Location(s):
JapanCity/Cities:
TokyoTravel Required:
00% - 25%Relocation Provided:
NoJob Posting End Date:
January 31, 2026Shift:
Job Description Summary:
The Senior Director, Vending Strategy & New Business Development is responsible for leading the strategic direction, business performance management, and future-growth agenda of the Vending organization in Japan.
This role drives innovation strategy, incubates new business opportunities, and advances the organization toward a next-generation retail capability model.
The position connects insights, innovation, and execution to deliver sustainable growth and prepare the business for its next evolution.
What You'll Do for Us:
1. Business Strategy & Performance Management (50%)
Lead end-to-end business performance management for the Vending business.
Define and track monthly, quarterly, and annual business targets (volume, revenue, profit).
Analyze performance vs. targets and identify key drivers behind variances.
Partner with capability pillar leads (Location Development, Merchandising & Category, Pricing/RGM, Equipment & Technology, Store Operations) to develop corrective and improvement actions.
Establish and manage the business review rhythm (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) to drive alignment and timely decision-making.
Provide strategic recommendations to influence business priorities, investments, and resource allocation.
Partner closely with Finance, Commercial, Marketing, and Supply Chain to maintain a holistic view of the vending P&L.
Serve as the business control tower by integrating data, insights, and execution to drive outcomes.
2. Strategy Development, Innovation & New Business (30%)
Co-develop the long-term vending strategy, evolving the business from a single-format model to a multi-format, retail-capability-based portfolio.
Lead Innovation Strategy to identify and evaluate emerging retail technologies, new customer experiences, and digital enablers relevant to vending and unmanned retail.
Drive New Business Development, including:
New vending formats and specialty concepts
New product or packaging-led business opportunities
Data-driven consumer-facing retail innovations
Strategic partnerships with external players (tech, retail, startups)
Incubate, pilot, and scale new business models, ensuring commercial viability and operational feasibility.
Support organizational transformation by shaping roles, capabilities, and operating models aligned with future retail strategy.
3. Leadership & People Development (20%)
Provide leadership, direction, and coaching across the Vending organization.
Build strong collaboration and alignment across cross-functional teams and external partners.
Foster a culture of accountability, agility, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Drive capability development to strengthen long-term organizational readiness and strategic execution.
Qualifications & Requirements
1. Functional & Technical
Proven experience in strategy, business management, commercial operations, innovation, or new business development within consumer goods, retail, or relevant industries.
(Experience in vending or unmanned retail is a plus but not mandatory.)
Strong analytical capability with the ability to link business outcomes to operational and consumer drivers.
Solid understanding of retail or channel operations (pricing, merchandising, assortment, location development).
Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional business review cycles, innovation initiatives, or transformation programs.
2. Leadership & Behavioral
Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.
Innovative mindset with the ability to incubate and commercialize new business ideas.
Collaborative leader with strong influence and stakeholder management skills.
Entrepreneurial, results-oriented, and adaptable to transformation.
Excellent communication skills in both Japanese and English.
3. Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
10+ years of experience in strategy, commercial leadership, innovation, or new business development roles.
Bilingual (English/Japanese) is a must
What We Can Do For You:
Career Development: The Coca-Cola Company offers a wide range of resources and programs to support your career development, including global learning programs and leadership development programs.
Innovation & Technology: The ability to work with an award-winning team that is on the cutting edge of innovation.
Learning Culture: Access to resources such as LinkedIn Learning and management programs that give you the resources to continually develop your skills and knowledge.
Skills:
Business Development, Business Planning, Collaborative Leadership, Communication, Consultative Sales Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Group Problem Solving, Influencing, Long Term Planning, Operational Assessment, Sales Forecasting, Sales Management, Sales Process, Solutions Selling, Waterfall ModelOur 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.