Overview
The Corporate Affairs Lead PO1 – West Africa is a pivotal leadership position tasked with safeguarding and elevating PepsiCo’s license to operate in a dynamic, high-growth region. Serving as both a Strategic Business Partner and a Protector for the Foods and Beverages divisions, this role engages with internal and external C-Suite stakeholders to ensure a unified and cohesive organizational voice across varied commercial frameworks.
Key strategic priorities encompass enhancing market position, driving innovation, and fostering sustainable growth through deliberate planning and execution. Priorities also involve optimizing operational efficiency, strengthening customer relationships, and cultivating a high-performing organizational culture. Additionally, the role demands a focus on developing long-term partnerships, leveraging data-driven insights, and ensuring alignment with overarching business objectives.
One PepsiCo Stewardship encompasses navigating a multifaceted environment, partnering with established collaborators such as Seven-Up Bottling Co in Nigeria and new beverage initiatives through the Castle Group in Angola, while also advancing Foods operations.
This role distinguishes itself from conventional Chief Accountant positions by encompassing responsibilities across LPGA, Communications, Brand PR, and a broad Social Impact/ESG mandate—including partnerships with organizations such as Water Aid and Pepsi Stars.
Commercial Protection: Ensuring the company’s financial performance by effectively addressing non-consultative regulatory changes, such as the Sugar Tax and Plastic Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while also obtaining essential permits.
Strategic Positioning: Transitioning PepsiCo from its traditional manufacturing role to a “Partner for Growth” by advancing the pep+ sustainability agenda and overseeing high-stakes crisis communications. These capabilities are especially vital in the Western region of Africa, where we regularly encounter a diverse range of challenges. Local expertise, deep industry understanding, and multilingual proficiency stand as essential competencies for this role.
We are the sole provider of dedicated Corporate Affairs support in West Africa, except one Bottler in IOC.
With a blend of established bottling collaborations, including those with the Seven Up Bottling Company in Nigeria, as well as emerging partnerships such as the Castle Group in Angola within the beverages sector, alongside growth in the Foods division, this position plays a pivotal role in maintaining a unified “One PepsiCo” approach across both segments.
The CA PO1 Lead fosters relationships with government officials, policymakers, and external stakeholders to champion the organization’s perspectives on public policy and operational challenges. This role supports policymakers and legislators by contributing to the refinement or establishment of improved policies and legislation while facilitating access to necessary permits and exemptions when required.
The CA Lead PO1 will oversee all Corporate Affairs functions throughout the organization, encompassing operational oversight, external stakeholder relations, strategic guidance, corporate positioning, and proactive reputation management within the market.
This position encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities, including policy and regulatory oversight and enforcement, Corporate Reputation management and strategic positioning, as well as providing guidance and advisory services on agricultural program implementation. Additionally, the role involves active engagement with industry associations and high-level stakeholders, brand activation, media relations, and the development of policy and positioning strategies. It also entails leading internal and external communication efforts, overseeing Brand PR initiatives, and driving social impact initiatives.
Successfully navigating the intricate business environments of Nigeria, Francophone Africa, and Lusophone Africa presents considerable complexity, necessitating careful evaluation of this role’s requirements.
To succeed in this role, you must demonstrate the capacity to effectively advocate for the organization at senior executive levels within the company and engage high-level government officials, such as the Prime Minister, the Presidency, and Cabinet Ministers.
Nigeria, Morocco, and Angola continue to serve as key markets for both the Africa Franchise under International Beverages and Nigeria Foods (MENA PAK OU), necessitating focused support to drive business expansion from both a Corporate Affairs and Social Impact and Corporate Reputation perspective.
The PO1 position currently oversees operations across six FBO markets, one COST market, and one FASO market, with the potential for further expansion.
The region presents significant operational complexities, marked by linguistic, cultural, and ethnic diversity that demands tailored approaches to communication and engagement. Frequent and substantial political shifts further necessitate continuous, on-the-ground awareness and adaptability.
As we broaden our presence within the Foods and Beverages sector, securing endorsement from pivotal stakeholders and influential opinion leaders will be essential. To achieve this, we must bolster our Corporate Affairs team by integrating a dedicated professional at a strategic level.
The company’s growth into new market segments, including alcoholic beverages, will necessitate an expanded scope of responsibilities within this position.
The rapid and often non-consultative pace at which regulations are implemented introduces substantial risk to our operations and long-term viability. This necessitates a highly skilled professional who possesses a keen understanding of geopolitical trends, local political landscapes, and economic shifts. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the confidence and discretion required to navigate sensitive, confidential, and high-stakes situations effectively.
