📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Global Marketing Procurement: Media, Europe
🔹 Company: The Coca-Cola Company
🔹 Location: London, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 11, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (London or Dublin office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Overseeing strategic sourcing for European media projects
- Collaborating with European marketing organization, legal, commercial, and finance teams
- Managing $500m+ in annual direct marketing spend
- Negotiating commercial terms and ensuring agency performance
- Developing innovative sourcing approaches and managing relationships with senior management
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of industry-specific knowledge and experience, as well as strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the negotiation of commercial terms for the $500m+ media spend in Europe
✅ Ensure agency performance through management routines and third-party validation of media plan delivery
✅ Develop and lead innovative sourcing approaches, using analytics to determine scenarios, benefits, risks, and change management impacts
✅ Collaborate with the IMX team to assess measurement criteria for media inventory and campaign effectiveness
✅ Align with stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes and contribute to best-in-class remuneration and ROI models
✅ Analyze industry trends and evolving technology to proactively identify and mitigate supply risks, ensure supply continuity, and capitalize on emerging opportunities
✅ Build a central best practice information suite, benchmarking, and cost modeling approach while supporting continuous learning
✅ Achieve company targets on savings, cash flow, sustainability, and people performance
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong project management skills to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred)
Experience: 10+ years of total business experience with specific and deep knowledge of the media marketplace in Europe
Required Skills:
- Expertise in media agencies, digital media platforms, ecommerce, retailer media, 3rd party data, media benchmarking, digital supply chain, and associated services
- Ability to interpret, understand, and develop contractual language
- Knowledge of the external environment and ability to offer a broad perspective that extends beyond a particular functional discipline
- Ability to work as part of a virtual global team to collaborate across geographic and organizational boundaries
- Knowledge of sources for competitive analysis, including supplier and industry data to build competitive intelligence
Preferred Skills:
- Fluency in additional European languages
- Experience working in a multinational corporation
ASSUMPTION: Given the seniority and strategic nature of this role, a strong track record in media procurement and stakeholder management is essential.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £120,000 - £160,000 per annum (Estimated based on industry standards for a senior role in London)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement savings plan with company match
- Paid time off and flexible work arrangements
- Employee discounts on Coca-Cola products and services
Working Hours: Full-time, hybrid work schedule (2-3 days per week in the office)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in London. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Coca-Cola Company operates in the Food and Beverage Services industry, with a focus on non-alcoholic beverages. The company is a total beverage company, offering a wide range of sparkling soft drinks, water, sports, coffee, tea, juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverage brands.
Company Size: The Coca-Cola Company has over 10,000 employees worldwide, making it a large corporation with a global presence.
Founded: The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Company Description:
- The Coca-Cola Company is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. The company's purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference.
- The company's portfolio includes sparkling soft drink brands such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta, as well as water, sports, coffee, tea, juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverage brands.
- The company seeks to positively impact people's lives, communities, and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices, and carbon emissions reductions across its value chain.
Company Specialties:
Company Website: www.coca-colacompany.com
ASSUMPTION: The Coca-Cola Company is a well-established and respected brand in the beverage industry, with a strong global presence and a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level, individual contributor role
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Senior Director, Global Marketing Procurement Media
Work Arrangement: Hybrid work schedule (2-3 days per week in the office)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the role's scope and impact based on performance and business needs
- Opportunities to work on international projects and collaborate with multicultural teams
- Access to educational platforms, coaching, mentoring, and feedback through the company's Leadership & Development process
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential and the opportunity to make a substantial impact on the company's European marketing strategies.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid work environment (London or Dublin office)
Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global city with a thriving business ecosystem
- The city offers a multicultural environment and a high quality of life
- London is well-connected by public transportation, making it easy to commute to the office
Work Schedule: Full-time, hybrid work schedule (2-3 days per week in the office)
ASSUMPTION: Working in London offers a dynamic and multicultural work environment, with easy access to international travel and business opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR department
- In-depth interviews with the hiring manager and other team members
- Final interview with the senior director or another senior leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Industry knowledge and experience
- Negotiation and stakeholder management skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Cultural fit and alignment with company values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with media procurement, agency management, and stakeholder collaboration
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding of the business and the industry
ATS Keywords: Media procurement, agency management, stakeholder collaboration, strategic sourcing, marketing spend, Europe, hybrid work, London
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be comprehensive and competitive, with a strong focus on industry knowledge and experience.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Media planning and buying software (e.g., Nielsen, Kantar, comScore)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the company's internal systems and processes.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Leadership: Inspire and empower others to be their best
- Collaboration: Work together to achieve common goals
- Integrity: Act with honesty and integrity in all that we do
- Quality: Deliver high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations
- Imagination: Dream big and never stop learning
Work Style:
- Dynamic and fast-paced work environment
- Collaborative and team-oriented culture
- Focus on continuous learning and improvement
- Strong emphasis on results and performance
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with the company's values, particularly 'Leadership' and 'Collaboration'?
- How do you approach working in a hybrid work environment, balancing remote and on-site work?
- How do you ensure high-quality results and maintain a strong work ethic in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment?
ASSUMPTION: The Coca-Cola Company values a diverse and inclusive work environment, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, integrity, and continuous learning.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a large annual marketing spend and ensuring optimal ROI
- Navigating a complex and evolving media landscape
- Balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders, including marketing, legal, commercial, and finance teams
- Adapting to a hybrid work environment and maintaining productivity
ASSUMPTION: This role presents significant challenges and opportunities, requiring strong negotiation, stakeholder management, and strategic thinking skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other senior media procurement roles, this position offers a broader scope and a larger marketing spend to manage
- In the beverage industry, this role is unique in its focus on European media projects and collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders
- Career progression in this role may lead to global leadership positions within the company's marketing procurement organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of strategic sourcing, stakeholder management, and international collaboration, setting it apart from similar positions in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Negotiating a multi-million dollar media contract with a global agency, ensuring optimal ROI and alignment with business objectives
- Developing and implementing a strategic sourcing approach for a specific media channel, driving significant cost savings and improved performance
- Collaborating with the IMX team to assess the effectiveness of a major marketing campaign, optimizing media inventory and allocation based on data-driven insights
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and cross-functional nature of the role, requiring strong analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current media procurement strategies and how this role will contribute to their evolution?
- How does this role collaborate with the European marketing organization, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the media landscape in Europe, and how can this role address them?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its employees in this role?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, particularly in a hybrid work environment?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role, the company, and the industry, enabling you to make an informed decision about your application.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills, particularly in media procurement, agency management, and stakeholder collaboration
- Prepare for interviews by researching the company, the role, and the industry, and practicing your responses to common interview questions
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR department after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
