Now Brewing – director of design, Customer Experiences! #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.
At Starbucks, we believe that great design fuels meaningful connections—between customers, partners, and our brand. As a leader of the UX & Design team within our Digital organization, the director of design - Customer Experiences leads the vision, quality, and delivery of Starbucks’ end-to-end customer experiences across digital and physical touchpoints. This role is responsible for shaping how millions of customers engage with Starbucks every day—through the mobile app, web, drive-thru, in-store digital moments, and emerging platforms.
You’ll lead a multidisciplinary design team, partner deeply across Product, Engineering, Marketing, Store Development, and Operations, and set a high bar for craft, innovation, and experience quality for North America customers and beyond.
As a director of design, Customer Experiences you will...
Define and lead the customer experience vision across the Starbucks app, web, drive-thru, and in-store digital touchpoints
Lead and grow a high-performing design team, including managers and senior individual contributor
sPartner closely with Product, Engineering, Data, Marketing, and Operations to drive aligned outcomes and KPIs
Architect and lead workshops and co-creation brainstorming sessions across the organization
Help define yearly roadmaps and quarterly priorities across several portfolios
Translate customer insights, business strategy, and brand principles into clear experience strategies and design direction
Champion design excellence, from interaction design and visual systems to service and journey design
Drive innovation by exploring new behaviors, technologies, and service models
Establish scalable design systems and processes that support speed without sacrificing quality
Mentor and inspire senior designers and leaders, helping them grow as both craft and people leaders
We’d love to hear from people with:
12+ years of experience in product, experience, or service design, with leadership at scale
Proven success leading teams responsible for consumer-facing digital products
Deep knowledge of design, creative and product methodologies and the ability to problem solve through design process implementation
Deep understanding of mobile ecosystems, omnichannel journeys, and service design
Strong executive presence and the ability to influence across complex organizations
A portfolio that demonstrates clarity of vision, quality of craft, and measurable impact
Experience working in highly cross-functional, matrixed environments
Passion for coffee, brand, storytelling, and customer-centered innovation
The ability to drive amazing work while having fun doing it
Preferred experiences include:
Experience in food and beverage and hospitality spaces
Background in retail, eCommerce, loyalty programs, and mobile ordering
Expertise in envisioning and executing sophisticated customer experiences across multiple digital and physical touchpoints
Experience designing digital in physical retail environments
Agency and vendor partnership experience—accelerating innovation with external collaborators
Why this role matters to Starbucks
Starbucks serves millions of customers every day. This role ensures those moments feel intuitive, human, and unmistakably Starbucks—while pushing what’s possible at the intersection of digital, physical, and service experiences.
Please include a link to your portfolio with your application.
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.
*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.
We believe we do our best work when we're together, which is why we're onsite four days a week.
Join us and inspire with every cup. Apply today!
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. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or 1(888) 611-2258.