director, executive leadership team (ELT) communications
Brand Communications | Public Affairs
For this highly coveted position, we are looking for a leader who is ready to drive a bench of Starbucks’ top executives’ global communications and engagement platforms as well as ensure relevant integrated executive communications across the company. This role serves to develop and advance our executives’ platforms through a multi-channel and multi-audience approach, grounded in the company’s corporate and brand narratives.
Are you experienced in developing and organizing executive narrative and platform? Are you skilled in writing for a brand and in the tone and voice of key senior leaders? Do you have a demonstrated ability to think strategically about senior leaders’ role in advancing and protecting the business and reputation of the company with a multi-stakeholder lens? Are you a detailed, servant leader who is prepared to learn and grow in a team of communications professionals? Do you have demonstrated experience in executing superior internal and external communications for senior leaders? Do you thrive in fast-paced, highly visible environments? Are you digitally savvy and comfortable driving an executives’ traditional and social media platform programming?
About Us
At Starbucks, we believe in balancing profit with purpose and the pursuit of doing well by doing good. With more than 400,000 partners (employees) around the world, we’re on a mission to nurture and inspire the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. We have high aspirations for the future and securing the best and the brightest for our stores and support centers is a critical element to achieving our goals.
How You’ll Make an Impact
As a director, you’ll design and implement a thought leadership and strategic global communications platform for our top leaders. To be most effective, you will need to partner with your Public Affairs colleagues, executives, and key stakeholders across the company to ensure a strategic platform plan that is executed in detail. In this role, you will:
• Be accountable for co-creating an entire strategic global approach to executive communications, develop and execute a top executive’s strategic communications agenda across a multi-stakeholder, multi-channel platform including supporting senior leader social media programming;
• Be responsible for executives’ digital social media platform including leading and managing the agencies that help with thoughtful strategic planning, monitor and moderate executive conversations, create relevant brand content for executive posts, and creation of executive editorial calendars that align with the business cadence.
• Ensure that executives are positioned as global leaders who are maximizing their positions to help boost Starbucks’ brand strength.
• Create clarity, confidence and connection between top leaders and the global business, brand and communications strategies of the company.
• Build confidence and trust in executives with key stakeholder groups while advancing our reputation and global brand.
• Play a key role in building and executing leaders’ roles in internal company meetings and highly visible stakeholder engagements, including speaking engagements, board of director meetings, earnings calls and investor conferences.
• Manage one team member to advance Starbucks mission, the ELT’s global executive communications strategy, plan, and reporting.
• Oversee, champion and administer company policy and procedures (and vet inbound requests) for all Starbucks partner/executive public speaking, media and social engagements.
• Advance the company culture through listening, inclusion, transparency, empathy and action.
How that Comes to Life
• Listening and engaging with curiosity to define clear goals and outcomes;
• Crafting proactive narratives and real-time positioning of issues to articulate corporate, brand and reputation strategies, and preparing reactive responses for tough questions from key stakeholders;
• Leveraging corporate narratives to drive consistent storytelling approach across the organization on a global scale;
• Developing and executing external engagement strategies to advance senior leaders’ thought leadership agenda- includes media relations, social media strategy, financial/investor communications, stakeholders and partner engagements-in close partnership with business unit and PA audience and channel strategy leaders;
• Writing short and long form with a lens on humanity for top senior leaders (speeches, video scripts, letters, social posts);
• Empowering and encouraging a small, but impactful team of partners to help build and effectively execute communications plans in service of our leadership agenda;
• Forming strong, collaborative relationships with key leaders and support partners across the company to inform, develop and implement communications strategies that support our leaders’ top priorities;
• Demonstrating in-depth knowledge of media and investor relations as well as the digital landscape as it relates to the brand and competitor set;
• Building extensive relationships with key media, leading conference organizers and industry groups to promote executives’ expertise;
• Advising and preparing executives for external communications engagements, including media interviews, conference speaking and other thought leadership opportunities;
• Applying forward thinking and research skills to shape communications that are most relevant for key stakeholder groups;
• Managing external agency partners on both proactive and reactive external communications efforts.
• Embodying Starbucks values and ensuring they’re reflected in all of our communication
What You’ll Need:
• A passion for servant leadership.
• Critical thinking capabilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• A natural disposition to work with urgency in a fast-paced environment in which every day is unlike the last.
• Schedule flexibility and availability for critical after-hours assignments.
• Proven ability to establish trusted relationships at all levels of the organization and foster cross-function collaboration.
• Stellar written and verbal communication skills – particularly the ability to decode corporate speak and write clear and persuasive “human” content that engages a wide range of stakeholders. (Please submit various writing samples with your application.)
• Desire to take initiative in leading projects and presenting new perspectives.
• A solid grasp of narrative, awareness of audiences, exceptional attention to detail, and a forward-thinking team player who works collaboratively.
• Demonstrated people management experience.
Summary of Experience
• Corporate communications leadership, preferably seasoned in external communications at a multi-unit retailer and/or an agency (12+ years).
• Experience developing, leading and managing teams (5+ years).
• Demonstrated ability to apply general business knowledge and experience in a complex, fast-paced global environment.
From free coffee to competitive pay, Starbucks is proud to offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to our eligible part-time and full-time partners. Benefits include 100% tuition coverage through our Starbucks College Achievement Plan, health coverage with a variety of plans to choose from, and stock & savings programs like our equity reward program, Bean Stock. What’s more, Starbucks offers flexible scheduling and opportunities for paid time off. Visit starbucksbenefits.com for details.
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, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
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 206-318-0660 or via email at applicantaccommodation@starbucks.com.