Director, Earned Media

Location(s):

United States of AmericaCity/Cities:

AtlantaTravel Required:

00% - 25%Relocation Provided:

NoJob Posting End Date:

March 16, 2026Shift:

Join one of the world’s most iconic brands and help shape how Coca-Cola shows up in the news cycle. As Director, Media, you will lead on earned media execution, media relationship management and real-time reputation management for Coca-Cola in North America. You’ll uncover and elevate stories that matter - innovation, sustainability, community impact, and brand moments. We’re seeking a savvy, earned media leader who is quick, thoughtful, innovative, collaborative, calm under pressure, and adept at working across all media channels. This role is central to how Coca-Cola protects and grows trust, relevance, and credibility in a complex and fast-moving external environment.

What You’ll Do

• Build and manage relationships with journalists, outlets, and influencers; proactively pitch stories and manage inbound inquiries.
• Manage press operations: write/approve press materials (releases, talking points, advisories), manage media lists, and coordinate distribution.
• Operate with a newsroom mindset - prioritizing speed, accuracy, and judgment in fast-moving news cycles.
• Ensure Coca-Cola’s stories are built for today’s multimedia environment — partnering with teams to develop the right narratives, visuals, and assets, so our earned media performs across formats, platforms, and moments.
• Support development and execution of integrated media/communications plans aligned with North America and global strategies – working as part of our consumer and corporate PR teams. Partner closely with bottling partners to align media strategy, coordinate responses, and elevate systemwide stories.
• Prepare and coach executives/spokespeople for interviews, panels, and thought leadership opportunities.
• Guide a high performing team and agency partners; ensure asset governance and content quality.
• Monitor coverage and sentiment, track KPIs, analyze insights, and optimize in real time.
• Ensure every touchpoint reflects Coca-Cola's brand voice, narrative, and reputation standards; partner closely with social/digital, brand, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability (PACS), and bottling partners.
• Help anticipate reputational risks and shape proactive narratives before issues emerge; and support media strategy during sensitive, high risk, or rapidly evolving issues, working closely with the wider PACS team, Legal, and senior leadership.
• Build a real-time response system to monitor emerging cultural and social trends and conversation to identify opportunities and lead rapid-response efforts with Brand, Consumer and Corporate Communications.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging media trends, platforms, and technologies — continuously scanning the external landscape to identify new channels, formats, and opportunities, and translating insights into actionable strategies that keep Coca-Cola relevant, innovative, and culturally connected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or related field
• 10+ years in media relations and communications. Additional experience in digital/social news communications and global or complex matrix experience preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, pitching, and message development skills.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management across senior leaders and cross functional teams.
• Experience leading or directing agencies/vendors; comfort setting KPIs and holding partners accountable.
• Proven issues/crisis and rapid response experience in fast-moving news environments.
• Collaborative, network-oriented mindset; ability to work in an agile manner across teams and markets.
• Sound judgment and discretion when navigating sensitive topics, ambiguity, and competing perspectives in a highly visible brand environment.

What We Offer

• The platform and responsibility to steward an iconic global brand
• Access to worldclass leaders and best-in-class agency partners
• A creative, collaborative culture that rewards smart risk-taking and innovation
• A seat at the table during moments that matter most — helping shape how one of the world’s most recognized brands is understood, trusted, and discussed.

The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. Agency Relationships, Business Communications, Community Outreach, Copywriting, Data Analytics, Digital Communications, Digital Content, Executive Communications, Media Relations, Microsoft Office, Photography, Press Releases, Public Policies, Public Relations (PR), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media, Speech Writing, Strategic Communication Planning, Sustainability Communications, User Experience (UX), Video Editing, VideographyPay Range:

$163,800 - $189,000Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:

30Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.

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. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:30

Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.