About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1892, it has grown into a “total beverage company” with a portfolio of more than 200 brands. In South Africa, the Coca-Cola system operates through two primary entities: Coca-Cola South Africa (Pty) Ltd, which manages brand marketing and concentrate production, and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), the primary bottling and distribution arm.

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) presents an exciting opportunity for a Sustainability Specialist in our Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability team.

Key Purpose:

• The Sustainability Specialist powers the business’s environmental momentum—driving bold initiatives that cut energy, water, waste, and carbon while accelerating our journey toward a cleaner, greener future. In this role, you ignite change across operations by leading high-impact programs, championing sustainable packaging solutions, and inspiring teams to embed responsible practices into everyday decisions. Through sharp data insights, hands-on project leadership, and strong partnerships with internal teams and external stakeholders, you fuel continuous improvement, amplify climate resilience, and help shape a sustainability culture that makes a real difference.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Key Outputs and Accountabilities include, but not limited to:

Sustainability Program Implementation

• Execute the company’s environmental sustainability strategy, focusing on energy, water, waste, and carbon reduction. aligned with global and local goals.
• Roll out site-specific waste minimization, segregation, and recycling programs across production and distribution operations.
• Conduct waste management training and awareness campaigns across operational teams to build a waste-conscious culture
• Execute packaging recovery and recycling initiatives, including partnerships with recyclers and community collection schemes.
• Collaborate with packaging teams to explore eco-design and sustainable packaging options.

Environmental Performance Monitoring, Waste Auditing & Analysis, & Regulatory Compliance

• Track and report key sustainability metrics (e.g., water use ratio, energy intensity, CO2 emissions).
• Conduct regular environmental audits and assessments to ensure compliance and identify improvement areas.
• Analyze waste data to track progress, identify trends, and adjust strategies for improvement.
• Ensure compliance with national waste management laws, EPR schemes, packaging waste regulations, and industry standards and and support external environmental and waste compliance audits.

Climate Resilience & Risk Management

• Support climate risk assessments and develop resilience strategies for production operations.
• Coordinate with global teams to ensure local initiatives align with international commitments.

Sustainability Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare sustainability reports in line with regulatory and voluntary frameworks (e.g., GRI, CDP).
• Ensure compliance with environmental laws and standards applicable to the beverage and FMCG sector.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work with supply chain, quality, and engineering teams to embed sustainable practices.
• Support training and awareness programs to build a sustainability mindset across the business.

Stakeholder & Partner Engagement

• Engage with government agencies, NGOs, and industry bodies on sustainability initiatives.
• Represent the company in sustainability forums and partnerships.

Skills, Experience & Education

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification in Sustainability Management, Environmental Engineering, or Climate Studies is an advantage.

Experience:

• 5–8 years’ experience in sustainability roles within FMCG, manufacturing, or beverage sectors.
• Proven track record in implementing resource efficiency, climate, or packaging sustainability initiatives.
• Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks and compliance requirements.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and environmental compliance standards.
• Proficient in sustainability reporting platforms and tools (e.g., CDP, GRI, TCFD).
• Skilled in data analysis and sustainability performance management.
• Solid understanding of waste auditing methodologies and waste hierarchy principles.
• Project management skills, including multi-site coordination.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); data visualization skills are an asset.