Senior Director, QSE Ops, SA

ROLE TITLE: Senior Director, QSE Ops, SA 
GEOGRAPHIES RESPONSIBLE: SOUTH AFRICA 

FUNCTION: AFRICA OU TECHNICAL, INNOVATION & SUPPLY CHAIN (TI&SC)  
REPORTS TO: SENIOR DIRECTOR, QUALITY, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT LEAD, AFRICA 
 

KEY WORKING PARAMETERS 

1. SCOPE & IMPACT: 

As the QSE Operations Senior Director, this role commands comprehensive operational and strategic leadership over Quality, Safety, Environment, and Technical Risk across South Africa, shaping the future direction of the operating geography. The Senior Director ensures that all operational environments—including manufacturing, distribution, marketplace, route-to-market, and supply chain—consistently exceed global QSE governance standards, safeguarding business continuity and driving sustainable growth. 

Strategic Responsibilities: 

• QSE Vision & Strategy Leadership: Architect the AOU QSE Strategic Roadmap, setting ambitious long-term priorities for Quality, Safety, Environment, and Technical Risk. Translate global QSE strategy into actionable, multi-year regional plans that enable business growth, market expansion, and innovation, ensuring seamless alignment with OU objectives. 

• Portfolio & Resource Optimization: Drive high-level prioritization of QSE investments across all markets, influencing senior leadership in resource allocation for capability building, digital transformation, and infrastructure advancement. 

• Governance & Compliance Excellence: Lead the implementation of KORE QSE governance and ensure full regulatory alignment across all operational sites. Champion QSE by Design (QSEbD) principles throughout product, packaging, and process innovation, elevating QSE maturity via analytics, performance modelling, and global best practices. 

• Health, Safety & Culture Transformation: Direct the end-to-end Health & Safety governance framework, embedding global standards and fostering a Zero Is Possible culture. Guide OPEX/CAPEX decisions to mitigate risks and inspire a mindset shift throughout the organization. 

• Environmental Sustainability Stewardship: Lead operational improvement of environmental KPIs, focusing on comprehensive water management, energy efficiency, CO₂ reduction, and waste minimization. Advance circular economy practices and ensure environmental compliance. 

• Technical Risk & Business Continuity Leadership: Formulate and execute long-range QSE risk strategies using predictive analytics and emerging-risk modelling. Oversee the Technical Risk Management Framework, ensuring robust alignment with global ERM/TRM programs and leading risk-based decision making in innovation and supply chain transformation. Ensure validated, up-to-date Business Continuity Plans and conduct regular readiness simulations. 

• Franchise & System Leadership: Serve as the principal QSE strategic advisor to Bottler CEOs and system leadership, shaping system-wide QSE policies and contributing to global governance. Provide hands-on operational leadership to bottling partners, driving capability development, governance alignment, and consistent execution across all markets. 

2. KEY SUCCESS PARAMETERS 

2.1 FOCUS AREAS 

Operational Governance & Compliance:  

• Ensure 100% alignment with KORE, and robust implementation of KORE, TCCC governance models, internal policies, and regulatory requirements across QSE disciplines from ingredient to marketplace. 

• Embed compliance routines, internal audits, and validation processes. 

System Performance & Continuous Improvement 

• Establish and manage system-wide performance models, benchmarks, and KPIs for QFS, H&S, water, energy, and risk.  

• Use predictive analytics and digital tools for visibility and proactive issue management.  

• Apply lean methodologies, data-driven decisions, best practice replication, complexity reduction, and digitalization (e.g., Picasso, Coke Works) to drive operational excellence.  

• Lead technical response, resolution, and root cause analysis for QSE IMCR. 

Culture, Capability & Leadership 

• Lead the geography’s long-term QSE strategic roadmap, driving culture transformation and embedding safety, quality, and environmental mindsets across all levels.  

• Develop future QSE leaders, foster talent in critical bottler roles, and operate as a pivotal member of the geography’s Leadership Team. 

Technical Risk & Business Continuity 

• Deploy a structured QSE risk management approach across manufacturing, distribution, innovation, sustainability, and supply chain. 

• Operationalise critical ingredient BCP readiness across bottlers and OU functions. 

Environmental Stewardship in Operations 

• Implement operational elements of the AOU Water Risk Framework, including E2E water supply and quality management  

• Drive energy efficiency improvements and support decarbonization projects at the plant level. 

• Ensure environmental reporting integrity and compliance. 

Network Leadership & Stakeholder Management 

• Implement aligned QSE operational strategies with: 

• Bottling Partners 

• Supply Chain 

• R&D & Innovation 

• CPS 

2.2 COMMUNICATION FOCUS 

• Deliver strategic QSE performance insights to the geography Leadership Team, bottler executives, and global networks, enabling informed decision-making and systemic alignment. 

• Influence and mobilize stakeholders to secure buy-in for QSE operational strategies and investments, driving transformational change. 

• Lead operational QSE communication routines with internal and external partners. 

• Lead high-impact QSE communication routines with internal and external partners, championing a culture of “Driving QSE maturity to enable business growth and safeguard people, brands, and reputation.” 

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

EDUCATION 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Food Science, Environmental Science, Safety, or related technical field (master’s preferred). 

EXPERIENCE 

• 15+ years in QSE, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or Technical Leadership roles. 

• Proven track record in: 

• Large-scale operational QSE leadership 

• Risk management & crisis response 

• Safety and/or Quality culture transformation 

• Environmental performance improvement 

• Leading diverse teams  

• Working with bottling partners and franchise systems 

CAPABILITIES & SKILLS 

• Mastery of: 

• QFS governance & compliance 

• Health & Safety management systems 

• Environmental operations (water, energy) 

• Risk Management (TRMF/ERM) 

• IMCR/BCP 

• Data analytics & reporting 

• Operational excellence & CI methodologies 

• Strong influencing and negotiation capabilities 

• Ability to translate technical concepts into business impact 

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management 

• Digital literacy and understanding of integrated QSE systems