This position requires collaboration with diverse internal stakeholders, including the General Manager of the Africa Franchise, the CEO of MENA PAK OU (Executive Positioning), the Regional Commercial Senior Director, the Global Vice President of Corporate Affairs IB, the Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, the General Managers and Franchise Senior Directors for key African markets, the Marketing team, Sector and Global Corporate Affairs teams, as well as the PepsiCo Foundation.
The role requires extensive external engagement, including almost daily interactions, advocacy, negotiation, and strategic advisory with a dynamic group of stakeholders spanning government entities at both local and federal levels, the media, NGOs, industry associations, agency partners, farmers, and industry peers. Additionally, alignment and coordination are essential with our Bottler, Seven Up Bottling Company, and DP World, our Foods co-manufacturing partner.
As we expand our footprint across the African continent and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, the PO1 position will play a pivotal role in reinforcing our external positioning and communications initiatives. The role will involve contributing to the development of strategic communications plans, including print and social media, crafting key messaging, managing media relations, overseeing Brand PR activities, and fostering internal employee engagement and activations. Additionally, the position will require close collaboration and communication with our bottling partners to ensure alignment and cohesion in our messaging and outreach efforts.
The Corporate Affairs PO1 Lead will spearhead critical Foundation initiatives and sustainability programs, crafting engaging narratives to effectively communicate with the market.
The position demands significant cross-functional collaboration to create cohesive communications strategies and ensure the successful execution of a comprehensive Communications plan, integrated campaigns, and essential groundwork for business transformation initiatives as we scale our current market presence.
The CA P01 Lead position will spearhead initiatives that foster meaningful progress and strengthen corporate reputation—whether in health, nutrition, and wellness, empowering small-scale farmers, expanding access to renewable energy, safeguarding the environment, or other critical areas—each of which directly contributes to the organization’s expansion, brand standing, and financial success.
The CA Lead PO1 position holds full accountability for the CSR agenda, prioritizing—and directly overseeing—community-based initiatives within our operational regions, while also tracking broader strategic priorities such as agricultural impact, all within the framework of PepsiCo Positive.
We are seeking a highly motivated individual to oversee and execute various tasks essential to our operations. The role involves managing daily workflows, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives. Duties include coordinating resources, monitoring progress, and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders to address any challenges promptly. Additionally, the position requires meticulous attention to detail, adherence to deadlines, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results consistently.
Strategic Leadership encompasses the ability to guide organizations with a forward-thinking vision, ensuring long-term growth and adaptability in dynamic environments. This role demands a deep understanding of market trends, competitive positioning, and stakeholder alignment to drive sustainable success. Leaders must foster innovation, empower teams, and make data-driven decisions to achieve strategic objectives while balancing short-term needs with long-term aspirations. Exceptional interpersonal skills, decisive judgment, and a commitment to ethical practices are essential for inspiring confidence and fostering a high-performance culture.
Craft a comprehensive, multi-year strategic roadmap for Corporate Affairs across the region, focusing on public policy, regulatory frameworks, government engagement, industry and trade alliances, communications, and corporate social responsibility. Assume a role of decisive leadership and proactive implementation to drive impactful outcomes.
Deliver strategic objectives and targets established by Corporate Affairs while proactively mitigating risks and capitalizing on opportunities to drive organizational success.
Collaborate closely with the General Manager of Nigerian Foods, the Senior Director of Beverages, and other key internal stakeholders—both locally and globally—to engage and align with both internal and external stakeholders, driving strategic decision-making, decisive actions, and expert consultation.
Ensure PepsiCo’s thought leadership, positioning, and voice are prominently integrated into all industry discussions and government frameworks, thereby fostering business enablement, driving commercial growth, mitigating risks, and amplifying overall impact.
Design the strategic framework for the License to Thrive (LTT) initiative and guide the organization in crafting a robust government engagement lobbying strategy. This plan must align with the organization’s broader stakeholder relations, business objectives, and corporate affairs strategies, ensuring cohesion across all key areas of focus. The role involves engaging with local communities and government stakeholders, extending outreach efforts to federal-level interactions, and driving informed decision-making through proactive consultation and decisive action.
Oversee the establishment of our external positioning and the creation of comprehensive communications strategies encompassing both print and social media channels. Develop cohesive messaging frameworks, manage media relations, and lead Brand PR initiatives. Additionally, foster internal employee engagement through strategic activations and ensure seamless collaboration and coordination with our bottling partners in joint communication efforts.
Deliver on the PepsiCo Positive community agenda by designing and implementing a high-impact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, with a primary emphasis on stakeholder engagement and community support in partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation through decisive action, strategic consultation, and effective decision-making.
The organization requires the successful candidate to achieve specific operational outcomes that are essential to the role’s core functions. These deliverables encompass the completion of key tasks and projects that directly contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the operational framework. The incumbent must ensure that all responsibilities are fulfilled in a timely and accurate manner, adhering to established standards and protocols. Additionally, the position demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to meet or exceed performance targets consistently.
