, Operations, and external stakeholders.    

• Experience selecting, negotiating with, and managing external partners, including architects, engineers, consultants, developers, general contractors, and national consultant networks, with a focus on vendor performance and accountability.    

• Experience managing operating budgets, capital planning, portfolio forecasting, executive reporting, and evaluating project feasibility, development risks, and financial impacts.    

• Strong understanding of utility coordination, municipal development codes, land use regulations, zoning ordinances, annexation processes, environmental permitting requirements, and development-related legal documents, including easements and access agreements.    

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to   identify   risks early, develop proactive solutions, and leverage dashboards and KPIs to improve portfolio visibility and decision-making.    

• Experience with development and project management platforms such as Lucernex, Procore, Smartsheet, Monday.com, or similar tools, as well as Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.    

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.    

• Valid driver’s license   required .  

Location Requirement:  This role is located in Tempe, Arizona. This position is required to be in office 4 days per week (Mon-Thurs); Fridays are optional remote work days.

Key Result Areas (KRAs): Pre-Development Strategy, Entitlements & Infrastructure  

• Own and evolve the pre-development strategy to support accelerated new shop   openings  

• Lead entitlement strategy and execution across   jurisdictions , improving approval   timelines and success rates  

• Develop and drive strategies to secure utilities (power, water, telecom) earlier in the   Revised 6/2025   development lifecycle  

• Build and   maintain   relationships with municipalities, governing agencies, and utility   providers  

• Identify   risks early in the project lifecycle and implement proactive mitigation   strategies to prevent downstream delays  

Pipeline Execution & Cross-Functional Alignment  

• Drive visibility, forecasting, and milestone accountability across the   pre-development pipeline  

• Partner with Real Estate, Design, Construction, and Ops to ensure alignment from   site approval through permitting  

• Ensure projects are fully vetted, entitled, and   permitted   prior to construction   handoff  

• Collaborate with Finance and Accounting on budgeting, cost visibility, and financial   tracking across pre-development activities  

  Team Leadership & Partner Strategy  

• Lead, develop, and scale the   Pre-Development   t eams  

• Establish clear roles, expectations, and accountability across internal team   members  

• Develop and execute third-party vendor strategy, including consultants, engineers,   architects, and development partners  

• Oversee contract strategy, negotiation, and performance management of external   partners  

• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement  

• Establish scalable processes, tools, and systems to improve speed, consistency,   and predictability across projects  

• Leverage data, reporting, and analytics to   monitor   pipeline health, risks, timelines,   and performance metrics  

• Provide clear reporting, insights, and strategic recommendations to senior   l eadership partners  

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement  

• Establish scalable processes, tools, and systems to improve speed, consistency,   and predictability across projects  

• Leverage data, reporting, and analytics to   monitor   pipeline health, risks, time

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