Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company, invites applications for the position of Business Governance Manager to be based at its Nairobi office. This is a remarkable opportunity for a dynamic and experienced professional to become a pivotal part of an organization that is shaping the future of celebrations and consumer experiences globally. As we continue to build and elevate our iconic brands, we are looking for a senior leader who can bring integrity, strategy, and operational excellence to our commercial governance frameworks.
With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, Diageo’s portfolio includes iconic names deeply rooted in culture and communities. We are not just about producing premium beverages—we are about creating an inclusive, diverse, and empowered workforce that can drive innovation and success.
The Business Governance Manager will play a critical role in aligning commercial operations with corporate strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing decision-making, and managing risks across multiple business units. This role offers a career-defining opportunity in a global organization committed to developing talent and achieving excellence.
Position: Business Governance Manager
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type: Full-Time
Reporting To: Head of Commercial Operations
Job Reference: JR1116284
Job Posting Date: August 6, 2025
About the Role
The Business Governance Manager will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining robust governance and compliance frameworks that support ethical, compliant, and financially sound decision-making across the commercial function. This role acts as the commercial governance lead and risk steward, working closely with internal stakeholders to support transparency and mitigate risks in all commercial operations.
This position is instrumental in ensuring that Diageo’s sales teams operate within a framework that prioritizes strategic alignment, compliance, transparency, and operational efficiency. With a direct impact on how commercial strategies are executed across Kenya, this role also entails a hands-on leadership approach to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Governance and Controls
- Lead end-to-end commercial business processes to ensure strategic alignment with company goals, promoting commercial excellence both nationally and across business divisions.
- Develop, implement, and sustain governance frameworks and policies that reflect corporate priorities and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure compliance with Diageo’s Control Environment for all commercial initiatives, including alignment with strategic goals and full adherence to policies.
- Act as a strategic advisor to the commercial function by embedding governance, risk management, and compliance into daily business operations.
- Coordinate internal and Global Audit & Risk (GAR) audits; implement corrective actions while enhancing record and process management systems for accurate data handling and risk mitigation.
- Promote governance awareness and accountability within commercial teams through consistent communication, streamlined processes, and impactful training.
- Deliver targeted training programs on governance-related areas such as pricing policy, Deal Desk processes, and anti-corruption in sales activities.
2. Compliance Framework and Red Flag Management
- Implement a comprehensive compliance monitoring mechanism that addresses Sales Force Effectiveness (SFE) outliers, timing exemptions, MPAs, call rate tracking, and outlet exemptions.
- Drive simplification and automation of workflows, including approval processes and reporting routines.
- Ensure strong data integrity through proactive identification and resolution of anomalies across DMS, SIT, and Diageo 1 systems.
- Define, cascade, and track business processes and routines across teams and distributors, ensuring swift corrective measures where necessary.
- Ensure quarterly POSM (Point of Sale Material) stock takes are conducted and properly documented with corrective actions to safeguard POS assets.
3. Strategic Commercial Calendar and Operational Planning
- Own and lead execution of the commercial calendar of events including CLT (Commercial Leadership Team) meetings, control days, and M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) Days, ensuring clear inputs and outcomes.
- Identify and test business continuity risks and design mitigation plans to ensure operational resilience in commercial execution.
- Govern the implementation of the commercial plan with a focus on salesforce productivity (250+ team members), asset deployment (~KES 1B POSM), and utilization across channels.
- Champion the Code of Business Conduct, ensuring widespread adoption through communication, training, and adherence.
4. Performance and Risk Monitoring
- Lead implementation of the CARM (Controls Assurance and Risk Management) framework across commercial functions.
- Provide leadership with visibility into key commercial and compliance risks, offering data-driven insights to support informed decision-making and performance improvements.
- Manage resource allocation strategies related to BTL (Below-the-Line) execution, salesforce routines, SIP (Sales Incentive Plans), and stock-in-trade optimization.
- Oversee the execution of the Marketing Business Plan (MBP) with an annual budget of over KES 6 billion, ensuring alignment with both strategic and operational objectives.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Data Governance
- Partner with internal teams including Sales, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain to align on contracts, rebate structures, and compliance within customer/channel agreements.
- Ensure the effectiveness of performance routines and their impact on salesforce productivity and business performance.
- Support the Head of Customer Marketing in delivering the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and holding stakeholders accountable for key deliverables.
- Monitor campaign performance using key KPIs such as footfall, conversion rates, and consumer engagement metrics, and drive timely corrective actions.
6. Master Data Management and Market Integration
- Lead the governance of customer marketing data, including approval of DMS objectives, POSM allocation, and maintenance of master data.
- Ensure accurate data collection and integration of depletion and stock-in-trade (SIT) information into market processes for proactive risk management.
- Align market operations to global SIT standards; address deviations and execute mitigation plans.
- Oversee SIT reconciliation processes, ensuring discrepancies remain within acceptable thresholds and that stock management practices are in place.
Leadership Accountabilities
- Provide strategic and people leadership to the commercial operations team, ensuring team members are coached, trained, and motivated to meet performance and business targets.
- Actively drive the identification and development of top talent and build a succession pipeline for key leadership roles within the commercial operations team.
- Lead the analytics capability evolution within the sales team, transitioning from a traditional center-based model to one that supports dynamic, insights-led decision-making.
- Contribute to the professional development of others while maintaining a self-development program aligned with current and future business needs.
Desired Experience and Skills
- A degree in Business or a related discipline is required.
- 8–10 years of experience in FMCG, including time in sales operations, commercial management, and business analytics.
- Proficiency in stakeholder management, communication, and negotiation.
- Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities; skilled in tools such as Microsoft Excel and Power BI.
- Experienced in strategic development and implementation, with a solid understanding of change management and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Highly skilled in setting and monitoring SMART goals, defining performance metrics, and using KPIs to evaluate outcomes.
- Demonstrated coaching abilities and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Excellent facilitation skills for meetings, workshops, and performance reviews.
Flexible Working Commitment
We recognize that flexibility is essential to personal and professional well-being. We encourage applicants to discuss what flexibility means to them and how we can support it from day one.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Diageo, we are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can feel valued and thrive. Our diversity efforts extend across gender, ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, social class, education, and more. We celebrate each individual’s uniqueness and believe that inclusive teams foster creativity, innovation, and better business outcomes.
Our goal is to become the most trusted and respected consumer products company globally, and that includes how we support and empower our people. We ensure that all employees and applicants have the support they need, including reasonable adjustments where required.
About Diageo
Diageo is home to some of the world’s most celebrated brands, including Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Tanqueray, and Baileys. Our history is rooted in bold innovation and entrepreneurship, and we continue to expand our impact by investing in talent, sustainability, and communities.
Our global team of 30,000+ individuals work collaboratively to bring our brands to life in over 180 countries. Whether you’re a marketer, a finance expert, or a governance specialist, we offer unmatched opportunities to build a fulfilling career in a culture that values ambition, curiosity, and performance.
If you are passionate about governance, commercial excellence, and making a meaningful impact at a global level, this may be the ideal opportunity for you.
Applications should be submitted via the official Diageo careers portal.
