MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Howard Schultz is on a hiring spree to form new team

Mar 18, 2019, 9:06 AM | Updated: 10:23 am

howard schultz...

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

(Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

In keeping with his recent trend of acting like a presidential candidate without officially running, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is now on a hiring spree for the Howard Schultz Team.

RELATED: Schultz discusses Gov. Inslee and Trump
RELATED: An Army general who supports Schultz for president

It’s a team that isn’t blatantly political — it’s basically a marketing department — but has hints of politics.

GeekWire reports that Instagram’s former head of analytics, Mike Develin, has signed on to be Schutlz’s chief analytics officer. GeekWire points out that there is no official statement saying that Develin is working for a political campaign under Schultz. But it does point to Develin’s LinkedIn page which covers his work history and states, “Data is the voice of the people at scale, and what I delight in is figuring out what they are trying to tell us and using that to help make better decisions on their behalf. I’m currently trying to bring that democratic approach to our political system.”

Schultz’s new hire doesn’t stop there. A total of 11 jobs notices for the Howard Schultz Team popped up across Indeed, LinkedIn, and HowardSchultz.com over the weekend. A bulk of the jobs are within the marketing and communications realm, but also security and tech. They include: copywriter, social media manager, media analyst, marketing operations manager, security manager, IT specialist, and business intelligence developer, among others.

They are posted for either in Seattle or SeaTac, and some jobs do hint at some political involvement.

The notice for a copywriter position, for example, states, “First and foremost, you’re a political junkie, committed to improving the world and helping people seek out new experiences and world cultures.” The media analyst posting states: “Are you a news junkie? Interested in politics? HowardSchultz.com is looking for people to monitor the news cycle…”

It should be noted that HowardSchultz.com, while not officially being a political campaign site, is clearly branded as part of a political conversation. It states taglines such as “If you believe both parties are causing dysfunction in Washington,” or “If you don’t feel our government is working well for you,” and “If you feel our nation has become dangerously divided,” then sends the reader to a “join us” page to sign up for a mailing list.

The “join us” page also gauges interest in volunteering with the team, hosting events, and “helping spread the word.” Currently, the only word Schultz is spreading is that of his new book. He has been on a promotional book tour in recent weeks. Schultz has only said that he is considering running for president and has not officially announced a campaign. The potential for a Schultz run has drawn criticism from all sides.

MyNorthwest News

Chase Sapphire Lounge coming to SEA airport under $70M project...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Chase Sapphire Lounge coming to SEA airport under $70M project

New upgrades at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) are giving Chase Bank cardholders even more reasons to arrive early for their flights.

11 hours ago

Spokane County's Wildfire Heroes Recognized on National Stage in NYC....

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Spokane County’s wildfire heroes recognized on national stage in New York City

Firefighters and law enforcement officers from Spokane County were honored in New York City for their response to the Spokane Complex Fires.

23 hours ago

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (4)...

Nate Connors

WSDOT completes Tacoma Narrows Bridge repairs one week early

Pierce County commuters were handed some good news when WSDOT announced that it had completed repairs on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

23 hours ago

Stolen SUV suspect pointed gun at officer before jumping into Lake Washington, Seattle police say...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Stolen SUV suspect reportedly pointed gun at officer before jumping into Lake Washington

A man was arrested after allegedly stealing an SUV, ramming a police vehicle, pointing a gun at an officer, and treading water in Lake Washington.

23 hours ago

End of an Era: Former Fox Island Christmas Tree Farm Set for Redevelopment...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

End of an era: Former Fox Island Christmas tree farm set for redevelopment

A former Christmas tree farm in Pierce County will soon become eight custom homes, marking a final goodbye to a beloved family business.

23 hours ago

helicopters...

KIRO 7 News Staff

2 helicopters collide mid-air in Oregon; no survivors

Three people have died following a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Oregon on Thursday afternoon.

24 hours ago

Howard Schultz is on a hiring spree to form new team