Director, Channel Strategy, Traditional Trade & Wholesale

The Coca-Cola Company; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company in Johannesburg is seeking a Director of Channel Strategy for Traditional Trade and Wholesale. This transformative role requires strong leadership and expertise in commercial channel strategy, aimed at driving growth across multiple channels. Ideal candidates will possess mastery in planning and execution while contributing to the company's mission of growth. This position offers significant opportunities for professional exposure and collaboration with world-class leaders.

Benefits

Exposure to global marketing leaders

Work on a recognized brand

Creative team culture

Qualifications

• Mastery of channel strategy, planning and execution.
• Ability to influence at a senior level.
• Operational experience in commercial settings.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement transformative channel strategies.
• Collaborate across networks to create execution strategies.
• Drive revenue growth and enhance system performance.

Skills

Brand Management

Category Management

Communication

Digital Marketing

Leadership

Teamwork

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Location(s): South Africa

City/Cities: Johannesburg

Travel Required: 0% - 25%

Relocation Provided: No

Job Posting End Date: October 2, 2025

Shift:

Role Profile

Director, Channel Strategy TRADITIONAL TRADE & WHOLESALE

REPORT TO: SENIOR DIRECTOR, CHANNEL STRATEGY & E2E

Our vision is loved brands, done sustainably, for a better shared future. We strive to provide cutting-edge excellence in ingredients, innovation, design, and marketing. This role serves as the lead in the organization between the category/brand teams and commercial operating teams to communicate initiatives to bottlers and customer teams. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate relationship building and leadership capabilities while working across multiple channels.

In this role, you will design and implement transformative Traditional Trade and Wholesale channel strategies driven by deep shopper and channel insights to accelerate sustainable growth. You will set long-term strategic plans, collaborating across networks, franchises, and bottling partners to create winning execution strategies and capability development. Additionally, you’ll define execution guidelines, including the Picture of Success for quarterly platforms (4x4), develop value-added programs, and optimize market dynamics to drive revenue growth and enhance system performance.

The role of the Traditional Grocery Channel Strategy Director for the Africa Operating Unit (AOU) is undergoing a transformation, with over 60% of its scope being redefined to include a completely new mandate: leadership of the Wholesale Channel in addition to Traditional Grocery with complexity and strategic significance. The pivot in this role is transformative because it refocuses from a channel-specific lens to a multi-channel leadership mandate, tasked with driving long-term strategies for the AOU and Top 10 markets.

Focus, Scope & Impact: Mastery Of (Required): Commercial Channel Strategy, Planning & Execution Channel & Shopper/Trade Marketing Leadership & Influence at Senior Level Analytics/Data-Based Decision Making Operational Experience

Broad Expertise In (Good to Have): Customer Management Bottler Experience VTM/RGM Marketing

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.

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

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.