Japan is one of our most culturally rich, fast-moving, and strategically significant markets.
The Sparkling Energy Category plays a critical role in fueling growth across the region by delivering beverages that connect deeply with consumer behaviors, rituals, and moments of uplift.
As Director of the Energy Category,you will lead the brand strategy and long-term growth agenda for some of the most iconic energy brands in our portfolio. You will guide a talented team and partner across the Japan & South Korea Operating Unit and global system to unlock brand potential, accelerate innovation, and drive system margin accretion.
We are seeking a strategic, consumer-obsessed, and digitally fluent marketing leader who thrives in a complex matrix environment and brings bold vision combined with disciplined execution. If you are energized by shaping brand futures, designing culturally relevant experiences, and influencing teams to achieve breakthrough results, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in one of Coca-Cola's most important markets.
What You'll Do for Us
- Lead the development of annual business plans and multi-year growth strategies for the Sparkling Energy Category, shaping the five-year rolling innovation pipeline and ensuring brand portfolio competitiveness.
- Own the full brand bundle across product, package, pricing, and value proposition-guiding commercialization, brand positioning, consumer communications, and shopper marketing to deliver business objectives.
- Define and champion brand positioning and equity-building initiatives while optimizing resource allocation to maximize return on investment.
- Partner closely with cross-functional teams across Innovation, Research & Development, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Customer teams to create new products, packaging solutions, and programs that meaningfully meet consumer needs.
- Collaborate with bottling partners, agencies, and suppliers to elevate execution quality and build seamless system alignment.
- Work with Knowledge & Insights, Strategy, and Analytics teams to translate consumer, market, and cultural insights into actionable brand strategies.
- Guide the development of integrated marketing communications-including advertising, media, promotions, and digital content-ensuring alignment with global category strategy and local market dynamics.
- Monitor brand performance using key business indicators, predictive analytics, and real-time learning models to optimize decision-making and improve speed to market.
- Develop and manage the brand's operating budget, ensuring disciplined financial stewardship that supports innovation, marketing investments, and productivity goals.
- Foster a high-performing culture by providing leadership, coaching, and development to team members and collaborators across the system.
- Champion digital-first marketing, MarTech adoption, AI literacy, and agile workflows to modernize ways of working and enhance marketing effectiveness.
- Promote Japan-specific cultural relevance across all programs, ensuring global strategies are adapted with deep local resonance.
Requirements & Qualifications- Bachelor's degree required; Master of Business Administration degree preferred.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in marketing leadership within consumer packaged goods, fast-moving consumer goods, or beverage industries.
- Demonstrated success leading brand management, innovation, commercialization, or portfolio strategy at scale.
- Strong understanding of the Coca-Cola system or similar franchise/partner-based operating models, with experience navigating revenue growth management and commercial integration.
- Experience working in or with advanced markets such as Japan, with sensitivity to cultural nuances, consumer behavior, and retail channel dynamics.
- Proven ability to translate consumer, market, and cultural insights into differentiated brand strategies and breakthrough creative ideas.
- Demonstrated fluency in data-driven marketing, including AI-enabled decision-making, performance analytics, and digital measurement.
- Experience leveraging marketing technology platforms, digital ecosystems, and omnichannel engagement models.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, business cases, and profitability drivers.
- Skilled at stakeholder management and collaboration across cross-functional teams, bottlers, agency partners, and senior leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to lead change, foster innovation, and scale new ways of working in fast-paced environments.
- Strong communication capabilities, including the ability to tailor complex concepts for diverse audiences and drive alignment across teams.
- People leadership experience with a track record of developing talent, fostering inclusive culture, and coaching teams toward growth.
- Commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and purpose-driven brand building.
- Creative problem-solving skills, resilience, and agility in navigating ambiguity and evolving market conditions.
What We'll Do for You- Provide a globally connected, purpose-driven culture where you can lead transformative work that has a meaningful impact across Japan and beyond.
- Offer competitive compensation, world-class benefits, and programs that support well-being, learning, and long-term career growth.
- Access to cutting-edge marketing technologies, AI tools, and global capability-building programs designed to strengthen your functional and leadership skills.
- Opportunities to collaborate with global brand teams, regional partners, and cross-functional experts in a dynamic, inclusive, and innovation-focused environment.
Brand Architecture, Brand Positioning, Channel Management, Competitor Analysis, Consumer Segmentation, Creative Process, Digital Media Strategy, Group Problem Solving, Leadership, Marketing Goals, Marketing Strategies, Media Planning, Quantitative Research, Social Media Strategies, SWOT Analysis, Team Management
Location(s):Japan
City/Cities:Tokyo
Travel Required:00% - 25%
Relocation Provided:No
Job Posting End Date:August 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.
Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:30
Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.
