UX research manager, Digital UX & Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Research Manager, Digital UX & Design

Company: Starbucks

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-17

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and grow a diverse team of UX researchers focused on customer and partner digital products, driving strategic decision-making through user insights.

• Oversee generative and evaluative research initiatives across multiple product portfolios within Starbucks' global digital ecosystem.

• Partner closely with cross-functional teams including coffeehouse operations, design, product management, and engineering to guide research strategy and influence product development.

• Advocate for customer and partner needs by sharing evidence-based insights with digital teams, operations, and other key stakeholders.

• Champion improvements in research operations, tooling, and workflows to enhance efficiency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a large, established retail and hospitality organization, indicating a need for robust process management, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence at various levels. The focus on "Digital UX & Design" suggests a critical role in shaping the digital customer and partner journey, which directly impacts revenue and operational efficiency. The emphasis on "partner" experience alongside "customer" experience highlights a unique aspect of Starbucks' operational model.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of UX researchers, fostering an inclusive and high-performing environment.

• Define and execute comprehensive research strategies for new product features, platform enhancements, and customer experience improvements.

• Conduct and/or oversee a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, diary studies, and ethnographic research.

• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable insights and compelling narratives that inform product roadmaps and strategic business decisions.

• Collaborate with product managers, designers, engineers, and marketing teams to identify research opportunities and integrate user insights throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Drive continuous improvement in research operations by evaluating and implementing new tools, methodologies, and best practices.

• Act as a subject matter expert on user behavior and needs, presenting research findings to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Ensure research methodologies align with business objectives and contribute to measurable outcomes, such as increased customer engagement, improved conversion rates, and enhanced partner productivity.

• Foster a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and research best practices across the Digital organization.

• Contribute to the overall research strategy and vision under the guidance of the Director of Research & Strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on research execution. The requirement to "partner closely with coffeehouse operations leads" suggests a need to understand the operational realities of physical stores and how digital tools support them, a key aspect of Starbucks' business model. The focus on "improving research operations, tooling, and workflows" points to a need for process optimization and efficiency gains within the research function itself.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or a related field. Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) research.

• Demonstrated experience in empathetic people management, including mentoring, coaching, and growing a research team.

• Proven track record of successfully managing multiple research workstreams and stakeholders concurrently. Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in both generative (e.g., ethnography, interviews, diary studies) and evaluative (e.g., usability testing, A/B testing, surveys) research methodologies.

• Strong ability to translate research findings into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex user needs to diverse audiences.

• Proficiency in synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data to identify key trends and patterns.

• Experience in managing research operations, including tooling, vendor management, and process improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Design, Engineering, Operations).

• A strong understanding of human-centric design principles and user-centered development processes. Preferred Skills:

• Background in retail, eCommerce, hospitality, or the food & beverage industry.

• Experience working within design-led and human-centered design organizations.

• Experience in testing operation or production-line focused experiences and tools.

• Previous experience with agency and vendor partnership, including managing external collaborators and temporary research staff.

• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis and data visualization tools for research reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum of 7 years of experience, coupled with "people management and mentorship," indicates this is a mid-to-senior level leadership role. The preference for retail, eCommerce, and hospitality backgrounds is highly relevant given Starbucks' core business, suggesting candidates with this domain knowledge will have an advantage in understanding the operational context. Experience with "testing operation or production-line focused experiences" is a critical differentiator, pointing to the need to understand how digital tools support in-store operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of research projects, demonstrating expertise in both generative and evaluative methods across different product lifecycle stages.

• Include examples of how research insights directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, and business outcomes.

• Highlight projects where you managed research operations, implemented new tools or workflows, or improved research efficiency.

• Present case studies detailing your approach to stakeholder management, synthesis of complex data, and clear communication of findings.

• Demonstrate experience in managing research for digital products, ideally within a large-scale, customer-facing environment. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and refining research processes for consistency, scalability, and impact.

• Examples of how you've documented research plans, methodologies, findings, and recommendations.

