Vice President, People Business Partners & Employee Relations

Dutch Bros Coffee•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, People Business Partner provides enterprise leadership for the People Business Partner and Employee Relations functions supporting Dutch Bros Headquarters and Field operations. This executive builds and leads high-performing teams, sets service delivery strategy, and ensures consistent, business-aligned people practices across the organization. The role advises executives and senior leaders, translating business priorities into scalable workforce, talent, organizational effectiveness, and employee relations strategies, while connecting Headquarters strategy with the needs of distributed Field operations. The Vice President oversees organizational design, talent and succession, change leadership, workforce insights, employee relations, budgets, and resource allocation across the People Business Partner and Employee Relations functions. The position is based at Dutch Bros Headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, and requires working in the office four days per week, Monday through Thursday. Fridays are optional remote work days. Regular travel is required to support Field engagement and business needs. Compensation is dependent on experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field required.
13+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including significant experience leading leaders and building high-performing teams.
Senior HR leadership experience in a complex, geographically dispersed, multi-unit organization.
Demonstrated success leading People Business Partner and Employee Relations strategies across corporate or Headquarters functions and Field operations.
Proven ability to advise and influence C-suite executives and senior operational leaders on business, talent, organizational, and workforce risk decisions.
Track record of scaling teams, operating models, and people practices in a high-growth environment.
Deep expertise in employee relations, investigations, organizational design, talent and succession, change leadership, workforce analytics, and employment risk.
Strong business and financial acumen, including budget, headcount, vendor, and resource management.
Exceptional leadership presence, judgment, communication, and ability to lead effectively through ambiguity and change.
Ability to travel regularly to support Field engagement and business needs.
Ability to work in the office four days per week (Monday through Thursday) at Dutch Bros Headquarters in Tempe, Arizona.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Workday experience.

Responsibilities

Set and lead the enterprise strategy for People Business Partners and Employee Relations across Headquarters and multi-unit Field operations.
Build and execute multi-year operating plans to strengthen leadership capability, talent outcomes, organizational health, culture, and business performance.
Influence enterprise decisions using judgment and data-backed insights on workforce trends, talent risks, employee relations, and organizational design.
Serve as a senior member of the People leadership team, shaping cross-functional strategy and connecting Headquarters and Field priorities.
Lead, coach, and develop senior leaders and teams of People Business Partners and Employee Relations professionals.
Establish accountabilities, leadership expectations, capabilities, and service delivery standards across both functions.
Build a scalable operating model, talent bench, and succession pipeline to support enterprise growth.
Oversee budgets, staffing, vendor partnerships, and resource allocation.
Advise executives on complex workforce matters, investigations, labor and employment risk, organizational effectiveness, and leadership decisions.
Partner with Legal and business leaders to resolve high-risk matters and implement consistent, scalable practices across Headquarters and Field.
Establish workforce insights and operating rhythms covering turnover, staffing, engagement, retention, employee relations trends, and leadership capability.
Anticipate workforce and organizational needs through analytics, trend forecasting, and partnership with business leaders.
Translate workforce insights into executive recommendations and measurable actions that improve business, talent, and culture outcomes.
Ensure execution of enterprise talent routines, including leadership assessment, calibration, succession planning, performance management, and high-potential development.
Partner with Headquarters and Field leaders to strengthen organizational capability, leadership effectiveness, and ready-now talent pipelines.
Model people-first leadership and hold teams accountable for a consistent, high-quality employee experience.
Own the enterprise Employee Relations strategy and ensure consistent, legally compliant investigations, case management, corrective action, and risk mitigation.
Provide executive-level judgment and direction on complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee matters.
Use case trends and root-cause analysis to identify systemic issues, strengthen leader capability, and reduce enterprise risk.
Lead enterprise people and organizational change across Headquarters and Field, ensuring clear strategy, sponsorship, communication, and adoption.
Equip People leaders and business leaders to navigate growth, organizational transitions, and evolving workforce needs.
Build trust and accountability through transparent communication, aligned decision-making, and disciplined execution.