Director, Equipment Compliance

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Travel: 20-40% (collaboration with OEM partners and suppliers, testing and deployment sites, 3rd party equipment partners) 

Reports To: Regulatory, Compliance & QA Lead 

Role Summary: 

The Director, Equipment Compliance is a highly visible technical leadership role within the regulatory, compliance, and quality assurance function, responsible for ensuring all Coca-Cola equipment platforms meet global standards for safety, quality, energy efficiency, and operational compliance, with a primary focus on the North America market while also advising and collaborating on global equipment initiatives. This position oversees compliance across a wide range of equipment categories—including legacy fountain dispensers, coolers, vending machines, frozen beverage equipment, microdosing technologies, juicers, and digitally connected platforms. 

As a director-level role, this position is responsible for ensuring the operational implementation of compliance strategies by managing end-to-end equipment validation and certification processes, supporting commercialization efforts, and leading complex cross-functional initiatives. Success in this role is measured by metrics such as reduced certification timelines, enhanced equipment readiness, and improved product reliability. 

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in regulatory compliance, certification processes, Quality Assurance standards, risk mitigation, and technical documentation, along with proficiency in all aspects of engineering—including mechanical, fluidics, electrical, software, and data analytics. This person will lead engagements with cross-functional teams, external partners (e.g., OEM/JDM suppliers), and internal stakeholders (e.g., Dispensed Platform Team, Packaged Platform Teams, Digital Teams) to deliver compliant, high-performing equipment systems that align with Coca-Cola’s business and customer needs. 

Compliance Strategy and Certification Leadership

• Oversee and lead initiatives to ensure compliance with global safety, energy, and operational certification standards across all Coca-Cola equipment platforms in North America while advising on global projects 

• Steamline the certification process by standardizing procedures and mitigating risks, reducing certification timelines by 20% 

• Partner with OEM/JDM suppliers, ensuring adherence to Coca-Cola’s KORE standards and regulatory requirements, and align compliance efforts with commerci 

• Serve as an expert advisor on regulatory requirements, guiding shift strategies based on evolving compliance regulations and initiatives to ensure proactive risk management 

• Coordinate system-wide readiness for compliance with legislation and regulatory requirements, such as in response to state or regional mandates 

Equipment Readiness and Commercialization Support

• Lead cross-platform evaluations of equipment readiness, integrating mechanical, electrical, fluidics, and connected data systems to ensure performance, serviceability, and beverage quality 

• Support product development and deployment efforts by validating equipment suitability for system-wide deployment and customer needs, tying business requirements to technical authorization and validation processes 

• Manage and oversee the field testing and operational integration of new equipment systems, flagging and resolving design or operational inconsistencies during the rollout process 

• Collaborate with supply chain teams, procurement and external partners to solve manufacturability or design challenges related to new product introduction (NPI) 

• Drive value by aligning equipment commercialization projects with business objectives, such as cost control and total cost-of-ownership (TCO) benefits 

Quality Assurance & Risk Mitigation

• Develop, implement, and oversee QA guidelines that span all equipment platforms, ensuring consistency in quality assurance practices and delivering reliaCrossbility improvements across all systems 

• Advise on technical or operational risks during the product lifecycle, connecting bottlers, operations teams, and external suppliers to resolve compliance, safety, or reliability issues 

• Utilize advanced analytics and IoT-enabled tools to identify problem areas, drive continuous improvement, and guide proactive quality initiatives 

• Contribute to a culture of quality ownership across the Coca-Cola system by setting a model for communication, collaboration, and accountability 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain and guide the development of KORE technical documentation, system testing criteria, and certification standards to ensure clarity, enforcement, and continuous improvement 

• Drive strategic initiatives to create awareness and communicate the technical value of the Compliance Engineering team in enabling business success 

Skills & Competence 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline. 

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in compliance engineering, regulatory certification, or equipment quality assurance roles, preferably in the consumer packaged goods Consumer Product Goods (CPG) industry or related fields 

• Proven track record leading cross-functional certification and NPI initiatives across diverse equipment platforms, including legacy fountain systems, coolers, vending machines, and digitally connected equipment 

• Experience managing supplier relationships (OEM/JDM) to achieve alignment between technical compliance and business objectives 

• Strong knowledge of engineering systems, spanning mechanical, fluidics, electrical, software, and IoT analytics 

Preferred: 

• Advanced degree in Engineering or MBA, with certifications in compliance testing, IoT systems, or quality assurance 

• Familiarity with mechanical, electrical, connected systems (IoT), data analytics, and compliance protocols 

• Familiarity with the foodservice or beverage industry 

• Experience in field support operations and serviceability best practices across legacy fountain, coolers and vending  

• Engineering development of new technology components or systems, especially with legacy dispensers, coolers and/or vending machines 

Leadership Competencies: 

• Strategic Compliance Leader: Ensures all technical and regulatory challenges are resolved with a proactive, forward-thinking approach that balances quality and business priorities 

• Collaborative Problem-Solver: Excels in bringing together cross-functional teams to address operational and compliance challenges 

• Operational Innovator: Leverages analytics and advanced tools to improve compliance workflows, certification efficiency, and product performance 

• Business Liaison: Aligns technical initiatives with commercial and operational objectives, ensuring a balance between compliance, cost efficiency, and long-term product sustainability 

• Quality Advocate: Champions a culture of reliability, accountability, and continuous improvement in all aspects of the product lifecycle 

What We Can Do For You 

• Iconic & Innovative Brands: Our portfolio represents over 250 products with some of the most popular brands in the world, including Coca-Cola, Simply, Fairlife & Topo Chico. 

• Expansive & Diverse Customers: We work with a diversified group of customers which range from retail & grocery outlets, theme parks, movie theatres, restaurants, and many more each day.