product developer lead, R&D

Lead Product Developer

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. This is an opportunity to create and develop RTD (ready to drink) coffee products for our Starbucks consumers to enjoy anywhere, with a focus on our North America business. Our over-arching purpose within R&D (Research & Development) is to continually reinvent Starbucks by setting the pace for customer-focused innovation, bringing ideas to life, and creating special moments for our customers, partners, and each other. You will be responsible for innovating, developing, optimizing, and renovating products - idea to launch. You will optimize processes and programs to build World Class Partnerships and to elevate the product development life cycle. You will work cross-functionally with Brand, External Partnerships, Global Coffee, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Finance, and QA, to meet our financial and business objectives while delivering the Starbucks experience to our customers wherever they are.

As a lead product developer, you will

• Inspire our partners and customers by following a proven innovation process to create new CPG (consumer packaged goods) products for Starbucks that customers love, and partners are proud to serve
• Utilize business, customer, market, and macro trend insights to create relevant products that deliver to our broader strategies and company goals
• Lead and execute multiple complex projects, develop comprehensive project plans, and strategies with discipline and agility to achieve business results
• Manage and present project information and status to cross-functional team and varying levels of leadership
• Manage commercialization of ingredients (pilot trials, scale-up, and commercialization) at supplier manufacturing facilities
• Apply technical knowledge and project learnings to create processing and product specifications that ensure products and processes meet quality assurance, food safety and risk assessment requirements
• Collaborate and influence cross-functionally, internally, and externally, across multiple departments to bring products to market, including innovation, renovation and line extension type projects
• Develop, own and execute comprehensive project plans and strategies, based on business, customer insights and data
• Proactively adjust to project customer, market and business changes to balance priorities and keep projects on track
• Provide technical guidance to cross-functional team to ensure projects deliver to the defined goals and timelines

We'd love to hear from people with :

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

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, Starbucks equity program, 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.

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.