manager product safety & quality - Nashville or Seattle
About The Position
The Manager, Product Safety & Quality – Food Team advances Starbucks food safety and quality programs across a dynamic, global supply base, ensuring safe, wholesome, premium-quality food products while improving how the company anticipates, measures, and manages food safety risk. The role leads and develops food safety and quality professionals and combines technical expertise, food manufacturing experience, and leadership to influence cross-functional stakeholders, strengthen supplier performance, and foster a proactive food safety and quality culture. The manager leads the execution and evolution of food safety and quality standards and supply base management practices, including supplier qualification, auditing, and performance management. They establish and use metrics and KPIs to identify trends and drive accountability, apply manufacturing knowledge to assess supplier capabilities and support commercialization, and lead complex food safety, quality, and regulatory investigations toward systemic improvements. The position collaborates with sourcing, R&D, regulatory, and operations in a fast-paced, evolving environment, translating technical topics into clear recommendations and providing structure and direction amid ambiguity. The role is onsite four days a week and is listed for Nashville or Seattle.
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 enhancement of product safety and quality standards; identify opportunities to modernize programs, simplify processes, and strengthen risk management at scale.
- Lead and evolve supply base management, including supplier qualification, auditing, and performance management; strengthen 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.
- Promote a proactive food safety and quality culture through preventive practices, data-driven insights, and continuous improvement.
- Apply food manufacturing knowledge to assess supplier capabilities, support commercialization, and identify emerging risks and opportunities.
- Lead investigation and resolution of complex food safety, quality, and regulatory issues, ensuring systemic learning and long-term improvement.
- Build relationships across sourcing, R&D, regulatory, and operations, using data and insight to influence decisions and improve 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 accrued sick time.
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
