Now Brewing – manager, Retail Labor Communications ! #tobeapartner

From the beginning, human connection has been core to Starbuck’s purpose. We set out to be a different kind of company, creating a culture of warmth and belonging and deep care for our partners (employees), customers, and neighborhoods all over the world. We have high aspirations for and leading with the best talent is a critical element to achieving our goals.

Retail Labor Communications is the internal communications team responsible for staying close to operations, listening to our retail partners, and getting partners the latest information and updates relevant to labor in a clear, concise, transparent, and deeply human way, always through the lens of Our Mission and Values. Each communication is an opportunity to provide our store partners with the context and clarity they need to feel confident about how labor impacts their role, as well as heard and valued as a partner through human speak.

We are looking for someone who ideally has at least 5 years of experience in internal communications, change management, and/or reputation communications and is able to support East Coast working hours.

As a manager on our Retail Labor Communications team, you will be responsible for developing best-in-class internal communications targeted at our petitioned and unionized retail/store partner audience on the East Coast. You will lead, advise, and drive reputational communications and engagement plans that are authentic to the partner experience and drive partner engagement as we transform and grow our US retail business.

You will work very closely with the director of labor communications, partners in company-operated retail communications, as well regional peers in labor communications to support retail operational and store challenges, union election processes, and regional advising regarding labor and labor-adjacent issues. You will drive regional communications to relevant partners about these matters. You get to do this by working closely with highly cross-functional teams across the company, specifically our operations, partner resources (HR), marketing, external and digital communications, events, and legal teams. Your role will be pivotal in supporting retail operational challenges, union election processes, and regional labor issues, ensuring seamless execution of communication plans.

We are eager to find a partner who will embrace this opportunity to elevate retail partner voices and play a key role in partner engagement, advocacy, and culture through listening, transparency, empathy, and action.

What you’ll do:

• Strategic Communication Planning: Partner with retail, external, digital communications, enterprise communications, corporate affairs, and events teams to define objectives, key messages, and strategies. Ensure timely delivery across relevant communication channels.

• Issues Management: Rapidly address and manage planned and unplanned communications, developing clear messaging and actionable instructions for our retail partners regarding labor and union matters.

• Content Creation: Develop engaging, labor relations-relevant content for retail partners and leadership, ensuring it is concise, clear, and compelling.

• Data-Driven Improvement: Utilize partner sentiment, insights, and data to continually refine communication strategies and enhance effectiveness.

• Relationship Building: Foster strong, non-hierarchical relationships with peers, asking questions, contributing ideas, and learning from the team to drive work forward.

• Emergency Communications: Participate in an on-call rotation to write and publish urgent communications, collaborating across U.S. time zones as needed.

What you’ll need:

• A general understanding of working across a corporate and unionized workforce.

• You are an exceptional writer with a strong communications background. You can decode “corporate speak” and write brief, clear, and persuasive communications that engage our leaders and reduce errors and confusion.

• A deep curiosity and passion for the retail partner experience. The ideal candidate understands the right voice and tone necessary for our partner audience and has a demonstrated understanding of Starbucks and its retail business.

• Desire to learn from your success, failures, and from the experience of others.

• Natural disposition to work with urgency and limited guidance from your supervisor.

• Comfortable working with a hybrid team.

How you work:

• Collaboratively and cross-functionally. You’re known for your ability to influence without authority.

• Efficiently. You often manage multiple projects while maintaining superior attention to detail.

• Confidently and proactively. You can quickly adapt to changing priorities. You effectively manage time, prioritize tasks, work independently, and maintain confidentiality.

• Nimbly- You're able to navigate ambiguity and change with confidence and consistency with your business partners

• You write concisely, and quickly – this is key.

• Inclusively and with humility. You encourage diversity of thought and gather feedback judiciously, and you know when to adjust your approach and when to follow your initial vision. You bring others along and over-communicate so your leaders and teams can support you.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of communications, operations, or change management experience preferred, ideally in a fast-paced communications, campaign, or retail setting.

• Minimum 2 years serving in a decision-making or audience subject matter expert role on cross-functional teams and projects.

• Strong writing, presentation, verbal communication, and collaboration skills.

Starbucks embraces diversity, inclusion, and opportunity, and we are looking for candidates who bring a unique set of experiences and viewpoints to the table. We are committed to building a global Public Affairs team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Publishing comms –standalone comms owning end-to-end comms process from start to writing compelling content to publishing.

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 (file:///C:/Users/rofunk/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/EHRXPAYM/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.

If you live in the greater Seattle area, we offer a flexible workplace that allows for hybrid work. Partners can work remotely up to two days per week.

Join us and inspire with every cup. Apply today!

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or any other factor protected by law.

We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace that includes partners with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving customers throughout our global communities. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal state and local ordinances. Starbucks Corporation 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@starbucks.com