senior manager, Retail Communications

Starbucks Coffee Company•Seattle, WA

17h•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 senior manager, Retail Communications, you will lead the development and execution of strategic communications that connect our retail partners to the company's business priorities, mission and culture, driving excellence in coffeehouses across North America. You'll serve as a trusted communications consultant across business groups including operations, technology, communications, partner resources (HR) and more, and provide strategic oversight to the flow of inputs and outputs across the team. As a result, you'll enable coffeehouse partners with messaging that is clear, consistent and actionable. This role is both strategic and operational—balancing long-term narrative development with the agility to support daily business needs. You'll elevate partner voices, foster engagement through storytelling, and help drive cultural connection through transparency, empathy, and action.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.
8 years of relevant experience in internal communications, change management, and campaign strategy—preferably in retail, tech, or media.
3 years leading cross-functional projects or teams.
Exceptional writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
Experience managing and developing direct reports preferred.
A passion for leadership and a deep curiosity about the coffeehouse partner experience.
Experience working cross-functionally and influencing without authority.
Comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.
A pulse on industry trends, cultural moments, and partner sentiment.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a high-performing team of communicators and publishers, providing strategic direction, coaching, and support to ensure excellence in execution, professional growth, and alignment with Starbucks values.
Drive the kind of storytelling that deepens trust and inspires action. Storytelling runs in our DNA and you must have a passion for developing compelling narratives, smart strategies and innovative tactics to drive awareness and engagement with our retail partners - in particular baristas, shift supervisors and coffeehouse leaders.
Manage our planned and unplanned retail communications - from strategy, to planning and execution - to ensure message alignment and integration across our communications ecosystem.
Serve as a content strategist. Our coffeehouse partners lead busy lives, and we're looking for someone who understands how they consume content, creates engaging and memorable content with clarity, purpose, speed and intent, and develops strategies to raise awareness, drive engagement and build trust.
Provide strategic oversight of intake, packaging and release of communications - including resourcing and channel planning to ensure communications are packaged and delivered with impact as part of our Go-To-Coffeehouse process.
Utilize a range of digital platforms including e-mail communications, company intranets, Viva Engage, and face-to-face channels like company open forums and town halls to deliver content and reinforce messages.
Use partner sentiment, data and insights to solve complex problems and work with others with the same passion to collaborate.
Work in a non-hierarchical manner across business groups to gain a clear understanding of objectives and effectively translate them to communication objectives and strategies.
Manage our partner-facing crisis communications efforts by helping quickly triage, develop messaging, and monitor partner feedback.

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.