Formulate strategic policy direction and oversee the development and implementation of organizational guidelines to ensure alignment with long-term objectives and industry best practices.
Guide critical policy and regulatory matters within a rapidly evolving landscape to safeguard and advance the region’s strategic growth objectives.
Address critical policy matters and monitor their evolution across civic/social, business, and government sectors to equip the Company with forward-looking insights, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of potential regulatory risks.
Define the strategic roadmap and oversee PepsiCo’s regulatory risk monitoring in partnership with International Beverages, MENA PAK OU Foods, and Global Corporate Affairs. Formulate comprehensive risk mitigation strategies while identifying opportunities to transform challenges into competitive advantages, ensuring informed decision-making, decisive action, and expert consultation.
Provide expert regulatory guidance to business and leadership teams, helping them proactively identify emerging regulatory risks and integrate these considerations into strategic business plans to ensure alignment across all internal stakeholders.
Monitor and assess evolving public policy matters that are pertinent to PepsiCo’s collaborations with allied organizations and industries, ensuring informed strategic decision-making and proactive measures.
Deliver strategic external analysis to the company regarding pivotal policy and regulatory developments that shape commercial and operational strategies. Interpret the broader external environment for the organization.
Oversee a diverse array of internal and external stakeholder engagement platforms to uphold PepsiCo’s representation across all essential forums.
Lead the formulation and implementation of the Government Engagement strategy at local, regional, and federal levels, ensuring a proactive and collaborative approach with all key stakeholders.
Develop and sustain a comprehensive stakeholder engagement monitoring framework to ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic priorities, accompanied by meticulous documentation and systematic follow-up on agreed actions.
Collaborate with various departments to drive strategic initiatives, integrating core Corporate Affairs functions—such as LPGA, Communications, Brand PR, pep+, and Social Impact—into project execution. Offer critical insights and streamline stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment and effective outcomes.
Lead the development and execution of strategic communications initiatives, both internally and externally, while overseeing brand public relations (PR) and crisis communications to safeguard and enhance organizational reputation.
Oversee external communications strategies to establish PepsiCo as the foremost international investor, ensuring consistent messaging and brand positioning across all platforms and stakeholders.
Develop and lead an innovative, comprehensive 360-degree communication strategy, integrating essential materials and targeted training initiatives to empower the business in effectively utilizing these resources, with a dedicated emphasis on PepsiCo Positive—specifically, DECISION-MAKING and ACTION.
Integrate PepsiCo’s presence in Africa into its worldwide communications strategy by utilizing global resources at the local level and highlighting West Africa’s pivotal role in driving growth for both Foods and Beverages within the PEP International framework.
Craft and champion PepsiCo’s external corporate reputation by producing engaging content that enhances the visibility of social impact initiatives, business investments, sustainability efforts, and brand and product offerings across the region.
To actively monitor and engage with pertinent industry platforms, forums, and events, ensuring the protection and advancement of PepsiCo’s strategic business interests through informed decision-making and decisive action.
Drive heightened external engagement for PepsiCo’s pep+ initiative, focusing on the three core pillars—Positive Agriculture, Positive Value Chain, and Positive Choices—by strategically amplifying the brand’s sustainability narrative across diverse media channels and engaging key stakeholders and opinion leaders within the region.
Collaborate with critical internal and external stakeholders to drive diverse, high-impact external communications initiatives that enhance Corporate Reputation.
Facilitate the dissemination of strategic partnership communications to advance PepsiCo’s global objectives and commitments, encompassing initiatives related to packaging, nutrition/health & wellness, sustainable agriculture, and other ‘Better’ goals. (ACTION, CONSULTATION)
Adapt global communications toolkits to align with Africa-specific content and Brand PR initiatives, requiring some independent decision-making, proactive action, and collaborative consultation.
Collaborate on the development of Annual and Strategic Plans alongside Budgets, ensuring comprehensive input for the entire business scope. This includes shaping the Franchise Annual Operating Plans, contributing to Organizational Unit (OU) Strategy plans, and engaging in joint business planning initiatives with external partners. (Action-oriented, Consultative approach)
Facilitate cohesive internal communications by collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and maintain a detailed, strategic calendar of events for execution.
Oversee the maintenance of Sector and Global communications by submitting updated decks and essential information, along with a scorecard for external communication—covering both earned and paid media—for approval.
Develop compelling communications materials—including impact summaries, presentations, fact sheets, messaging guides, executive bios, and crisis management talking points and reactive statements—to effectively support Global/Africa Corporate Affairs.
