category manager, U.S. Roasteries

Starbucks Corp.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Vacation time

401(k) retirement plan with employer

Stock program (Bean Stock)

Tuition coverage

Job summary

Starbucks Coffee Company is seeking a Category Manager for the U.S. Roasteries to shape beverages, merchandise, and food offerings. You will partner with Milan and Brand leadership to drive category strategy, launches, and campaigns across locations.

Work closely with R&D, Brand, Digital, and Supply Chain to commercialize ideas and create exceptional customer experiences. This role requires strong collaboration and execution in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• As the Manager, Category, you will develop the category strategy for the U.S. Roasteries and lead cross-functional work.
• Experience in category management, brand management, product management, merchandising, marketing, or related field.
• Proven success launching campaigns, promotions, and customer-facing initiatives from planning through execution.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and ability to influence in a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead category strategy for the U.S. Roasteries across beverages, merchandise, and food offerings.
• Partner with R&D, Brand, Digital, and Supply Chain to develop, commercialize, and launch products and experiences.
• Monitor sales, profitability, and customer feedback to inform future decisions.
• Translate insights into decisions on assortments and campaigns for the U.S. Roasteries.
• Collaborate across teams to align priorities and deliver business objectives.

Skills

Category management

Brand management

Product management

Merchandising

Marketing

Job description

Now Brewing – Category Manager! #tobeapartner

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and rich traditions, 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.

The Roasteries bring the Starbucks brand to life through exceptional coffee, innovative beverages, elevated food offerings, bespoke merchandise, whole bean coffee and immersive customer experiences. As the Manager, Category, you will play a critical role in developing the category strategy for the U.S. Roasteries, partnering with the Milan Category Manager and working under the direction of the senior Brand Manager to shape exceptional products, campaigns, ranges, and experiences across locations.

This role serves as the key connector between strategy, product development, and in-market execution. You will recommend which beverages, merchandise, and category offerings to launch, evolve, or delist; partner with R&D to bring ideas to life; and work closely with the Brand Manager and Digital Manager to launch compelling customer experiences. You will also help determine U.S. Roastery merchandise ranges, bringing a clear decision-making point of view while creating with Milan for consistency and efficiency.

As a Category Manager you will:

• Develop and lead category strategy for the U.S. Roasteries – Shape the food, beverage, wholebean coffee and merchandise strategy for the U.S. Roastery business, including recommendations on launches, delists, seasonal programs, menu updates, and category enhancements. Partner with Milan and senior Brand leadership to ensure the strategy is clear, commercially grounded, and executable.
• Bring new products and campaigns to life – Partner with R&D, Brand, Digital, Siren operations, Global Coffee, Coffeehouse Marketing, Supply Chain and other cross-functional teams to develop, commercialize, and launch beverages, merchandise ranges, promotions, and product experiences. Build the tools, communications, and resources needed for successful implementation and exceptional customer experiences.
• Monitor and optimize category performance – Track sales, profitability, customer feedback, and business performance metrics to identify opportunities, improve results, and inform future category decisions.
• Translate insights into decisions – Leverage customer, market, and business insights to make informed recommendations on assortments, promotions, merchandise ranges, and category experiences, ensuring the portfolio remains relevant, compelling, and distinct for the U.S. Roasteries.
• Lead through cross-functional partnership – Collaborate across a highly matrixed organization to align stakeholders, solve problems, communicate priorities, and deliver business objectives. Serve as a key link between concept development and execution in market.

We are looking for candidates who are:

• Passionate about food, beverage, coffee, merch and premium customer experiences
• Energized by bringing new products and programs to life
• Strong operators who excel at execution and follow-through
• Skilled at building partnerships and driving alignment across teams
• Comfortable balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Effective communicators who can connect strategy, execution, and results

We’d love to hear from people with:

• Experience in category management, brand management, product management, merchandising, marketing, or a related commercial discipline.
• Proven success executing product launches, promotions, campaigns, and customer-facing initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Experience managing business performance through forecasting, reporting, sales analysis, and profitability tracking.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive results in a matrixed environment.
• Exceptional communication, project management, and organizational skills. Experience in food & beverage, specialty retail, hospitality, consumer packaged goods, or related industries is preferred.

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 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.

*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.

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At Starbucks, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

We believe we do our best work when we're together, which is why we're onsite four days a week.

Join us and help bring the Roastery experience at Starbucks to life through exceptional execution, innovation, and customer experiences.

Starbucks Coffee Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.

Starbucks Coffee Company is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or 1(888) 611-2258.