Senior Director, International Government

Focus, Scope & Impact:

Washington, DC is the capital of the US, but also a global capital where foreign governments send their top diplomats to serve as ambassadors, and which houses the US government Executive Branch departments that engage foreign governments. Consequently, this role plays a critical role to ensure the system fully leverages company advocacy with the US government and foreign governmental officials posted in or passing through Washington, DC.

In partnership with the SVP of Global Policy & Sustainability, this role will coordinate with Operating Unit Public Affairs teams about how The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola System's engages on policy issues across ALL markets, except U.S. and Canada, with Washington, DC-based government officials (U.S. and foreign) across the spectrum of topics impacting the system and the communities in which we operate, including but not limited to:

• Economic/Fiscal Policy
• Health/nutrition/ingredient policy/regulation (labeling, marketing, et cetera)
• Environmental policy/regulation
• Trade issues
• Sustainability reporting

Working as part of the networked team coordinating across PACS, Technical (SRA & QSE), Finance, Corporate Tax, Marketing and Legal, this individual will:

Represent the company's 'FOR' positions with government officials (bilaterally and small group meetings. Support Operating Unit (OU) engagement in D.C., including Operating Unit Presidents. Ensure coordinated decision-making between Operating Unit outreach to the U.S. Government and the North America Operating Unit Develop US government advocacy that supports sustainable business growth, including our voluntary sustainability goals.

Some Examples include:

• Building alignment with foreign government representatives (ambassadors, embassy officials and visiting foreign ministers)
• Building US government advocacy to support non-discriminatory policy in international markets on
  
  
  • TAX: non-discriminatory fiscal policy
  • ENVIRONMENT: EPR schemes, rPET standards for use in Food & Beverage packaging, water-related policies
  • HEALTH: non-discriminatory nutrition labeling regulation, non-discriminatory marketing regulation, ingredient protection
  • TRADE: promote free and fair-trade approach consistent to support system business structure globally
  • SOCIAL: economic policy supporting foreign investment and growth
• Working with third parties, build coalitions so that the Coca-Cola system policy positions are influential in public debates.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government decision-makers at the national and regional levels in support of policy goals.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree is required; master's degree preferred
• 7-10 years' experience in public affairs in public, private or NGO sector; government experience is preferred
• Working understanding across multi-cultural, matrixed organization
• Developed stakeholder network
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to communicate complex issues to drive tangible business actions
• Ability to monitor, understand and anticipate government policy actions, while developing 'FOR' system positions that define the strategic direction for the business and public advocacy
• Lead communicator with BOTH convergent & divergent stakeholders (executive and legislative branches, as well as regulatory authorities), including building coalitions and influencing decision-makers
• Internal communicator to build consensus, ensure alignment and buy-in from key stakeholders.
• Hybrid Work Policy, 3-days in office
• Estimated Travel: 25%

Key Functional Skills:

• Understanding of government legislative and regulatory process and systems
• Coalition building & influencing, ability to find 'win-win' scenarios
• Curiosity about policy topics, and willingness to learn new areas
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal communications skills
• Strong ability to work agilely in different teams, both inside & outside of the system

Broad Expertise:

• Experience in developing public policy; comfort level with ambiguity and 'thick skin' in difficult relationships
• Experience with public advocacy campaigns
• Economic development, environmental policy, health/nutrition
• Negotiation
• Leadership role with demonstrated experience in driving agreement among different entities (public, private & civil society).

Skills:
Government Relations; Public Affairs; Government Affairs; Policy Development; Public Advocacy; Economic Development; Environmental Policy; Coalition Building; Government Regulation; Influencing

The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Client-provided location(s): Washington, DC

Job ID: cocacola-150854333

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-01-31T23:32:11