📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Director, Brand and Category Insights (Juice Portfolio)
🔹 Company: The Coca-Cola Company
🔹 Location: Chicago, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Branding
🔹 Date Posted: July 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the Juice Human Insights team and fostering talent development
- Co-creating the development of Category/Brand insights learning plan
- Partnering with Marketing to enable brand equity building
- Performing consumer trend analysis and other consumer analytics
- Driving innovation pipeline through opportunity identification and assessment
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively in a networked environment. The ideal candidate will have advanced knowledge of custom research techniques and a growth mindset.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the Juice Human Insights team and foster talent development
✅ Co-create development of Category/Brand insights learning plan with Category VP, global insights network, and marketing partners
✅ Partner with Marketing to enable brand equity building and consumer relationship building, recruitment, and loyalty
✅ Perform consumer trend analysis and other consumer analytics to deliver holistic answers to business questions
✅ Develop creative strategy insights to support business and creative briefs, early and late-stage creative development, consumer co-creation, evaluation, and testing
✅ Drive innovation pipeline through opportunity identification, concept development, and assessment, product and packaging development, early and late-stage consumer co-creation, evaluation, and testing
✅ Devise, manage, and deliver insights to support the launch of new NAOU brands, development of visual identity and local marketing campaigns, and support national selling stories and measurement of new product launches
✅ Develop shopper understanding and purchase journey associated with brands and categories in partnership with Commercial Human Insights team
✅ Apply cross-portfolio disciplines and frameworks (e.g., Brand Edge, MDF/Equity, Consumer Segmentation, Consumption Moments & Occasions)
✅ Partner within NAOU and global insights network to share insights, best practices, and learnings, capabilities development, and apply best practices from other OUs
✅ Partner with Platform Services to influence and optimize proprietary brand health and occasions tools, inform protocols related to creative shopper campaign measurement, and cross-portfolio activation and innovation
✅ Perform ad hoc research as needed (e.g., to support global campaigns, cross-functional efforts as required)
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong influencing and communication skills, comfort working in a networked environment, and the ability to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree in marketing, social sciences, or a business-related field
Experience: 10 or more years of leadership experience in consumer insight, market research/analysis, and/or shopper insights with preference for innovation and creative development experience
Required Skills:
- Mastery of market research techniques, holistic analysis, and business question resolution
- Expertise in leading insights and analytics workstreams in partnership with marketing or sales teams, leveraging both primary and secondary data sources
- Comfortable with both large amounts of data and qualitative insight, iterations with research and technology partners, and able to design effective and efficient insight programs to address business questions
- Able to conceptualize frameworks and research models for diverse marketing and consumer insights problems
- Must be collaborative in nature, comfortable both contributing to and utilizing insights, strategies, and activations around the network
- Expertise in managing agency partners and negotiations
Preferred Skills:
- 10 or more years of experience in custom research working for or with a Consumer-Packaged Goods manufacturer
- Master’s coursework or degree in social sciences or business-related fields is a plus
- Coca-Cola system and/or beverage category knowledge
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong aptitude for continuous learning and experience with innovative and cutting-edge research methodologies and analytics.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $189,000 - $217,000
Benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Retirement Plans
- Wellness Programs
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a Senior Director role in the Marketing & Branding field, with experience level and location considered.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Food and Beverage Services
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: 1886
Company Description:
- The Coca-Cola Company is one of the most globally-recognized brands in the world, with a portfolio of over 200 beverages, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, smartwater, Dasani, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Goldpeak, Minute Maid, Simply, fairlife, and more.
- The company is committed to bringing about real change, innovating its portfolio, working with global partners to transform its business, and providing jobs and opportunities to local economies.
- The Coca-Cola Company employs over 700,000 people throughout its global system alongside bottling partners.
Company Specialties:
Company Website: www.coca-colacompany.com
ASSUMPTION: The Coca-Cola Company is a well-established and globally recognized brand in the food and beverage industry, with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Director
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Category VP and works closely with the global insights network and marketing partners.
