Pre-Development Manager

Dutch Bros Coffee • Phoenix, AZ

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

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 Pre-Development Manager serves as the strategic engine behind Dutch Bros’ growth, leading all early-stage project activities for new shop locations—from initial concept through issuance of construction documents and handoff to the construction team. This role manages the critical due diligence and entitlement phases of site development—navigating zoning regulations, environmental constraints, utility coordination, and municipal approvals—to systematically de-risk each opportunity and ensure alignment with brand and operational standards. Responsible for overseeing feasibility analysis, site investigations, design management, budgeting, scheduling, and procurement coordination, the Pre-Development Manager ensures every project is fully defined, financially viable, and optimized for high-volume operations before construction begins. The ultimate objective is to deliver a complete, permit-ready, construction-ready package on schedule—establishing a strong foundation for efficient build execution and successful shop openings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate Development, or a related field.
• 5–10+ years of experience in pre-development, pre-construction, design coordination, or project management.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, zoning, permitting, and multi-disciplinary design processes.
• Experience collaborating with architects, engineers, contractors, and local jurisdictions.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Procore, Bluebeam) and familiarity with AutoCAD/Revit (optional).

Responsibilities

• Feasibility & Site Analysis: Drive rigorous site feasibility evaluations including test fits, zoning and land-use analysis, and code compliance assessments. Analyze utilities, geotechnical conditions, environmental factors, access, and off-site improvements to produce comprehensive Site Investigation Reports (SIRs) that clearly define risks, constraints, and actionable development strategies.
• Due Diligence Leadership: Own and lead all due diligence efforts, including surveys, geotechnical studies, environmental reports, and utility capacity verifications. Orchestrate consultants and regulatory agencies to deliver thorough, investment-grade due diligence packages while proactively identifying, quantifying, and mitigating risk.
• Entitlements & Permitting: Strategically manage entitlement processes including rezoning, conditional use approvals, design review boards, and public hearings to secure all required land-use approvals. Direct permit submissions, aggressively manage agency comments, and maintain strong working relationships with municipal officials through permit issuance.
• Design Management: Lead architects, engineers, and specialty consultants through all phases of design, from schematic through construction documents. Ensure alignment with brand standards, operational efficiency, cost parameters, and constructability requirements while maintaining strict control of design schedules and deliverables.
• Budget & Cost Control: Establish and manage conceptual budgets, pre-construction estimates, and financial models to validate project feasibility and protect targeted returns. Collaborate with contractors and estimators to confirm pricing assumptions and implement disciplined value engineering initiatives.
• Scheduling & Delivery Planning: Develop and actively manage integrated pre-construction schedules spanning design, entitlements, procurement, and construction start. Anticipate critical path risks and drive timely corrective actions to maintain development timelines.
• Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Leadership: Provide executive-level reporting and strategic updates to ownership, lenders, and senior leadership. Prepare clear decision-support materials and ensure seamless coordination across development, construction, finance, and operations to maintain alignment and accountability.
• Construction Handoff: Deliver fully entitled, fully permitted, and construction-ready packages to the field team. Ensure a disciplined and seamless transition through complete documentation, finalized scopes and contracts, risk assessments, and structured pre-construction alignment meetings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees