Director, Commercial Strategy and Operations

Job Description Summary:

Advanced Hydration is a dynamic, fast‑paced business unit at The Coca‑Cola Company where teams come together to lead what’s next in hydration. With a portfolio that includes BODYARMOR Sports Drink, Powerade, vitaminwater, and smartwater, the group is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, strong collaboration, and shared ambition. This is a place for people who think differently, move with agility, challenge the status quo, and thrive in an ever‑changing category. Joining the team means helping shape the future of hydration alongside passionate, collaborative teams committed to winning.

The Director, Commercial Strategy & Operations – Base Lead for the Advanced Hydration division is a strategic operator who brings rigor, clarity, and momentum to the Sports commercial agenda. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and system leadership - owning portfolio planning, governance support, internal communications, and cross-functional orchestration. Success in this role requires strong judgment, structured problem-solving, and the ability to move complex work forward in a highly matrixed environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Commercial Strategy & Portfolio

• Support development of short- and long-term commercial strategy for Sports brands, including development of the Annual Operating Plan

• Lead the annual portfolio planning cycle, using syndicated data to identify growth opportunities and optimize SKU architecture

• Support development of Merchandising Standards in partnership with Category teams, including category space guidance

• Support the creation and activation of Customer Category Stories

• Partner with the CSO Innovation Lead on business case development for all Sports innovation initiatives

Bottler Governance & Franchise Enablement

• Support Bottler Governance processes for Sports brands, including CSS and franchise meetings

• Build clear, actionable materials that enable effective engagement with the bottling network

• Act as a trusted commercial partner to franchise stakeholders, balancing local needs with enterprise priorities

• Lead internal communications for Sports brands (Monthly CommEx, Marketing OnDeck, VOC, VOF, various commercial forums)

• Ensure commercial priorities, plans, and tools are consistently understood, reinforced, and leveraged

Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution

• Serve as the commercial subject matter expert on Sports brand programs and initiatives

• Own commercial project management communications, ensuring priorities advance on time and dependencies are proactively addressed

• Partner closely with Commercial Channel teams to integrate Sports plans into channel calendars and enterprise PICOS

• Collaborate across Marketing, Category, Insights, Channel, and Franchise teams to drive executional excellence

• Leverage AI tools and knowledge of internal ways of working to create efficiencies while optimizing process workflow

This role is designed for a leader who brings structure and strategic thinking to complex business problems

• End-to-End Ownership: Own projects to completion from initial framing to decision support and executional follow through

• Enterprise Mindset: Balance brand-level needs with system-wide priorities, ensuring alignment across North America, channels, and the bottler system

• Strong Operating Rhythm: Establish and steward clear planning cycles, governance forums, and communication cadences that enable fast, informed decisions

• Clarity Through Simplicity: Translate complex data, strategies, and trade-offs into clear points of view and executive-ready narratives

• Modern Enablement: Actively leverage AI tools, analytics platforms, and internal ways of working to reduce friction, eliminate rework, and improve speed to impact

• Collaborative Influence: Lead through influence rather than authority, building alignment across diverse stakeholders with competing priorities

• Pushes for Progress: Move work forward in imperfect environments by driving decisions, structuring trade-offs, and maintaining momentum

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or other graduate degree preferred

• 7+ years of experience in consumer goods, management consulting, finance, or commercial strategy

• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence across all organizational levels

• Advanced analytical capability, including development of forecast models and performance dashboards

• Deep experience working with syndicated data (Nielsen, IRI, Circana, Numerator)

• Exceptional storytelling and PowerPoint skills; experience presenting complex ideas to senior leaders

• Proven success operating in fast-paced, evolving, matrixed organizations

What We Can Do For You

• Iconic Brand: Work on the most recognized brand in the world and be part of developing the brands next chapter.

• Exposure to World Class Leaders: Availability to global marketing leaders that will expand your network and exposure you to emerging digital platforms and marketing insights.

• Creative Team Culture: Be inspired by the best brand leaders and agencies in the world, which creates a creative culture that supports taking risks and innovation.

The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Skills:

Brand Management, Category Management, Communication, Competitor Analysis, Digital Marketing, Finance Strategy, Financial Forecasting, Integrated Marketing, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Leadership, Marketing Campaigns, Marketing Strategies, Media Planning, Microsoft Office, People Management, Price Management, Product Roadmapping, Promotional Strategies, Sales Analysis, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Teamwork, User Experience Analysis

Pay Range:

United States of America: 144,000 USD - 180,000 USD

Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Location(s):

United States of America

City/Cities:

Atlanta

Travel Required:

26% - 50%

Relocation Provided:

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

June 1, 2026

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.