senior manager, Circularity!

Starbucks Corp.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Tuition coverage

Job summary

Starbucks Coffee Company seeks a strategic leader for Circularity to advance packaging recovery and waste strategies across complex policy and stakeholder landscapes. You will guide external engagement, industry coalitions, and internal teams to strengthen compliance readiness and drive long‑term sustainability goals.

The role requires 10+ years in circularity or sustainability, strong leadership, and the ability to translate trends into actionable business decisions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in circularity strategy, sustainability, or related field.
• Proven track record leading cross‑functional initiatives and influencing senior leaders.
• Experience developing circularity strategies and integrating compliance risk into decisions.
• Strong communication and external stakeholder engagement skills.
• Advanced degree in environmental science, engineering, sustainability, public policy, or related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy for packaging recovery systems and external industry engagement.
• Direct waste strategy and operations team to improve customer experience and compliance.
• Represent Starbucks in coalitions, PROs, policy forums, and partnerships.
• Translate external developments into strategic recommendations for cross‑functional teams.
• Provide thought leadership on packaging recovery, recycling access, and infra.

Skills

Circularity strategy

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy understanding

Communication

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

Now Brewing – senior manager, Circularity! #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.

We are seeking a strategic leader to advance Starbucks’ packaging recovery and waste strategy in a dynamic and rapidly evolving policy, infrastructure, and stakeholder landscape. Packaging and waste are among Starbucks’ most material sustainability priorities and require collaboration across a broad ecosystem of partners, from policymakers and industry coalitions to recyclers, recovery organizations, suppliers, communities, and operational teams. Circularity is a team sport, and this leader will play a critical role in helping Starbucks understand, influence, and strengthen the systems that enable packaging recovery and waste reduction at scale. Through industry engagement, partnership development, landscape assessment, and recovery system advancement, this leader will help inform enterprise strategy while leading the team responsible for waste strategy and operations. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, they will translate emerging trends, risks, and opportunities into actionable recommendations that support business performance, compliance readiness, and long‑term circularity goals.

As a senior manager, Circularity, you will…

• Lead Starbucks' strategy for packaging recovery systems and external industry engagement, including coalition leadership, recovery infrastructure development, recycling access, market development, and partnerships that improve packaging recovery outcomes and support long‑term compliance readiness.


• Lead Starbucks amazing waste strategy and operations team, advancing solutions that improve the partner and customer experience, strengthen compliance readiness, reduce waste, and enable recovery at scale. Foster organizational capability in waste reduction, recovery systems, industry engagement, and partnership development while building a high‑performing team that translates strategy into measurable business and environmental outcomes.


• Represent Starbucks in industry coalitions, producer responsibility organizations (PROs), policy forums, and strategic partnerships, building relationships with NGOs, recyclers, recovery system stakeholders, and external experts to advance packaging recovery and waste outcomes.


• Inform and influence Starbucks' packaging transformation and cross functional teams translating external developments into strategic recommendations and business implications.


• Provide subject matter expertise and thought leadership on packaging recovery systems, including EPR implementation, recycling access and acceptance, recycling‑rate performance, recovery infrastructure, end‑market development, and industry best practices. Advise Starbucks key teams on packaging recovery, waste, compliance developments, industry trends, and strategic decisions that impact compliance readiness, business performance, and circularity outcomes.

We’d love to hear from people with:

• 10+ years of experience in circularity strategy, sustainability, environmental policy, or a related field, with a deep understanding of circularity, policy, and market dynamics.


• Demonstrated people leadership and a track record of leading cross‑functional initiatives, influencing senior leaders, and building alignment across complex organizations.


• Experience developing circularity strategies and action plans and integrating compliance risk into business decisions.


• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience representing an organization externally.


• Advanced degree in environmental science, engineering, sustainability, public policy, or a related discipline preferred.

Benefits and Perks

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.

Compensation

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.

Work Arrangement

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 [e-mail] or 1(888) 611-2258.