At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of Coca-Cola's Away From Home business with innovative strategies and insights.
- Company: Join Coca-Cola, a diverse and inclusive employer committed to making a difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, growth opportunities, and a culture that values continuous learning.
- Other info: Be part of a thriving company with over 130 years of success and a focus on inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while driving strategic initiatives.
- Qualifications: Strong retail channel expertise and leadership skills in data-driven decision-making.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
This job is with Coca-Cola, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.
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.
The AFH Commercial & Operations Lead is the enterprise co-ordinator responsible for transforming and accelerating the Away From Home business in the market through a unified, insight‑driven, and execution‑focused system approach. This role executes the end‑to‑end AFH strategic agenda and ensures the Company and the bottler operate against a single, fully aligned 360 Integrated Activation (360IA) plan that drives availability, incidence, outlet penetration, equipment productivity, and profitable growth across all AFH segments.
A core part of the mandate is leading commercial execution excellence, accelerating the AFH system capabilities to predictive, insight-led, and value-driven models that materially improve availability, incidence, and cooler performance. This role also leads the development of a customer segmented equipment strategy for AFH and partners with bottlers to ensure disciplined systemwide implementation.
The Lead is fully accountable for owning AFH channel performance, jointly setting and governing system KBIs, and leading mitigation and acceleration actions to meet BP volume, revenue, and share targets. As the orchestrator of the AFH system reporting into the Senior Director, the Lead integrates data, analytics, and AI across planning, execution, and performance routines-driving a modern, consistent, and future ready operating model that unlocks sustainable growth across the AFH ecosystem.
What You'll Do for Us
- Drive AFH Strategy, 360IA & System Alignment
- Input the creation of ABP and long range AFH strategies, translating them into integrated roadmaps that connect portfolio, RGM, media, equipment, RTM, and in outlet activation across all AFH segments.
- Lead high impact strategic initiatives, including RTM design, recruitment channel expansion, category development, omnichannel execution, and data driven customer planning tailored for the AFH ecosystem.
- Act as the senior system integrator and influencer, aligning GM, Marketing, RGM, Finance, Digital, bottler, and key customers behind a unified AFH growth agenda.
- Drive AFH Commercial Execution Excellence
- Lead commercial execution excellence for the AFH business in the market, accelerating system capabilities to predictive, insight-led, and value-driven models to grow availability, incidence, and Coolers/10k performance.
- Lead the development of a segmented equipment (cooler, vending, fountain and others) strategy, ensuring systemwide implementation with bottlers to maximize coverage, productivity, and outlet penetration.
- Embed RGM, financial modelling, and scenario planning into AFH decisions to optimize price pack architecture, customer profitability, and margin delivery.
- Track AFH Channel Performance & System KPIs
- Own system AFH channel performance, jointly setting and monitoring system performance KBIs and leading mitigation and acceleration actions to deliver BP volume, revenue, and share targets.
- Govern AFH performance routines, ensuring they are insight driven, action oriented, and forward looking rather than reporting led.
- Maintain a predictive view of the competitive, channel, and regulatory environment using data and insights to proactively shape system responses.
- Lead Data, Digital & AI Enabled Transformation
- Embed data, analytics, and AI across the AFH operating model, improving forecasting, outlet segmentation, equipment deployment, activation effectiveness, and execution quality.
- Leverage advanced analytics and AI to identify incremental revenue, margin, and execution opportunities across brands, packs, consumption occasions, and customer types.
- Champion a test-learn-scale culture, accelerating adoption of digital tools and analytics across the Company-bottler AFH system.
Experience & Capabilities
- Strong retail channel expertise, AFH preferred, with deep understanding of customer needs, RTM models, and execution levers. Skills developed on either the supplier or buyer side.
- Robust commercial, RGM, and financial skills, with experience using modelling and scenario planning to drive profitable, insight‑led decisions.
- Proven leadership in data‑, digital‑ and AI‑enabled transformation, embedding predictive analytics and digital tools into AFH planning, execution, and performance management.
- Demonstrated system leadership, influencing senior stakeholders across Company, bottler, and customer organizations to drive integrated end‑to‑end execution.
- Strategic and execution‑focused leader, able to translate strategy into predictable, high‑quality in‑market delivery.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management, with strong executive presence.
- In‑market experience preferred; franchise system or matrix leadership experience is beneficial.
Travel
Up to 25%.
Location(s): United Kingdom
City/Cities: London
Travel Required: 00% - 25%
Relocation Provided: No
Job Posting End Date: July 29, 2026
AFH Commercial and Operations Lead employer: Coca-cola
Coca-Cola is an exceptional employer that champions inclusivity and continuous learning, fostering a vibrant work culture where employees are empowered to innovate and grow. With a strong focus on collaboration and strategic alignment, particularly in the dynamic London market, employees benefit from competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional development within a globally recognised brand. Join us to be part of a purpose-driven team that values curiosity, agility, and making a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AFH Commercial and Operations Lead
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
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✨Engage in Professional Networks
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We think you need these skills to ace AFH Commercial and Operations Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to Coca-cola.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Coca-cola. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Coca-cola
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Coca-cola, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Coca-cola, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Coca-cola could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at Coca-cola as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