Drive and oversee all aspects of event management, ensuring seamless execution from inception to completion. Collaborate closely with clients to define event objectives, parameters, and expectations, while coordinating with vendors, venues, and internal teams to align resources and deliver exceptional results. Handle logistical planning, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation, to ensure events meet predetermined timelines and financial constraints. Monitor progress, address any challenges in real-time, and implement contingency plans as needed to mitigate risks and maintain operational efficiency. Foster strong relationships with stakeholders to enhance client satisfaction and uphold the organization’s reputation for excellence in event delivery.
Responsibilities include overseeing comprehensive project execution from start to finish, organizing and hosting webinars, coordinating campaigns, fostering media engagement, crafting messaging frameworks, developing PR narratives, and preparing creative briefs for agency partners, with a focus on strategic decision-making, proactive action, and expert consultation throughout the process.
Accountability drives impact across Corporate Affairs, Public Policy & Government Affairs, Communications, Brand Public Relations, Customer & Social Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Marketing, Research & Development, Supply Chain, Franchise Bottling, Commercial Operations, and Legal functions.
We create and implement programs that drive meaningful change within communities. Our work focuses on developing initiatives that address pressing social challenges and promote sustainable development. We seek a candidate with a proven track record in designing and managing projects that generate measurable social impact. The ideal candidate will have experience in stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and data-driven decision-making. Key responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams, securing partnerships, and measuring the effectiveness of our initiatives through rigorous evaluation frameworks. Strong communication skills and a passion for social justice are essential for success in this role.
Enhance and execute the Social Impact agenda to preserve the beneficial effects of the company’s operations and initiatives on local communities.
Revise and strengthen the local Social Impact policy while introducing initiatives that uphold sustainable operational consistency and maximize the value delivered to communities through strategic investments. (DECISION-MAKING, ACTION, CONSULTATION)
Develop and oversee a structured system for monitoring stakeholder engagement within the community, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives across all pertinent stakeholders. Emphasize active listening and deep understanding to proactively identify and mitigate risks while simultaneously leveraging emerging opportunities for mutual benefit.
Plan and oversee essential corporate social responsibility initiatives, coordinating closely with the PepsiCo Foundation where feasible to enhance collective impact and shared decision-making processes.
Champion engagement with associates at the local level by delivering capability-building initiatives focused on CSR and PepsiCo Positive community opportunities, positioning them as ambassadors for the company’s mission.
Overseeing the organization’s financial health entails strategic planning, analysis, and reporting ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency. This includes preparing and monitoring budgets, managing cash flow, and conducting financial forecasting to support informed decision-making. Additionally, the role requires ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, optimizing financial performance, and providing insights to stakeholders to drive sustainable growth. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in financial software, and a deep understanding of accounting principles are essential for success in this position.
Spearhead the management of the Corporate Affairs budget at the local level with full accountability for its execution and alignment with strategic objectives.
Fostering a collaborative and dynamic organizational culture while providing strong team leadership is essential. This role emphasizes guiding teams to achieve shared goals through effective communication, motivation, and strategic alignment. It requires cultivating an inclusive environment where collaboration thrives and accountability is maintained. Leadership responsibilities include mentoring team members, resolving conflicts, and ensuring alignment with company values and objectives. A proactive approach to team development and performance optimization is expected.
Strive to uphold a steadfast dedication to diversity and inclusion across all facets of the organization, encompassing recruitment practices and the cultivation of strategic partnerships.
We foster collaborative relationships and strategic alliances through proactive stakeholder engagement and partnership development, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and mutual value creation. This role involves cultivating trust, negotiating mutually beneficial agreements, and maintaining open communication channels to sustain long-term collaborations. Responsibilities include identifying key stakeholders, assessing partnership opportunities, and implementing frameworks to evaluate and enhance collaboration effectiveness. Strong interpersonal skills, negotiation expertise, and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders are essential for success in this position.
Foster collaborative relationships with essential stakeholders and partners to strengthen alignment and maximize collective impact.
A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of three years of progressive accounting experience. Proficiency in ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle is essential, as is a strong grasp of GAAP and tax regulations. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are necessary, along with attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines. Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is expected.
Education: A minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Communications, International Relations, Law, Economics, or Business Studies, or an equivalent field.
Minimum of eight years of professional experience with a globally recognized brand, preferably one listed among the Fortune 100 or 500 rankings. Preference will be given to candidates with prior work experience in developing countries.
Professionals with exposure to a matrix reporting framework are preferred, where team members collaborate across departments while reporting to multiple supervisors.
Proficient in managing tasks independently within a high-velocity operational setting.
Demonstrated proficiency in effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks according to their significance to business objectives.
Exceptional ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, fostering strong professional relationships and ensuring alignment across teams. Demonstrates emotional intelligence, active listening, and the capacity to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with diplomacy and tact.
Demonstrates exceptional proficiency in managing projects and resolving complex challenges with strategic insight and efficiency.
Delivers meticulous focus to all aspects of assigned duties, ensuring precision and accuracy in every task.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
