senior manager, product - Lobby Innovation

Now Brewing – senior manager, product - Lobby Innovation! #ToBeAPartner

From the beginning, Starbucks set out to be a different kind of company. One that not only celebrated coffee and rich traditions, but that also fostered connection. We are known for developing extraordinary leaders who share this passion and are guided by their service to others.

As a senior manager on the Lobby Innovation team, you will help shape the future of Starbucks' lobby business, driving innovation across our At Home Coffee, Ready-to-Eat, and Ready-to-Drink portfolios. Sitting at the intersection of product innovation, category strategy, and customer experience, this role is responsible for identifying growth opportunities, building breakthrough innovation and assortment pipelines, commercializing new products and experiences, and partnering across the enterprise to bring ideas to life.

We're looking for a strategic thinker, innovation leader, and exceptional collaborator who can connect consumer trends, customer needs, and business priorities into experiences that delight customers and drive long-term business growth.

As a senior manager, Lobby Innovation, you will...

Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Development

• Support development of multi-year innovation roadmaps across At Home Coffee, Ready-to-Eat, and Ready-to-Drink.
• Identify emerging consumer trends, cultural shifts, and whitespace opportunities that can unlock future growth.
• Translate consumer insights, market dynamics, and competitive intelligence into actionable innovation strategies.
• Build business cases, evaluate opportunities, and prioritize investments that strengthen the long-term health of the lobby innovation portfolio.

End-to-End Product Innovation & Commercialization

• Lead innovation from concept through launch, partnering cross-functionally with teams such as Sourcing, Marketing, Planning, Finance, and Operations.
• Create product briefs, innovation territories, and customer value propositions that fuel breakthrough product launches.
• Partner with internal and external teams to bring new products, partnerships, and experiences to market.
• Manage a balanced category assortment and innovation pipeline across core, seasonal, limited-time, and long-term growth opportunities.

Customer Experience Integration

• Partner with Merchandising, Brand Marketing, and Store Operations teams to ensure innovations translate into compelling and cohesive customer experiences.
• Influence packaging, visual merchandising, shelf presence, point-of-sale, and storytelling strategies that bring innovation to life.
• Create a connected lobby experience across product categories and customer occasions.
• Support strategic collaborations and partnerships that extend the Starbucks brand into new spaces and experiences.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead complex initiatives across a broad network of stakeholders and partner teams.
• Build alignment and momentum across diverse perspectives and competing priorities.
• Navigate ambiguity and drive clarity, structure, and decision-making.
• Proactively identify risks and opportunities while maintaining focus on delivering business results.

Strategic Storytelling & Influence

• Develop compelling recommendations that connect customer insights, category strategy, and business performance.
• Present innovation concepts, growth opportunities, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership audiences.
• Influence decisions through clear narratives, strong business acumen, and data-driven thinking.
• Simplify complex problems into actionable recommendations that accelerate progress.

We'd love to hear from people with:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in product management, innovation, brand management, category management, consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail merchandising, or related fields.
• Experience working with external suppliers, manufacturers, agencies, or strategic partners.
• Demonstrated success developing and commercializing new products, platforms, or consumer experiences.
• Experience building innovation pipelines, product strategies, and growth roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of consumer insights, market dynamics, and innovation methodologies.
• Proven ability to influence across complex matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to man