• Showcase your approach to integrating research insights into product development workflows and decision-making cycles.

• Illustrate how you've managed research operations, including budget, vendor relationships, and team resource allocation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a management role, the portfolio should not only showcase individual research skills but also leadership, team management, and operational efficiency. The emphasis on process documentation is crucial for a role that involves improving research operations and workflows, implying a need to demonstrate structured approaches to research execution and knowledge management.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a UX Research Manager with 7+ years of experience, managing a team, in a major tech/retail hub like Seattle, WA, the estimated salary range is approximately $140,000 - $190,000 USD per year. This range can vary based on specific experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.

• Income protection: Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance, basic and supplemental Life insurance.

• Family support: Paid Parental Leave, Family Expansion Reimbursement.

• Time off: Paid vacation from date of hire, Sick Time, eight Paid Holidays, and two Personal Days per year.

• Retirement and Investment: 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Discounted Company Stock Program (S.I.P.), Starbucks Equity Program (Bean Stock).

• Financial Wellness: Incentivized emergency savings, financial well-being tools, student loan management resources.

• Education: 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (ASU Online), access to other educational opportunities.

• Additional Perks: Backup care, DACA reimbursement. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week.

• The role is hybrid, requiring 4 days per week in the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle, WA, with one remote day.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on industry standards for a UX Research Manager role in Seattle, considering the experience level and management responsibilities. Starbucks offers a robust benefits package, typical for large corporations, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being, education, and financial security. The hybrid work model with a significant in-office presence is a key aspect of the work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage, Retail, Hospitality, Technology (Digital Products)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Over 10,000 employees)

Founded: 1971, Starbucks has a rich history of building community around coffee and evolving into a global lifestyle brand. This long-standing presence influences a culture that values tradition, quality, and customer connection, now increasingly integrated with digital innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research Manager will be part of the Digital UX & Design team, a specialized group within Starbucks' broader Digital organization.

• This team likely works in close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing departments responsible for digital platforms (e.g., mobile app, website, loyalty programs).

• The role reports to a Director of Research & Strategy, indicating a structured hierarchy within the UX research function.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving direct partnerships with coffeehouse operations leads, designers, and product managers to ensure research aligns with real-world operational needs and business goals. Methodology:

• Starbucks emphasizes a customer-centric and partner-centric approach, driven by user insights to inform product and experience design.

• The company champions a "design-led and human-centric design focused" approach, suggesting a commitment to iterative product development informed by user feedback and research.

• Process improvement and operational efficiency are key themes, as indicated by the focus on improving research operations, tooling, and workflows.

• The company values are "Craft, Results, Courage, Belonging and Joy," which are expected to be embodied by team members.

Company Website: https://www.starbucks.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Starbucks' culture blends its heritage of coffee and community with a forward-looking digital strategy. For operations professionals, this means understanding how digital tools support the physical coffeehouse experience and a large distributed workforce. The emphasis on core values suggests that cultural fit and alignment with these principles are as important as technical skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Managerial level, overseeing a team of UX researchers and influencing product strategy. It represents a significant step up from individual contributor roles, requiring leadership, strategic planning, and operational management skills within the UX research domain.

Reporting Structure: The UX Research Manager will report to a Director of Research & Strategy, indicating a clear line of leadership and guidance within the UX research function. This structure allows for strategic alignment and support in developing broader research initiatives.

Operations Impact: The UX research manager plays a pivotal role in shaping Starbucks' digital products and experiences, which directly impact millions of customers and partners globally. Their insights influence strategic decisions, product roadmaps, and operational improvements, ultimately driving customer loyalty, partner satisfaction, and business growth through enhanced digital engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone people management skills, lead complex research initiatives, and contribute to shaping the UX research function's strategy.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge within the retail, hospitality, and digital product sectors, specifically within a global brand like Starbucks.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across various departments, including digital product, operations, marketing, and engineering, fostering a broader understanding of business strategy.

