senior manager, Retail Partner Communications – Partner Experience
About The Position
The senior manager, Retail Partner Communications – Partner Experience is the strategic communications lead for partner experience‑impacting work across North America coffeehouses. This role owns internal communications strategy, narrative leadership, and execution for policies, programs, compensation updates, operational changes, and high‑risk issues that directly affect coffeehouse partners. The work requires senior‑level judgment, strong cross‑functional leadership, and the ability to bring clarity to complex, sensitive, and fast‑moving situations. This is a senior individual contributor role that operates with a high degree of autonomy and serves as a trusted advisor to leaders across multiple departments including Coffeehouse Excellence, Partner Resources Organization, Legal and others.
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience in internal, employee, retail or enterprise communications in a retail or retail-adjacent environment.
- Proven experience operating with independent judgment and accountability in complex, sensitive or ambiguous situations.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to simplify complexity.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross‑functional work with PRO/HR, Legal, Operations, and senior leaders.
- Executive presence and comfort advising senior leaders.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with external communications and issues is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead Communications Strategy: Own the partner communications strategy for PRO‑aligned, partner‑impacting initiatives. Set messaging, tone, sequencing, and channel approach across retail internal channels. Anticipate legal, operational, partner‑experience and reputational risks and guide communication decisions accordingly.
- Drive Narrative & Clarity at Scale: Translate complex PRO, Legal, and Operations decisions into clear, partner‑ready guidance – bringing structure and clarity during periods of ambiguity or rapid change. Create narrative frameworks that explain what is changing, why it matters, and what partners need to do with consideration for how internal messaging may be interpreted externally. Develop and lead end‑to‑end internal communications for major partner programs including partner experience surveys, compensation programs, etc. Manage strategy, messaging, reviews, production, and follow‑through.
- Communications Counsel & Leader Readiness: Provide strategic counsel to leaders of all levels on internal messaging, risks, and tradeoffs. Shape narrative direction and prepare leaders for high‑visibility internal moments across mediums - written, video, broadcast, etc. Influence decision‑making by representing the partner experience early in the process shaping not only messaging but timing, sequencing, and risk tradeoffs.
- Cross‑Functional Integration: Orchestrate alignment across PRO, Legal, Operations, Retail Leadership, Channels, Global Communications, and more. Resolve competing inputs to ensure partners receive one clear, consistent message. Ensure internal communications are aligned with broader enterprise context when needed.
- Issues & Rapid Response: Lead retail partner communications during sensitive or urgent partner‑impacting events (e.g., payroll issues, policy changes, safety incidents). Establish facts quickly, align partners, and set clear direction under pressure. Protect partner trust while minimizing escalations and confusion.
Benefits
- medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits.
- 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
- two personal days per year
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
- discounted company stock program (S.I.P.)
- Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock)
- incentivized emergency savings
- 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
- access to other educational opportunities
- backup care
- DACA reimbursement
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
