Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs - ANZ, PI, PNG, and Base & Balance Market

Job Description Summary:

Geographies responsible: Base & Balance + ANZ, PI and PNG

Reports to: Senior Director, Science and Regulatory Affairs, Asean & South Pacific Operating Unit

location: Singapore

At The Coca‑Cola Company, our success is built on the strength of our global system, the power of our iconic brands, and a relentless focus on execution excellence at the local level. We operate at the intersection of innovation, scale, and partnership, working closely with our bottling partners to bring beverages to life for millions of consumers every day. As we continue to evolve our portfolio and strengthen supply chain resilience across markets, technical leadership and commercialization capability are critical to delivering sustainable growth.

The SRA Director leads the scientific and regulatory strategy for designated Base and Balanced markets, driving an enabling regulatory environment across multiple geographies while executing local advocacy strategies aligned with global and Operating Unit priorities. The role ensures full compliance of ingredients, products, packaging, labeling, and marketing communications with local regulations and TCCC policies across markets such Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Island, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Brunei. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Director navigates diverse regulatory maturities and stakeholder expectations while staying aligned with global SRA frameworks and OU leadership. The position represents the Company in industry organizations and regulatory forums, anticipates and mitigates scientific and regulatory risks, and supports innovation and commercialization. Through close collaboration with cross‑functional teams and bottling partners, and active engagement with regulatory authorities, the Director provides critical guidance to enable timely product registration and launches, while also leading complex projects, people, and additional responsibilities as required.

What You’ll Do for Us

Create and sustain an enabling regulatory environment (strategic advocacy) 

• Strategize 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. 

• Protect TCCC trade secrets, including formulation and flavor information, in engagements with authorities and third parties. 

• Drive the execution of a digitization and process efficiency roadmap for regulatory compliance systems and tools, including internal capabilities and third party/bottler support. 

• Provide scientific and regulatory leadership to enable innovation, claims development, and compliant commercialization across markets. 

• Act as the key regulatory advisor on issues related to nutrition, labeling, ingredient approvals, and packaging. 

• Provide expert support on Crisis Management (IMCR). 

• Oversee regulatory approvals using Company tools and systems (e.g., Picasso, CCAP). 

• Engage directly with regulatory authorities to facilitate timely registrations and approvals for new product and packaging launches. 

Networked organization 

• Provide direct people leadership for relevant team members, fostering capability building, accountability, and strong performance outcomes. 

• Operate effectively within a matrixed, multi‑market environment, balancing autonomy with regional and global alignment. 

• Build, maintain, and leverage strong relationships with government agencies, NGOs, academic experts, 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, translating insights into actionable business strategies. 

• Work closely with TI&SC, Marketing, Legal, PACS, and other cross‑functional stakeholders to align internal and external messaging and execution. 

Requirements & Qualifications

• 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 in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Island, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Brunei.  

• Proven ability to operate independently across geographies, adapt to different regulatory environments, and manage complexity and ambiguity. 

• Experience in people leadership, mentoring, and developing teams in a regional or matrixed organization. 

• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills. 

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in regional languages is an advantage. 

Skills:

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Relocation Provided:

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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.