Starbucks (SBUX) said Monday that it's cutting 1,100 non-retail support partner roles and eliminating "several hundred" unfilled positions as part of an effort to simplify the organization's structure.

The move stems from the company's "Back to Starbucks" transformation plan and comes after Chief Executive Brian Niccol said last month that management was evaluating the size of its global support teams.

The latest move does not affect in-store teams or Starbucks' planned investments in store hours, Niccol said in a staff memo that was shared on the company's website. Shares of the coffee chain advanced 1.8% in Monday midday trade.

"We are simplifying our structure, removing layers and duplication and creating smaller, more nimble teams," he said. "Our intent is to operate more efficiently, increase accountability, reduce complexity and drive better integration."

The new structure is being built with a focus on "priority work," according to Niccol. Starbucks will continue to hire for priority positions that better align with the new structure, he said.

The coffee chain is requiring executives on the North American team at the vice president-plus level "to be present with their teams" in Seattle or Toronto, at least three days a week.

Partners working remotely in director and below levels will generally be able to maintain their remote status, Niccol said. However, hiring for future roles will require partners to be located in Seattle or Toronto, except for enterprise-designated remote positions, he said.

Late last month, Starbucks reported a 4% decline in global comparable store sales while delivering virtually flat year-over-year revenue of $9.4 billion. Earnings per share declined 23% to $0.69.