manager product safety & quality - Nashville or Seattle

Starbucks • Seattle, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Product Safety & Quality – Food Team advances Starbucks’ food safety and quality programs across a global supply base. The role helps ensure food products are safe, wholesome, and premium quality while improving how food safety risks are anticipated, measured, and managed.

This position leads and develops food safety and quality professionals, applying technical expertise and food manufacturing experience to strengthen supplier performance and foster a proactive food safety and quality culture. It works with cross-functional stakeholders in a matrixed organization, bringing clarity and forward momentum to complex challenges and translating technical topics into actionable insights.

The position is based in Nashville or Seattle. Starbucks is onsite four days a week.

Requirements

• Four-year degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in food safety, quality, manufacturing, regulatory, or public health.
• Direct experience in food manufacturing environments, including plant or co-manufacturing operations.
• Experience in corporate or enterprise environments supporting complex food or CPG businesses.
• People leadership experience, including managing and developing technical professionals.
• Strong knowledge of GMPs, HACCP principles, and GFSI schemes.
• Experience with supplier quality management, audits, and supply base performance.
• Ability to work effectively in matrixed organizations and influence across functions.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, metrics, and KPIs for proactive decision-making.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, lead through change, and drive continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills for technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Food safety certifications, such as HACCP, PCQI, or CP-FS.
• Advanced degree in Food Science, Food Safety, or a related discipline.
• Prior auditing experience, quality engineering, and commercialization support.
• Experience driving metrics-based performance systems or continuous improvement programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop food safety and quality professionals, building capability, accountability, ownership, continuous improvement, and partner growth.
• Lead execution and continuous improvement of product safety and quality standards, modernizing programs, simplifying processes, and strengthening risk management.
• Lead and evolve supply base management, including supplier qualification, auditing, and performance management; identify ways to improve supplier capability and resilience.
• Define, monitor, and use food safety and quality metrics and KPIs to identify trends, inform decisions, and drive accountability across suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Embed preventive practices, data-driven insights, and continuous improvement to foster a proactive food safety and quality culture.
• Apply hands-on food manufacturing knowledge to assess supplier capabilities, support commercialization, and identify emerging risks and opportunities.
• Lead investigations and resolution of complex food safety, quality, and regulatory issues, ensuring systemic learning and long-term improvements.
• Build relationships across sourcing, R&D, regulatory, and operations, using data and insight to influence decisions and food safety outcomes.
• Navigate ambiguity and change by bringing structure, prioritization, and momentum to complex challenges.
• Communicate complex technical topics as clear insights and recommendations that drive alignment and action.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Basic and supplemental life insurance and other voluntary insurance benefits.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Paid parental leave and family expansion reimbursement.
• Paid vacation from date of hire and sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked.
• Eight paid holidays and two personal days per year.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match for eligible partners.
• Discounted company stock program (S.I.P.) and Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock).
• Incentivized emergency savings and financial well-being tools.
• 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.
• Backup care and DACA reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager