Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) - Base & Balanced markets & Indonesia

Job Description Summary:

Function: Technical, Innovation & Supply Chain (TI&SC)

Reports to: Senior Director, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs (SRA) - ASEAN & South Pacific (ASP) Operating Unit (OU)

Main Purpose: Focus, Scope & Impact

• The SRA Director leads the scientific and regulatory agenda across assigned region of Indonesia and Base and Balanced markets, with direct, hands-on end-to-end SRA responsibility for Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei, and strategic oversight for Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia through direct reports.
• For Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei, the Director is personally accountable for end-to-end SRA execution, including regulatory compliance, formula and ingredient assessment and approvals, product registrations, labels, claims, packaging, food contact materials, promotional materials and marketing communications, innovation enablement, regulatory advocacy, and engagement with regulatory authorities and relevant external stakeholders.
• Across Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, the Director leads a team of two providing scientific and regulatory oversight and support where necessary, working closely with the respective market SRA team members to support regulatory priorities, innovation, advocacy, emerging risks and business-critical issues. The Director is expected to provide appropriate direction and guidance, while engaging more directly on priority regulatory activities, complex issues and key business needs as required.
• The role requires a high degree of independence, flexibility and adaptability, combining hands-on regulatory execution with multi-market leadership across markets with varying levels of regulatory maturity, stakeholder expectations and business complexity.
• The SRA Director takes a leadership role within relevant local and regional industry organizations, trade associations and regulatory forums to advance the Company’s scientific and regulatory agenda. This includes anticipating scientific and regulatory headwinds, developing actionable mitigation and advocacy strategies, influencing business decisions, and enabling innovation and commercialization.
• The role partners closely with Marketing, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS), Legal, R&D, TI&SC and Bottling Partners, translating scientific and regulatory requirements into practical business solutions and providing guidance on new product concepts, ingredients, formulas, claims, labels and packaging.
• The SRA Director is accountable for leading complex projects and people within scope and may be required to perform additional duties as assigned by the ASP OU SRA Senior Director (i.e. line manager), based on business needs.

Accountabilities:

Create and sustain an enabling regulatory environment (strategic advocacy)

• Strategise and lead regulatory advocacy across Base and Balanced markets to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers and enable innovation in line with the Company’s “Total Beverage” strategy.
• Develop and execute short-, mid-, and long-term advocacy strategies and roadmaps grounded in credible local insights and regional priorities.
• Establish regulatory strategies to secure government approvals and alignment with international standards (e.g., Codex) for new ingredients, products, labels, and packaging.
• Identify, assess, and proactively manage regulatory risks, emerging trends, and headwinds impacting ingredients, products, packaging, claims, and brand reputation.
• Implement globally aligned strategies while tailoring market-specific advocacy approaches to address differing regulatory maturity levels across markets.
• Proactively partner with Marketing, PACS, and Legal to protect and strengthen the Company’s reputation and credibility.
• Lead and actively engage with industry and trade associations, food standards bodies, and relevant external platforms to advocate Company positions and enable sustainable growth.
• Where appropriate, represent the Company at local, regional, and international regulatory or standards-setting bodies.

Protect and enable our license to operate (Compliance, Functional Excellence & Innovation Enablement)

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable local regulations and TCCC policies for ingredients, formulas, products, labels, packaging, food contact materials, promotions, and communications.
• Directly own and execute end-to-end regulatory activities for Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei, including formula and ingredient assessment, product registrations, labels, claims, packaging, regulatory submissions and approvals.
• Provide scientific and regulatory oversight and hands-on support across Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, working with market SRA team members to enable effective regulatory execution and support priority business needs.
• Provide scientific and regulatory leadership to enable innovation, renovation, claims development and compliant commercialization, identifying regulatory pathways and practical solutions that support business objectives.
• Partner with market SRA team members on priority regulatory activities and engage directly, as appropriate, on complex regulatory matters, innovation and product approvals, advocacy and other business-critical issues.
• Act as a key regulatory advisor on issues related to nutrition, labeling, ingredients, formulations, claims and packaging.
• Protect TCCC trade secrets, including formulation and flavor information, in engagements with authorities and third parties.
• Drive execution of digitization and process-efficiency initiatives for regulatory compliance systems and tools, including internal capabilities and third-party/bottler support.
• Oversee regulatory approvals using Company tools and systems (e.g., Picasso, CCAP).
• Engage with regulatory authorities and relevant external stakeholders to facilitate timely registrations, approvals and resolution of regulatory issues.
• Provide expert support on Crisis Management (IMCR).

Networked organization

• Provide direct people leadership for two SRA team members covering Vietnam/Cambodia and Indonesia, including objective setting, prioritization, coaching, capability development, performance management and career development.
• Provide clear strategic and functional direction while empowering market SRA team members to operate with appropriate autonomy and accountability.
• Build connectivity across assigned markets, promoting consistent functional standards, sharing of best practices and effective deployment of regional and global SRA strategies.
• Operate effectively within a matrixed, multi-market environment, balancing direct market execution with people leadership and broader multi-market responsibilities.
• Build, maintain and leverage strong relationships with government agencies, NGOs, academic experts, Bottling Partners, trade associations and industry stakeholders across assigned markets.
• Maintain a robust internal and external SRA network to stay ahead of regulatory developments and emerging scientific issues.
• Proactively inform Operating Unit and country leadership of emerging regulatory and scientific risks and opportunities, translating insights into clear business implications and actionable strategies.
• Work closely with TI&SC, Marketing, Legal, PACS, R&D and other cross-functional stakeholders to align internal and external messaging and execution.

Key Skills/Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Chemistry, Food Science, Nutrition or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in scientific and regulatory affairs, including:
• 5+ years in regional or multi-market SRA roles.
• 5+ years in food & beverage, government or related industries.
• Demonstrated success in regulatory advocacy, strategic influence and leadership within external organizations, committees or industry bodies.
• Strong working knowledge of food and beverage regulations across Southeast Asian markets, with particular experience relevant to Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
• Proven ability to combine hands-on regulatory execution with multi-market leadership, operating independently in directly managed markets while effectively leading and supporting regulatory outcomes through team members across other markets.
• Demonstrated ability to identify regulatory pathways and practical solutions that enable innovation and commercialization while protecting compliance and the Company’s license to operate.
• Experience in people leadership, mentoring, coaching and developing teams within a regional or matrixed organization.
• Proven ability to operate independently across geographies, adapt to different regulatory environments and manage complexity and ambiguity.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate scientific and regulatory issues into business implications, risks, opportunities and actionable recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, influencing and communication skills.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in regional languages is an advantage.

Skills:

Location(s):

City/Cities:

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

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.