• Process Innovation: Lead initiatives to improve research operations, tooling, and methodologies, contributing to organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

• Potential Advancement: Pathways could lead to Senior Manager, Director of UX Research, or specialized roles focusing on specific product areas or research disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within UX research leadership. The emphasis on impacting millions of users and influencing strategic decisions highlights the significant operational and business impact of this position. Growth opportunities are centered around leadership, strategic contribution, and domain expertise within a major consumer brand.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle, WA, which functions as a corporate office environment. This typically includes collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and amenities designed for professional work.

Office Location(s): Starbucks Support Center, Seattle, Washington, United States. This central location in a major city provides access to talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model (4 days in office) emphasizes in-person collaboration, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions. This is crucial for effective team management and cross-functional alignment.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, UX research tools, project management software, and communication platforms will be available. The role may involve evaluating and implementing new research technologies.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with direct reports, peers in design and product, and senior leadership. The focus on coffeehouse operations also implies interaction with individuals who understand the frontline partner experience.

Work Schedule:

• A hybrid work schedule is in place, requiring 4 days per week at the Seattle Support Center and 1 day per week remote. This structure aims to balance in-person collaboration with flexibility.

• Standard working hours are expected, with the potential for occasional extended hours depending on project demands and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at a major corporate hub suggests a professional setting with opportunities for both structured work and collaborative interaction. The 4-day in-office requirement is a key aspect of the work arrangement, designed to foster team cohesion and direct collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter will assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on leadership experience, team management philosophy, research approach, and strategic thinking. Expect questions about past team successes and challenges.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Discussions with other UX researchers, designers, and product managers to assess collaboration style, technical expertise, and problem-solving abilities.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their work. This is a critical stage for demonstrating research methodology, impact, and leadership.

• Final Round: May involve senior leadership or a case study presentation to assess strategic thinking and communication skills at a higher level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your leadership, team management, research operations improvement, and impact on digital products.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, detail the research problem, your methodology, the insights generated, how you synthesized findings, and most importantly, the tangible business or user outcomes achieved. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in conversion," "reduced task completion time by 20%").

• Highlight Leadership: For management roles, include examples of how you mentored researchers, improved team processes, or managed complex stakeholder relationships.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentations with a clear narrative arc: problem, approach, execution, findings, impact, and learnings.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, alternative approaches considered, and how you handled challenges or trade-offs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Case Study: Be prepared for a hypothetical research challenge. This might involve defining a research plan for a new feature, analyzing a set of user feedback, or proposing improvements to an existing digital experience.

• Strategic Thinking: Practice articulating how you would align research efforts with business goals, prioritize initiatives, and measure research impact.

• Operational Focus: Anticipate questions about improving research workflows, selecting appropriate tools, or managing research budgets and vendor relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be multi-stage, emphasizing leadership, strategic thinking, and practical application of UX research principles. The portfolio review is paramount; candidates must demonstrate not only individual research prowess but also the ability to lead teams, manage operations, and drive significant business impact. Preparing a case study or being ready for a strategic challenge is also a common expectation for manager-level roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Qualtrics, UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, SurveyMonkey, Typeform for surveys, data collection, and remote usability testing.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for tracking research projects, managing tasks, and documenting processes.

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication and cross-functional collaboration.

• Data Analysis & Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Excel, SPSS, or R for quantitative data analysis and reporting; NVivo or Dovetail for qualitative data analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Access to internal BI tools for correlating research findings with business metrics.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience creating clear, compelling dashboards to communicate research findings and impact to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM principles is beneficial, though direct CRM management might not be a primary responsibility. Understanding how customer data is used is key.

• Automation Tools: Awareness of how automation can be leveraged in research operations (e.g., survey distribution, participant recruitment).

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, a UX Research Manager is expected to be proficient in a wide array of research platforms, data analysis tools, and collaboration software. The ability to integrate research insights with analytics and business intelligence platforms is crucial for demonstrating impact. Experience with enterprise-level tools common in large organizations is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craft: A commitment to high-quality research execution, rigorous methodology, and delivering insightful, actionable findings.