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional travel (00% - 25%)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to develop long-term strategy for key juice brands
- Opportunity to influence and optimize proprietary brand health and occasions tools
- Chance to work with global partners and apply best practices from other OUs
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a significant impact on the company's juice portfolio.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate headquarters
Office Location(s): Chicago, United States
Geographic Context:
- Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, with a diverse economy and a strong job market.
- The city is known for its vibrant cultural scene, world-class museums, and iconic architecture.
- Chicago has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, with occasional weekend or evening work as needed
ASSUMPTION: Chicago offers a dynamic work environment with a diverse range of cultural and recreational opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening
- On-site or virtual interview with hiring manager and team members
- Final round interview with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Collaboration and teamwork skills
- Expertise in market research techniques and data analysis
- Ability to work in a networked environment and balance multiple priorities
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of the company and the role in your cover letter
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team environment
- Be ready to discuss your experience with market research techniques and data analysis
ATS Keywords: Market research, consumer insights, brand equity, category insights, strategic planning, data analysis, team leadership, innovation, creative development
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, as well as their expertise in market research and data analysis.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Market research software and tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Python)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Collaboration and project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, Asana)
- Industry-specific research platforms (e.g., Nielsen, Kantar, Mintel)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with market research software and tools, data visualization tools, and industry-specific research platforms.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Leadership: The ability to inspire and influence others, driving meaningful change and taking ownership of the future
- Collaboration: Working together, building partnerships and embracing different perspectives to achieve common goals
- Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of what's possible to refresh the world and make a difference
- Accountability: Taking personal responsibility for delivering results and living up to our commitments
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on delivering results and driving growth
- Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional partnerships
- Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on using insights to inform decision-making
- Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to take on new challenges and learn new skills
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, and are you comfortable working with large amounts of data and qualitative insights?
- Are you able to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders, and do you have strong influencing and communication skills?
- Do you have experience with innovative and cutting-edge research methodologies and analytics, and are you comfortable working in a networked environment?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be a strong cultural fit for The Coca-Cola Company, with a growth mindset, a collaborative work style, and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines and competing priorities
- Balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders, including marketing partners, global insights network, and senior leadership
- Managing agency partners and negotiations, while ensuring the delivery of high-quality insights and analytics
- Occasional travel requirements, with up to 25% of time spent away from the office
- Working with large amounts of data and qualitative insights, requiring strong analytical skills and attention to detail
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and able to balance multiple priorities and stakeholders effectively.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on the juice portfolio and collaboration with the global insights network and marketing partners
- Compared to other Senior Director roles in the Marketing & Branding field, this role offers significant growth opportunities and the chance to work with a globally recognized brand
- Career path comparison: This role is a senior leadership position with potential for further advancement within the company or the broader beverage industry
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work with a globally recognized brand and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, with significant growth potential for the right candidate.
📝 Sample Projects
- Conducting a comprehensive brand equity audit for the juice portfolio, including consumer segmentation, brand positioning, and brand architecture
- Developing a consumer co-creation strategy to inform the launch of a new juice product, including consumer panels, focus groups, and in-home usage tests
- Creating a cross-portfolio activation plan to optimize brand health and occasions tools, including creative shopper campaign measurement and cross-portfolio innovation
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and opportunities available in this role, from brand equity building and consumer co-creation to cross-portfolio activation and innovation.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics of the Juice Human Insights team, and how this role fits within the broader Marketing organization?
- How does this role collaborate with the global insights network and marketing partners, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What are the most pressing challenges facing the juice portfolio, and how can this role help to address them?
- How does The Coca-Cola Company support the professional development and growth of its employees, and what opportunities are available for someone in this role?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role accommodate flexible working arrangements?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the company culture, and demonstrate your interest in the position.
📌 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 for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team environment
- Be ready to discuss your experience with market research techniques and data analysis
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
