Senior Director, Vending Strategy & New Business Development

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.