Position summary

The Coca-Cola Company is hiring a Senior Director, Public Affairs to shape the external environment for sustainable, responsible growth in Germany, one of the Europe Operating Unit's most visible and regulated markets. Operating at the intersection of public policy, reputation, and sustainability, the role defines and executes a forward-looking public affairs strategy and embeds it into commercial decisions across portfolio, packaging, and route to market.

Why this role matters

Packaging circularity, sugar reduction, responsible marketing, and climate policy increasingly determine what a beverage company can sell and how. Leading policy and advocacy in Germany, and localizing Coca-Cola's sustainability commitments there, is what protects the system's licence to operate while advancing evidence-based, consumer-centric outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Set public policy strategy by defining and delivering Germany's public affairs strategy aligned to Europe OU priorities and shaping positions on packaging, nutrition, responsible marketing, and climate.
• Lead advocacy and engagement by managing high-impact engagement with government, regulators, trade associations, NGOs, and academia, and building influential coalitions.
• Manage reputation and issues by partnering with Communications on external narratives and serving as a senior spokesperson during issues and crises.
• Localize sustainability by operationalizing Europe OU commitments across packaging circularity, climate, water, and responsible marketing for Germany.
• Integrate with the commercial system by connecting external affairs to portfolio and packaging choices and aligning with bottling partners.
• Uphold governance by setting KPIs for policy influence, reputation, and sustainability impact and managing budgets and agencies.

Team and stakeholders

The role partners with PACS, Commercial, Sustainability, and bottling partners internally, and engages government, regulators, trade associations, NGOs, academia, and community leaders externally, advising the Franchise leadership team and Europe OU stakeholders.

Key details

• Based in Berlin, Germany; full time.
• Travel required up to 25%; no relocation provided.
• Directs philanthropic and community investments, including via The Coca-Cola Foundation.
• Application window closes 3 October 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Affairs, Political Science, Communications, Environmental Science, or a related field; master's preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in public policy, public affairs, government relations, sustainability, and/or corporate communications.
• Deep understanding of the political, policy, and regulatory landscape, with a strong network across government, regulators, and industry bodies.
• Proven track record shaping policy outcomes on packaging, nutrition, climate, and responsible marketing.
• Excellence in issues and crisis leadership, reputation management, and spokesperson work.
• Strong business acumen linking policy to commercial and system outcomes, and experience leading teams, agencies, and matrix stakeholders.
• Local language fluency to influence stakeholders.