Operational Excellence Lead - Process Improvement

Starbucks; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) matching

Tuition coverage

Job summary

Starbucks is seeking a business process lead to identify, design, and test operational improvements across our coffeehouse network. You will apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement practices to increase throughput, improve partner experience, and enable faster customer service.

Responsibilities include leading capacity planning, data analysis, time studies, and workflow redesign. This role requires field observation, pilot testing, and collaboration with product and operations

Qualifications

• Experience using data to identify trends, diagnose root causes, and support recommendations.
• Experience in retail, restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, or service operations.
• Experience conducting pilot tests and operational experiments.
• Knowledge of Lean, Toyota Production System, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, or IE principles.
• Familiarity with labor standards, workflow design, or operational excellence methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement initiatives to increase throughput, capacity, and simplicity.
• Analyze operational performance data to identify constraints and opportunities.
• Conduct time studies, workflow analyses, and observe current-state operations.
• Design and test new operating routines, station layouts, sequencing, and work processes.
• Develop capacity models to quantify impacts and inform decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate new products and equipment.
• Communicate findings with data-supported storytelling to leadership.
• Travel to coffeehouses and field locations to observe operations and validate solutions.

Skills

Data analysis

Lean concepts

Process improvement

Operations storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering/Operations Management/Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Job description

Starbucks is seeking a business process lead to identify, design, and test operational improvements across our coffeehouse network. You will apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement practices to increase throughput, improve partner experience, and enable faster customer service.

Responsibilities include leading capacity planning, data analysis, time studies, and workflow redesign. This role requires field observation, pilot testing, and collaboration with product and operations