Global Head of Brand Operations

Blue Bottle Coffee; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision benefits

Industry-leading coffee training

401(k) plan

Paid time off & volunteer hours

Employee discounts on products

Job summary

Blue Bottle Coffee is seeking a Global Head of Brand Operations to lead the systems, processes, and rhythms that enable world‑class brand execution across markets. You will align Marketing, Creative, Communications, Product Management, Architecture & Café Design, and regional teams to deliver campaigns with clarity and speed.

The role blends strategic thinking with operational rigor, establishing annual planning, seasonal cadence, and governance.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years in Brand Operations or related leadership roles.
• Experience scaling operational systems within creative/marketing teams.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives across global teams.
• Fluency in English; Mandarin/Japanese a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational strategy for Blue Bottle's Global Brand Center of Excellence.
• Own annual brand planning, global calendar, and cross‑functional schedules across markets.
• Orchestrate communication and alignment across global and regional teams.
• Lead project management standards and best practices across the Brand organization.
• Partner with Marketing, Creative, Communications, Product, Architecture & Café Design, and regional leaders to execute campaigns and initiatives.
• Oversee global brand budgets, production planning, and resource allocation.
• Serve as Executive Producer for global creative productions and manage vendors and contracts.
• Establish scalable production processes for campaigns, photography, film, and content creation.
• Drive launch readiness for new cafés and major brand initiatives.
• Lead seasonal business reviews and organizational learnings to improve planning and execution.

Skills

Brand Operations

Program Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Budgeting

Vendor Management

Communication

Global/International Experience

Executive Presence

Job description

At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

About The Job

Global Head of Brand Operations is the operational leader of Blue Bottle Coffee's Global Brand Center of Excellence. Reporting to the Chief Brand Officer, this role is responsible for building the systems, processes, and operating rhythms that enable our global brand organization to deliver exceptional work with clarity, consistency, and speed.

As the connective tissue across Marketing, Creative, Communications, Product Management, Architecture & Café Design, and regional brand teams, you will orchestrate the planning, communication, and execution of global brand initiatives across our global markets. You will create alignment across teams, functions, and geographies—ensuring the right people have the right information at the right time to bring our brand to life with excellence.

This role blends strategic thinking with operational rigor. You will establish the frameworks that guide how the Brand organization works—from annual planning and seasonal campaign development to creative operations, production, governance, and cross-functional communications. Success requires exceptional organizational leadership, the ability to influence without authority, and a passion for helping teams do their very best work.

Employees are required to be based within 50 miles of one of the following established Blue Bottle Coffee geographic locations: The San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles

You Are

• An exceptional operator who brings structure, clarity, and momentum to complex organizations.
• A strategic thinker who can design scalable systems while remaining deeply connected to day-to-day execution.
• An influential leader who excels in matrixed global organizations, aligning diverse stakeholders around shared priorities and outcomes.
• A natural connector who builds trusted relationships across teams, functions, and regions. Highly organized with outstanding attention to detail, balancing multiple priorities without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, creating clarity where none exists, and helping organizations move confidently through change.
• An outstanding communicator who simplifies complexity and ensures information flows to the right people at the right time.
• A collaborative leader who develops people, improves ways of working, and fosters an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
• Curious about better ways of working, always seeking opportunities to improve processes, planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Passionate about exceptional coffee, thoughtful design, hospitality, and creating remarkable guest experiences.

You Will

• Lead the operational strategy for Blue Bottle's Global Brand Center of Excellence, establishing the systems, governance, and ways of working that enable world-class brand execution.
• Own the annual brand planning process, global marketing calendar, seasonal planning cadence, and cross-functional workback schedules across all markets.
• Orchestrate communication and alignment across global and regional teams, ensuring priorities, timelines, dependencies, and decisions are visible and understood.
• Lead project management standards, tools, and best practices across the Brand organization, continuously improving efficiency and collaboration.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Creative, Communications, Product Management, Architecture & Café Design, and regional leadership to successfully execute global campaigns, launches, and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee global brand budgets, production planning, and resource allocation in partnership with regional teams.
• Serve as Executive Producer for global creative productions, including production planning, agency and vendor management, contract negotiation, and budget oversight.
• Establish scalable production processes and governance for global and regional creative development, including seasonal campaigns, photography, film, and content creation.
• Drive launch readiness for new cafés, major brand initiatives, and product introductions by coordinating milestones, communications, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Lead seasonal business reviews, hindsight sessions, reporting, and organizational learnings that improve future planning and execution.
• Continuously identify opportunities to simplify workflows, improve communication, and strengthen operational excellence across the Brand organization.

You Have

• 10+ years of experience leading Brand Operations, Creative Operations, Studio Operations, Production, Program Management, or similar operational leadership functions.
• Experience building and scaling operational systems within high-performing creative, marketing, or design organizations.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives across global and matrixed organizations.
• Deep understanding of integrated marketing, creative development, content production, and launch planning.
• Expertise implementing and optimizing project management systems, production workflows, and operational processes.
• Experience managing production budgets, agency relationships, vendor negotiations, and external partners.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Outstanding judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to balance strategic priorities with operational execution.
• Experience working across Asia and an appreciation for regional cultural and business nuances.
• Professional fluency in English is required. Mandarin or Japanese language proficiency is a strong plus.

A Few Benefits We Offer

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees starting on your first day
• Best-in-class coffee training and continuing education
• Free membership into the Specialty Coffee Association of America and discounts on events (including Expos and Championships)
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off & paid volunteer hours
• 50% discount on all products, both online and in-cafe; this includes food, beverages, whole-bean coffee, and merchandise
• Flexible spending account & commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Additional benefits information

$168,000 - $253,000 a year

This position has a salary range of $168,000-$253,000. This salary range is a good-faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay upon hire. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, which include a candidate's qualifications and experience, where appropriate.

At Blue Bottle Coffee, you’ll be a vital part of our guests’ experience and a crucial link in delivering the most delicious coffee we can find to every person who walks through our doors, be it in person or online. If you’re ready to bring beautiful and thoughtfully rendered experiences to life, please apply and join us.

Blue Bottle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business’s needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the hiring process or in the workplace.

We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job. We also provide reasonable religious accommodations to applicants/employees to allow them to practice their bona fide religious beliefs. To request an accommodation, contact your People Partner.

We may refuse to hire relatives of present employees if doing so could result in actual or potential problems in supervision, security, safety, or morale, or if doing so could create other conflicts of interest.

We will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.