• Results: Focus on driving measurable outcomes through research, impacting product success and business objectives.

• Courage: Willingness to advocate for users, challenge assumptions, and present findings clearly and persuasively, even when they are difficult.

• Belonging: Fostering an inclusive team environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and all researchers feel empowered to contribute.

• Joy: Bringing enthusiasm and passion to the work, creating a positive and engaging team dynamic.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with design, product, engineering, and operations teams, ensuring research is integrated early and often in the product lifecycle.

• Data-Driven Advocacy: Uses research evidence to inform discussions and decisions, acting as a strong advocate for the user's voice.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promotes a culture of sharing research findings, best practices, and learnings across the team and broader organization.

• Feedback Culture: Open to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve research quality and team performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are explicitly stated and should be a guiding principle for candidates. The collaborative style emphasizes proactive engagement with other departments and a commitment to data-driven decision-making, reflecting a mature operations environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Research: Ensuring consistent, high-quality research across a large, global digital ecosystem with diverse product portfolios.

• Balancing Generative & Evaluative Needs: Effectively managing research initiatives that span from foundational understanding to product validation.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and ensuring research insights are understood, accepted, and acted upon by various teams and leadership levels.

• Integrating with Operations: Bridging the gap between digital user experience research and the practical realities of coffeehouse operations to ensure seamless customer and partner journeys.

• Advancing Research Ops: Continuously improving research tooling, processes, and efficiency in a dynamic technological environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Research Leadership: Developing advanced skills in research strategy, program management, and influencing organizational direction.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging UX research methodologies, tools, and best practices relevant to retail and digital product development.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining deeper insights into product management, design thinking, and operational challenges within the food & beverage and retail sectors.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Developing leadership capabilities through hands-on management and potentially through mentorship from senior research leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexities of operating within a large, global organization with a significant physical and digital footprint. Growth opportunities are geared towards developing leadership acumen and strategic influence within the UX research domain and the broader company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that was met with resistance from stakeholders. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, data synthesis, and influence.)

• "How would you prioritize research efforts for multiple product teams with competing demands and limited resources?" (Assess strategic thinking, prioritization frameworks, and resource management.)

• "Walk me through your process for improving research operations or implementing new research tooling within a team." (Evaluate understanding of research ops, process improvement, and change management.)

• "How do you ensure your team's research findings are actionable and integrated into product development?" (Gauge understanding of research-to-product lifecycle integration and stakeholder collaboration.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Starbucks' company values (Craft, Results, Courage, Belonging, Joy) align with your leadership philosophy and approach to UX research?" (Assess cultural fit and understanding of company principles.)

• "How would you foster a sense of belonging within your UX research team, especially in a hybrid work environment?" (Evaluate people management and team-building skills.)

• "What excites you about Starbucks' digital products and customer experience?" (Gauge genuine interest and understanding of the brand's digital presence.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin each case study with the business problem and the ultimate impact of your research.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, data charts, personas) to illustrate your process and findings.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your research (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).

• Explain Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially if presenting team projects. For a management role, highlight how you guided the team or managed the process.

• Be Ready for "What Ifs": Anticipate questions about alternative methodologies, how you would handle unexpected findings, or how your approach might change based on different constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and a deep understanding of UX research's impact on business outcomes. Candidates must be ready to articulate their management style, their approach to fostering a positive team culture, and how their work directly contributes to Starbucks' goals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Research Manager position:

• Submit your application through the Starbucks career portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight leadership experience, people management, UX research methodology expertise, and any experience in retail, hospitality, or digital product development. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-5 impactful projects that showcase your research leadership, operational improvements, and tangible outcomes. Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking and team management.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare for behavioral questions focusing on leadership, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and your understanding of Starbucks' values and mission. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Research Starbucks: Familiarize yourself with Starbucks' digital presence, recent product launches, and company values to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment. Understand how digital complements their core coffeehouse operations.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.