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Director, Sustainability

The Coca-Cola Company Japan Added on Sep 1, 2026
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As the Director of Sustainability for the Japan and South Korea operating unit, you will steer the regional execution of global environmental goals. You will bridge the gap between high-level corporate strategy and ground-level operations, managing a team of specialists dedicated to water stewardship, climate action, and packaging innovation. Your work ensures that the supply chain and manufacturing partners are aligned with the company’s ambitious roadmap.

This role is critical because it addresses the local complexities of circular economy and resource management within two highly sophisticated markets. By driving operational sustainability-by-design, you directly influence how millions of consumer touchpoints are managed, from water risk mitigation in local bottling plants to the development of regional collection and recycling schemes. It is a rare chance to scale technical environmental solutions across a massive, iconic industrial system.

This suits someone who is a bilingual strategic thinker with a deep engineering or science background and the gravitas to influence senior bottling partners and regulatory agencies in a complex, fast-moving consumer goods environment.

FAQ del ruolo

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to lead the operational sustainability strategy for the Japan and South Korea (JSK) Operating Unit. You will be responsible for translating global sustainability commitments into actionable local plans, specifically focusing on water stewardship, carbon reduction, and packaging circularity. You will oversee a team of functional managers and provide technical guidance on complex issues like collection schemes and renewable energy transitions. Additionally, the role involves ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining high standards for sustainability data reporting within the corporate governance framework.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This position offers unparalleled exposure to large-scale supply chain transformation within the FMCG sector. You will gain deep insights into how a global giant manages natural resource risks across diverse bottling operations and different regulatory environments. Furthermore, you will likely develop expertise in systems thinking, learning how to balance financial planning with technical sustainability requirements. The role provides a platform to engage with global environmental councils and industry associations, staying at the forefront of international climate and water trends.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings at least 5 years of experience in corporate sustainability or energy development, backed by a degree in science, technology, or engineering. Technical fluency in energy management and water risk assessment is essential for providing credible guidance to operational teams. Strong leadership skills are required to manage transformation programs and lead a team of specialists. Because the role involves significant regional coordination, bilingual proficiency in English and Japanese is mandatory to effectively navigate both corporate headquarters and local stakeholders.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience in translating technical vision into operational execution. Highlight specific instances where you successfully influenced third-party partners or cross-functional teams to adopt sustainable practices despite competing priorities. Demonstrating a clear understanding of the Japanese regulatory landscape regarding waste management and packaging will be a significant advantage. Tailor your application to show how you handle ambiguity, as the role requires building new workflows within an evolving global framework.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role centers on the technical and operational aspects of the company's environmental footprint. Specifically, it focuses on water risk management, carbon accounting within the supply chain, and the transition toward a circular economy for packaging materials. You will also be heavily involved in sustainability-by-design, ensuring that innovation pipelines consider environmental impact from the outset. This includes supporting the implementation of collection and recycling infrastructure to meet corporate commitments.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the main challenges is orchestrating alignment between the corporate entity and independent bottling partners who may have different operational priorities. Driving change across such a vast, decentralized system requires exceptional negotiation skills. Navigating complex regulatory requirements and maintaining data integrity for sustainability reporting in two different countries also presents a significant hurdle. You must balance long-term environmental goals with the immediate financial and operational realities of the business.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with reviewing sustainability performance data and coordinating with functional managers on packaging or climate initiatives. You could spend the afternoon in strategic meetings with bottling plant leads to discuss water risk assessments or CAPEX requirements for green technology. Interactions with regulatory authorities or industry associations are also frequent, as you work to shape the external environment. The role involves a mix of high-level strategic planning and technical troubleshooting to ensure operational sustainability targets are met.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

There are significant opportunities for global leadership roles within the broader Coca-Cola system, particularly given the high visibility of the JSK Operating Unit. Success in this role demonstrates an ability to lead complex transformations in key markets. You could transition into broader QSE leadership or take on global-level roles within the Global Environmental Council. The exposure to both technical operations and corporate strategy makes this an excellent springboard for senior executive positions in the ESG space.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the OU QSE Lead, brand commercial teams, and the Global Environmental Council. You will also manage a direct team of sustainability functional managers who provide expertise on specific environmental pillars. External stakeholders are equally critical, including bottling partner leadership, government agencies, and industry associations. Building collaborative relationships with these parties is essential for implementing collection schemes and driving regional sustainability agendas.

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