Director, Social – Always-On & Engagement

Role overview

Starbucks is looking for a Director of Social, focused on always-on engagement, to steer the brand’s day-to-day social presence. This leader will shape how the company participates in culture in real time, with a strong emphasis on TikTok and other emerging channels. The role centers on creating a fast-moving social engine that blends content creation, community response, social listening, and strategic collaboration across internal teams and external partners.

The position is based in Seattle, WA and is an onsite role with four days per week in the office.

What you’ll lead

• Build and execute a high-volume TikTok strategy with an agency partner, grounded in product launches, audience insights, creative testing, brand milestones, and cultural relevance.
• Design an always-on content system that can respond quickly to trends and social signals, especially on TikTok and new platforms.
• Guide in-house creators to produce fresh, platform-specific content every day.
• Partner with social campaign, influencer, brand marketing, PR, media, and partnerships teams to turn day-to-day insights into larger brand moments.
• Own community engagement at scale across approximately 22,000+ daily mentions, setting expectations for voice, speed, and brand relevance.
• Translate social listening into action by identifying trends, fan behavior, and beverage-related moments that can inform menu, storytelling, and strategy.
• Activate fandom through direct interaction with comments, user-generated content, and creator posts to drive conversation and loyalty.
• Put strong operating systems in place, including workflows, prioritization methods, and measurement tools that support speed without lowering quality.
• Track and improve KPIs tied to engagement quality, response time, relevance, and cultural influence.

Candidate profile

Starbucks is seeking a bold, strategic leader who can help shape the future of social and influencer marketing. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in always-on social, community management, or real-time content leadership, along with a strong feel for TikTok, social trends, and storytelling tailored to each platform. Success in this role also depends on the ability to manage high-volume content and community operations, lead teams and agency partners, and bring humor, humanity, and a clear brand voice to a fast-paced environment.

Compensation and work setup

The employer notes that final base pay will depend on factors such as role-related skills, experience, location, and internal equity. It also states that candidates are not typically hired at the top of the pay range.

This is an onsite role, and Starbucks says it works best when teams are together in the office four days each week.

Benefits and partner perks

Eligible partners may receive medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, vacation from date of hire, sick time, eight paid holidays, and two personal days annually. Additional offerings include a 401(k) with company match, a discounted stock purchase program, Bean Stock equity, emergency savings support, and financial well-being tools.

Educational benefits include 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program, along with student loan support resources and other learning opportunities. Partners may also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement.

Vacation rules may vary by state. For roles at director level and above, the company notes annual vacation allotments of 200 hours in most states, and 316 hours in California; in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND, and RI, director-level roles can accrue up to 200 hours, with 316 hours in California, subject to the company’s policy details. The benefits list may change where collective bargaining applies. More detailed benefit information is available through the company’s benefits resources.

Equal opportunity and accommodations

Starbucks is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics. Applicants with criminal histories will be reviewed in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities; support can be requested by contacting the company through its accommodation assistance channels or by phone at 1-888-611-2258.