decision scientist, Coffeehouse Development Platforms & Insights

Starbucks Coffee Company•Seattle, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and the rich tradition, but that also brought a feeling of connection. We are known for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and are guided by their service to others. As a key analytical partner to our Coffeehouse Development, Platforms & Insights spaces, you will shape the future of our Coffeehouse portfolio by bringing data‑driven clarity to how we invest in, evolve, and optimize our current and future assets. You will work across Plan, Design, Build, and Maintain domains to ensure insights are embedded in key systems throughout the investment lifecycle. You will collaborate closely with business and technical partners to illuminate tradeoffs, uncover opportunities, build predictive models, and recommend actions that strengthen our Coffeehouses and deliver long‑term value. As a decision scientist, you will Analyze and model data: Access, prepare, and analyze complex datasets from multiple sources (AWS, Azure, Databricks, SQL, Python, Alteryx, etc.) to evaluate Coffeehouse performance, reinvestment opportunities, and space optimization scenarios. Identify anomalies, data gaps, and quality issues, and partner cross‑functionally to resolve them. Visualize with clarity via Tableau and other industry tools. Generate insights and communicate implications: Synthesize analytical findings into clear, actionable insights that illuminate tradeoffs and opportunities. Present recommendations to non-technical audiences in a way that is concise, approachable, and connected to business outcomes. Proactively surface opportunities: Identify emerging patterns, performance drivers, and reinvestment opportunities across the existing Coffeehouse portfolio. Bring forward data‑driven recommendations that influence long‑term planning and capital deployment decisions. Collaborate cross‑functionally: Partner with teams across Reinvestment, Coffeehouse Development, Finance, Operations, Data Science, and Data Engineering to ensure analytical work is rigorous, relevant, and integrated into business processes and decision frameworks. Support model development and validation: Work closely with data science teams to refine assumptions, validate model outputs, and ensure analytical tools accurately represent Coffeehouse dynamics and investment scenarios.

Requirements

Bachelor or Arts/Science or equivalent experience
Minimum of 1 year of experience with coding languages to support data preparation (SQL), pipelines (Python), and data analysis (R, Python)
Minimum of 1 year experience with data visualization tools and techniques (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, Shiny, D3)
Performs data analysis and profiling using SQL and Python or R, with light guidance from senior practitioners on methodology
Possesses outstanding collaboration skills with colleagues at an operational level
Effectively presents complex technical material to nontechnical audiences in an approachable way
Uses software and packages to create data visualizations and build dashboards, independently - with intent to influence strategic and operational decision-making
Interprets results of data analysis or visualization and communicates implications and recommendations, with light review from senior practitioners
Adheres to standards and best practices (e.g., version control, coding standards, documentation, storytelling with data, business
Has sound understanding of Starbucks business, and business acumen in general, including familiarity with business drivers in functional / domain focus area
Builds connection between work product and business application, with guidance at times
Applies key human-centered design principles to the work, considering relevant audiences and business processes receiving the work
Collects and contributes to requirements definition as appropriate; with light supervision, interprets requirements to design analysis communication, data sensitivity policies, analytics best practices, engineering best practices) with light guidance from senior
With light supervision, meets work deadlines and communicates proactively when there may be delays
Has minimum understanding of decision sciences and how to evangelize this capability

Nice To Haves

BA/BS with a concentration in Statistics, Math, Computer Science, Engineering, Econ, Psychology, Quantitative Social Science, or a similar field preferred

Responsibilities

Analyze and model data: Access, prepare, and analyze complex datasets from multiple sources (AWS, Azure, Databricks, SQL, Python, Alteryx, etc.) to evaluate Coffeehouse performance, reinvestment opportunities, and space optimization scenarios. Identify anomalies, data gaps, and quality issues, and partner cross‑functionally to resolve them. Visualize with clarity via Tableau and other industry tools.
Generate insights and communicate implications: Synthesize analytical findings into clear, actionable insights that illuminate tradeoffs and opportunities. Present recommendations to non-technical audiences in a way that is concise, approachable, and connected to business outcomes.
Proactively surface opportunities: Identify emerging patterns, performance drivers, and reinvestment opportunities across the existing Coffeehouse portfolio. Bring forward data‑driven recommendations that influence long‑term planning and capital deployment decisions.
Collaborate cross‑functionally: Partner with teams across Reinvestment, Coffeehouse Development, Finance, Operations, Data Science, and Data Engineering to ensure analytical work is rigorous, relevant, and integrated into business processes and decision frameworks.
Support model development and validation: Work closely with data science teams to refine assumptions, validate model outputs, and ensure analytical tools accurately represent Coffeehouse dynamics and investment scenarios.

Benefits

As a Starbucks partner, you (and your family) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits.
Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year.
Starbucks also offers eligible partners participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, a discounted company stock program (S.I.P. ), Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock), incentivized emergency savings, and financial well-being tools.
Additionally, Starbucks offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, student loan management resources, and access to other educational opportunities.
You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement.
Starbucks will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, and in accordance with its plans and policies.
This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative.
For additional information regarding partner perks and more detailed information about benefits, go to starbucksbenefits.com.
If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above.
For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.