Route Manager - Portland OR
Lead People. Drive Performance. Elevate the Customer Experience.
At Evergreen Refreshments, we're more than a vending and refreshment company. We create workplace experiences that keep employees energized, connected, and productive every day.
We're looking for an experienced and people-focused Route Manager to lead our Portland route operations team. This role is responsible for developing employees, strengthening customer relationships, optimizing route performance, and ensuring operational excellence across our Vending, Micro-Market, Pantry, and Office Coffee programs.
This is an opportunity for a leader who thrives in the field, enjoys developing people, embraces accountability, and takes pride in creating high-performing teams. Your impact will be felt not only through operational results, but through the success of the employees you lead and the customers you serve.
What You'll Do & Succeed Here
As Route Manager, you'll lead a team responsible for servicing hundreds of customer locations throughout the Portland market. Success in this role comes from building strong teams, maintaining exceptional customer relationships, improving operational performance, and creating a culture where employees feel supported, accountable, and empowered to succeed.
Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team
- Lead, coach, and support Route Supervisors, Route Drivers, Relief Drivers, and Route Merchandisers
- Conduct regular one-on-ones, ride-alongs, performance reviews, and coaching conversations
- Foster a culture built on accountability, teamwork, safety, and service excellence
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, and employee development initiatives
- Recognize achievements, address performance concerns, and help team members reach their full potential
Drive Operational Excellence, Customer Experience & Continuous Improvement
- Oversee daily route execution to ensure efficient, accurate, and consistent service across all customer accounts
- Manage route coverage, staffing, scheduling adjustments, and operational priorities
- Monitor and analyze key performance indicators including sales, spoilage, shrink, route efficiency, service frequency, and customer retention
- Build strong relationships with key customers and support the resolution of escalated service concerns
- Conduct customer visits to maintain satisfaction, retention, and service quality
- Ensure consistent execution of merchandising standards, planograms, and product presentation across Vending, Micro-Markets, Pantry, and Office Coffee programs
- Partner with Sales, Service, Warehouse, Fleet, and Branch leadership teams to drive business success
- Promote a culture of safety, compliance, accountability, and operational excellence
- Maintain proactive communication with route teams throughout the service day to support success and resolve challenges quickly
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive business growth
- Experience managing route-based or field service teams
- Workforce scheduling and performance management experience
- Vending, Micro-Market, Pantry, Office Coffee, food service, or refreshment industry experience
- Understanding of DOT, safety, and compliance requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
What You Bring
- Leadership experience in route operations, logistics, delivery services, distribution, transportation, food service, hospitality, or a related industry
- Proven ability to coach, motivate, and develop employees
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to build trust and accountability
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret operational data and drive improvements
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Customer-focused approach with a passion for service excellence
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and business management systems
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record