Program Manager, Coffeehouse Innovation Testing and Governance

Starbucks; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Tuition coverage via Starbucks College

Bean Stock equity program

Paid vacation and holidays

Parental leave

Disability coverage

Stock program (S.I.P.)

Job summary

Starbucks is seeking a Program Manager for Testing Planning & Governance to shape enterprise-wide testing strategy across the innovation lab and broader testing ecosystem. You will establish governance, intake processes, and portfolio visibility to enable disciplined experimentation at scale.

You will partner with Testing Methodology & Research, Data & Analytics, and cross-functional leaders to translate strategy into practical ways of working and improve decision quality across the organization.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading cross-functional programs in matrixed organizations.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable roadmaps and governance models.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and operationalize enterprise-wide testing strategy and governance.
• Own intake, prioritization, and escalation pathways for testing initiatives.
• Provide portfolio visibility and alignment with enterprise priorities.
• Develop training and enablement programs to strengthen testing capabilities.
• Oversee tools, playbooks, and governance assets for scalable testing.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder management

Governance

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Now Brewing – Program Manager, Testing Planning & Governance #tobeapartner

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 Program Manager, Testing Planning & Governance, you will help shape how Starbucks brings innovation to life by defining and operationalizing enterprise-wide testing strategy across the innovation lab and broader testing ecosystem. You will establish the frameworks, intake processes, governance models, portfolio visibility, and learning loops that help teams make better decisions, accelerate learning, de-risk investment choices, and drive measurable business outcomes. Partnering closely with Testing Methodology & Research, Data & Analytics, and cross-functional leaders, you will turn strategy into practical ways of working that enable disciplined experimentation at scale.

As a Program Manager, Testing Planning & Governance, you will…

• Operationalize enterprise testing strategy and frameworks – Translate enterprise testing strategy into actionable roadmaps, priorities, execution plans, and standardized decision criteria in partnership with the Testing Methodology & Research team.
• Lead governance and enterprise integration – Own intake, prioritization, approval pathways, escalation management, decision rights, and governance standards so testing is embedded into key decision forums and aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Serve as the voice and champion of testing across the enterprise - Promote a culture of experimentation, incubation, and evidence-based decision making by increasing awareness, adoption, and engagement with testing capabilities. Act as a trusted advisor to leaders, helping teams understand when and how to leverage the testing ecosystem to accelerate learning and improve decision quality.
• Manage portfolio visibility and sequencing – Own the integrated enterprise testing portfolio and unified testing calendar, providing clear visibility into active and planned tests, progress, risks, dependencies, trade-offs, and outcomes.
• Build and manage the enterprise testing and learning ecosystem – Establish the processes, knowledge repositories, tools, and feedback loops that connect testing activities across the enterprise, ensuring learnings are captured, shared, and leveraged to improve decision making, portfolio prioritization, and innovation outcomes.
• Build enterprise testing capabilities – Develop training, communications, adoption strategies, and enablement programs that strengthen testing, incubation, and learning capabilities across the organization while driving awareness and consistent application of best practices.
• Enable tools, standards, and infrastructure – Oversee the tools, platforms, reporting capabilities, playbooks, templates, and governance assets that support intake, portfolio management, knowledge sharing, transparency, consistency, and enterprise-wide scalability.
• Influence how work gets done – Build alignment with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, balancing structure with flexibility in a fast-moving, innovation-driven environment.

We’d Love To Hear From People With

• 6–10+ years of experience in program management, strategy, innovation, business operations, or related fields.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional programs in highly matrixed organizations.
• Experience developing governance models, decision frameworks, portfolio management practices, and enterprise prioritization processes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience implementing new capabilities, processes, and ways of working at enterprise scale.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with experimentation, incubation, innovation, or test-and-learn environments.
• Familiarity with portfolio management, integrated planning, reporting, knowledge management, and governance tools.
• Experience in retail, QSR, consumer-facing industries, strategy, consulting, product management, or business operations preferred.
• Bachelor's degree preferred. PMP certification a plus.

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 https://www.starbucksbenefits.comstarbucksbenefits.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.

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.

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 applicantaccommodation or 1(888) 611-2258.