senior manager retail communications

Starbucks; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition assistance (Starbucks College)

401(k) with employer match

Stock program (Bean Stock)

Paid time off & holidays

Backup care

Job summary

Starbucks is seeking a senior manager, Retail Communications to lead a team that guides North America partners on priorities, seasonal moments, and customer experiences.

You will develop and execute internal communications strategies, coach talent, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, delivering clear, timely, high-impact messages.

This role requires strong writing, strategic thinking, and the ability to simplify complex changes for frontline teams in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in internal, employee, retail or enterprise communications in a retail or retail-adjacent environment.
• A strong understanding of frontline audiences and how to keep them informed, prepared, and connected.
• Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing communications professionals.
• Excellent judgment and ability to lead through sensitive, fast‑moving, or unclear situations.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to simplify complexity.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional work with PRO/HR, Legal, Operations, and senior leaders.
• Executive presence and comfort advising senior leaders.
• Experience with external communications and issues is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team with clear priorities and accountability.
• Build strategies to enable partner readiness for high-profile priorities and initiatives.
• Develop narratives that connect company priorities to frontline partner work.
• Turn strategic priorities into simple, engaging communications for partners.
• Advise senior leaders and influence timing and messaging across channels.
• Align teams across functions to deliver integrated communications plans.

Skills

Leadership & coaching

Executive presence

Strong writing/editing

Cross‑functional collaboration

Strategic storytelling

Audience understanding

Change management

Advisor to senior leaders

Job description

Now Brewing – senior manager, Retail Communications #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.

The senior manager, Retail Communications leads a team responsible for helping North America coffeehouse partners understand company priorities, prepare for what is ahead, and deliver great partner and customer experiences.

This role develops and executes internal communications strategies that enable partners to successfully deliver seasonal moments, including all promotional launches, customer experiences, operational priorities, and company initiatives while fostering connection, confidence, and pride in wearing the green apron.

This is a highly visible people leadership role that operates with significant autonomy. The senior manager develops communications talent, sets clear direction for the team, and serves as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders and teams across the business.

Lead and develop a high-performing team

• Build, coach, and develop a team of communications professionals.
• Set clear priorities, create accountability, and help the team focus on the work that will have the greatest impact.
• Create an environment where partners can do their best work, grow their skills, and contribute their ideas.
• Ensure the team consistently delivers clear, high-quality communications in a fast-moving environment.
• Provide support to partners across the broader retail communications team to manage daily workflows.

Build strategies to enable partner readiness

• Lead communications strategies for high profile retail priorities, seasonal moments, customer experiences, and company initiatives.
• Build integrated plans that connect messages, timing, audiences, and channels.
• Balance business needs with the realities of working in a coffeehouse.
• Ensure communications are clear, timely, actionable, and easy for coffeehouse partners to deliver on their roles.

Build strategies to drive partner engagement

• Build clear narratives that connect company priorities to the everyday work of coffeehouse partners.
• Turn complex strategies and operating priorities into simple, engaging communications.
• Help partners understand not only what is changing, but why it matters to them, their teams, and their customers.
• Identify opportunities to recognize partners, celebrate progress, and build pride in wearing the green apron.

Consult, advise and influence

• Influence decisions by bringing forward the partner perspective and communications implications early in the planning process.
• Provide clear recommendations and raise risks to ensure communications land with clarity and authenticity.
• Develop leader messages, presentations, videos, and other communications for key moments.
• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to business partners and senior leaders.

Align Teams Around The Partner Experience

• Build strong relationships across Coffeehouse Excellence, Product, Marketing, Merchandising, Partner Resources, Global Communications and more.
• Bring teams together around shared integrated communications plans, priorities, and timing.
• Use partner insights and feedback to continually improve how retail communications are planned and delivered.
• Enable the broader retail communications team priorities and daily deliverables.

We’d Love To Hear From People With

• 8+ years of experience in internal, employee, retail or enterprise communications in a retail or retail-adjacent environment.
• A strong understanding of frontline audiences and what they need to feel informed, prepared, and connected.
• Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing communications professionals.
• Strong judgment and the ability to lead through sensitive, fast-moving, or unclear 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.
• Experience with external communications and issues is preferred.

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.

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.

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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.