director, future operating model - Coffeehouse Futures

Role summary

director, future operating model - Coffeehouse Futures is a full-time role at Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, Washington, United States (hybrid). Posted 2026-08-28. Experience level: 10+.

Job title

director, future operating model - Coffeehouse Futures

Company

Starbucks Coffee Company

Location

Seattle, Washington, United States

Work arrangement

hybrid

Employment type

full-time

Category

Software Engineering

Experience level

10+

Date posted

2026-08-28

Job description

Now Brewing – director, Future Operating Model! #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 director, Future Operating Model , you will help shape the future of the Starbucks coffeehouse. Reporting within the Coffeehouse Futures organization, you will lead a portfolio of innovation initiatives focused on transforming the physical coffeehouse, drive-thru experience, operating model, automation capabilities, and facilities technology. You will partner across Coffeehouse Development, Operations, Digital, Supply Chain, Engineering, Facilities, and Product teams to identify emerging opportunities, pilot breakthrough solutions, and scale innovations that improve partner experience, operational performance, and customer outcomes.

This leader will drive a team accountable for developing the next generation of Starbucks formats, acceleration drive-thru throughput, improving labor efficiency through AI and automation, reducing reactive facilities work, and helping create the coffeehouse experience of the future.

As a director, Future Operating Model, you will…

Lead the future coffeehouse innovation agenda – Build and execute innovation strategies that support Coffeehouse Futures priorities across store formats, drive-thru, operating models, automation, and facilities technology. Develop a portfolio of initiatives that balance long-term business impact.

Transform customer and partner experiences through innovation – Identify opportunities to improve customer connection, throughput, labor efficiency, and coffeehouse operations. Lead projects through the phases of definition, experimentation, pilot design, testing, and commercialization of future-facing solutions.

Drive measurable business outcomes – Establish innovation roadmaps aligned to key enterprise metrics including peak customers served, drive-thru speed and throughput, labor productivity, store capacity, equipment uptime, reactive maintenance reduction, and operational efficiency improvements.

Lead cross-functional strategy and execution – Partner with senior leaders across Retail Operations, Coffeehouse Development, Digital, Supply Chain, Facilities, Engineering, Product, and Technology teams to move concepts from vision to implementation and scale.

Build and develop a high - performing innovation team – Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team responsible for Formats Innovation, Drive-Thru Innovation, Operating Model Innovation, and AI & Automation, and Facilities Technology programs. Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, collaboration, and accountability.

Influence enterprise decisions and investment priorities – Provide thought leadership and data-driven recommendations to senior executives regarding future coffeehouse concepts, innovation investments, pilot learnings, scalability assessments, and strategi opportunities.

Turn ideas into operational reality – Ensure innovations are designed with operational feasibility, partner adoption, change management, and long-term scalability in mid to deliver sustained business value.

We’d love to hear from people with:

Bachelor's degree and advanced degree a plus in Business, Engineering, Operations, Technology, Data Science or related field.

7+ years of progressive experience in innovation, strategy, operations, manufacturing, engineering, retail transformation, or related disciplines.

5+ years of people leadership experience, including leading managers and cross-functional teams.

5+ years of experience leading large-scale innovation programs, pilots, or transformation initiatives from concept through implementation.

Experience driving cross-functional partnerships through executive influence in Operations, Technology, Supply Chain, Facilities, Product, and/or Store Development organizations.

Experience developing business cases, managing investment portfolios, and communicating recommendations to senior executives.

Proven success piloting and scaling solutions in production systems. In restaurants, or other multi-unit operating networks a plus.

Drive-thru experience 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 starbucksbenefits.com .