Director, Sprite - Australia

Director, Sprite - Australia 

Reports to: Senior Director, Sparkling Flavors - Australia 

Location: Sydney, Australia 

Job Summary: 

ASP OU Marketing is undergoing a step-change to deliver more balanced, sustainable growth, powered by deeper consumer intimacy, stronger integration, accelerated innovation, and data- and tech-enabled precision marketing. The organization is designed to combine local relevance with scale, shift data and technology from experimentation to competitive advantage, and operate with clear accountability for impact and ROI. All roles operate within a tightly integrated OU–Market model, where the OU elevates and enables strategic growth + OU-wide platforms while markets integrate, execute, and track performance with speed and rigor while developing local content, partnership and experiences.  

Focus, Scope, & Impact: 

This individual contributor role will act as the Brand Director to drive the local strategy, execution, and in-market growth of Sprite in Australia —translating global and category priorities into impactful, locally relevant programs. Owns brand growth, equity, and market share, inspiring the team and influencing across stakeholders through vision and results. 
 

Global Brands – working in partnership with OU Category/Brand Leads, local Franchise Ops teams and bottling partners: 

• Leads the end-to-end strategy, business planning, and in-market execution for a flagship brand, portfolio, or defined segment within the country 

• Owns local annual and multi-year brand growth, brand equity, and market share targets, delivering against Brand Business and Financial Objectives. 

• Translates and tailors global/category strategies, brand playbooks, campaigns, and innovation launches into country-specific plans, ensuring each activation resonates with local consumer and market realities. 

• Oversees the development and integration of all brand marketing levers—IMX campaigns, innovation, digital, shopper/trade, channel, and pricing-pack activities—so that initiatives are holistically designed for country success. 

• Leads execution and drives internal business planning, allocates brand resources, monitors budget adherence, and conducts post-evaluation, identifying performance risks and leading course-correction for optimal results. Works closely with cross-functional teams and external agencies to develop and execute retail marketing programs. Manages timelines, monitor KPIs, and ensure alignment with business objectives 

• Champions local consumer/shopper insights, using market data and trends to recommend new opportunities, innovations, and portfolio strategies to country, OU, and category leads. 

• Builds and sustains strong partnerships with bottling system counterparts, commercial teams, agencies, and key customers to maximize marketplace impact and drive brand visibility. 

• Develop Talent: Coach and develop the team by nurturing their professional growth and participating in the selection and onboarding process for new marketing associates, fostering a learning/growth culture 

Experience & Critical Requirements: 

• 8-12+ years’ experience in marketing/brand/portfolio or commercial leadership, preferably in flagship brand roles within FMCG or Beverage. 

• Proven track record in leading E2E campaign and innovation management from insight to business case, launch and post-evaluation. 

• Experience leading (directly or indirectly) teams or project squads; consistently provides clear direction, development, and performance feedback. 

• Deep understanding of how to drive brand profitability, effective resource management, DME management and financial analysis to achieve growth. 

• Own end-to-end local brand and innovation plans, including flywheel execution, performance tracking, and course correction, in collaboration with Operations and bottlers. 

• Drive system-wide alignment and oversee the execution of national, regional, channel, and customer-specific campaigns across X country. 

• Skilled collaborator in cross-functional teams, partnering effectively with commercial, insights, digital, finance, and external agencies or bottler organizations.  

• Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills—able to turn consumer/shopper/market insight into actionable plans and measurable results. 

• Action-oriented with the ability to think and react quickly to changing circumstances. 

• Strong sense of urgency, even when managing initiatives with long lead times, adaptability, and flexibility to meet changing priorities and adjust to different management styles. 

• Experience operating effectively within matrixed, system-based organizations 

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and influencing skills 

Communication focus:  

• Acts as the primary “voice of the brand” in-country, representing the brand both internally and externally. 

• Maintains regular, structured engagement with OU/category teams to align on brand execution, share local insights, and help co-develop future campaign and innovation toolkits for the broader system. 

• Builds strong working relationships with bottlers, customers, agencies, and senior internal stakeholders to maximize business and brand impact in market. 

• Effectively communicates brand results, needs, and market-led recommendations to leadership—helping shape the direction of brand and category for the country and beyond. 

• Inspires and motivates cross-functional teams and business partners, rallying them behind the brand’s local vision and objectives. 

• Builds an inclusive and high-performance team culture through regular feedback, guidance, and mentoring of junior staff.