Director, Portfolio Operations & Merchandising

Coca-Cola•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Director of Commercial Operations – Portfolio & Merchandising enables execution of the North America Operating Unit (NAOU) commercial plan and Bottler-delivered portfolio. The role develops merchandising strategies and capabilities, optimizes supplier partnerships, and strengthens collaboration and alignment between Sales and Bottlers. Working closely with Commercial Operations, Marketing, Sales, Franchise Leadership, and Bottlers, the Director helps ensure shopper-first and customer-back portfolio merchandising strategy and continuously improves portfolio execution and performance. This is a highly cross-functional role requiring project management, stakeholder management across varying perspectives and needs, influencing, presenting to large groups, and effectiveness in a fast-paced environment. The Director leads or supports initiatives for Commercial Operations, particularly Commercial Strategy and Operations and Channel Strategy; identifies and commercializes capabilities, products, and processes; and partners with Merchandising Excellence on portfolio and merchandising strategies and capabilities. The position also leads effectiveness assessments and post-program analysis, manages the portfolio merchandising tools, system communication platforms, and preferred suppliers, and stewards system alignment through established routines. It owns internal and Bottler alignment routines and drives continual improvement in their efficiency and effectiveness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
5–10 years of experience, preferably in the consumer goods or beverages industry.
Ability to collaborate with brand, category, and franchise teams and other internal and external stakeholders, and influence a wide variety of stakeholders.
Experience in the product merchandising industry, product development, and/or supplier relationship management.
Ability to use data and analytics related to complex business processes, including tools such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI, or Tableau.
Proven ability to embrace and drive change, and comfort working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
Ability to communicate effectively and build relationships at all internal and external organizational levels, including communicating complex issues through clear, simple messages.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require company sponsorship to continue working legally in the United States.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other graduate degree.
Experience in the consumer goods or beverages industry.

Responsibilities

Lead or support initiatives for Commercial Operations, particularly Commercial Strategy and Operations and Channel Strategy.
Identify and commercialize innovative capabilities, products, and processes to strengthen portfolio execution in market.
Partner with the Merchandising Excellence team on portfolio and merchandising product strategies and capabilities.
Lead portfolio operations and merchandising effectiveness assessments and post-program analysis reporting; work with stakeholders to identify opportunities and improve performance.
Own the book of record for portfolio merchandising tools, system communication platforms, and preferred suppliers.
Consult with System Marketing and Commercial Operations to optimize program execution and effectiveness, and align the System through routines such as the Commercial Strategy Subcommittee and CCLT.
Work with supplier partners to improve supplier selection and management processes and support Portfolio Operations & Merchandising effectiveness.
Own the calendar, process, and administration of internal Commercial Operations and Marketing alignment routines and external Bottler alignment routines.
Lead the Merchandising team’s preparation for each alignment meeting and manage System stakeholder communications.
Drive continual improvement of alignment routines, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.