Senior Manager, Product Development

Senior Manager Product Developer

The Global Development and Innovation (GDI) center is pivotal to The Coca-Cola Company's innovation in beverages across multiple categories (sparkling, juices, iced teas, ...) and covering product development, packaging & equipment development. As a Senior Manager Product Developer, you will lead a program of projects across various categories, contributing to our portfolio's growth by developing new or enhancing existing beverages. You will support the development of a strategy for the department and the category. This role offers a unique blend of local and global impact, demanding technical expertise, creativity, and an eye for future trends as well as strong digital savvy and collaboration skills to leverage Coca-Cola global network of expertise.

Key Responsibilities :

Work as part of a cross-functional team (regulatory affairs, quality, global SME's, marketing) to plan and manage a program of projects to deliver product enhancements and innovations.

Strategy development and decision making : Contribute to and influence the product portfolio strategy in collaboration with GDI global Category manager and / or regional category / department lead (and Marketing).

Project Execution and decision making : Execute and oversee the execution of new recipe development or adaptations (assigned by and under supervision of manager), ensuring projects meet quality, timing, budget targets, and alignment within the category strategy. Employ a 'design to value' and E2E approach to incorporate an innovative mindset with a focus on consumer-centric design, sustainability, regulatory requirements, and supply chain considerations from the start. Regularly takes high-quality and effective decisions drawing on broad work experience and technical knowledge.

Innovation and Prototyping : Develop and / or supervise development of lab-scale prototypes, conduct sensory tests, and facilitate pilot-scale productions and co-lead with the operating unit the scale up trial run in bottler / manufacturing plants. Apply statistical methods and design of experiments to enhance product development efficiency and learning. Leverage digital tools to document formulas and mixing instructions. Be aware of new approaches and track performance of innovation / renovation launched leveraging tools, to prioritize and communicate efficiently.

Communication and Collaboration : Report project outcomes, share learnings, participate in cross-functional teams, and provide insights and data to guide decisions and innovations. Your effective storytelling and technical communication will bridge technical recommendations with strategic business objectives. Present program outcomes and request for steering to senior leaders.

System and Market Understanding : In-depth understanding of the Coca-Cola's system dynamics, from bottling operations to global supply chains, and translate trends and the science of taste into compelling product propositions. Strong knowledge of bottler capabilities.

Sustainability and Technology : Integrate sustainability principles and digital tools (e.g., AI, digital prototyping) early in the development process to map impacts and accelerate innovation. Your digital acumen will enable you to leverage data and technology in product development and risk management as well as contribute to unlocking future opportunities.

New Risk Awareness : Stay informed about emerging risks, especially those related to agricultural ingredient selection and product design, to ensure safety. This includes managing allergens, microbial risks, and sensitivities of products and raw materials, as well as process recommendations.

External Focus and Innovation : Ability to identify and pilot novel propositions that can give our brands or products a competitive edge. New technologies and ingredients and evaluate their potential for our purposes : co-creating the innovation pipeline.

Market Insights and Competitor Awareness : Maintain a strong interest in the activities and strategies of our competitors, as well as overall market trends. This involves not just understanding what exists but imagining new possibilities and translating them into technically feasible solutions. Ability to use this information to help shape category strategy.

Digital Savviness for Innovation : Harness digital tools, technologies, and platforms to gather insights for product development, such as market trends, consumer preferences, and social media information. Use artificial intelligence to aid in ideation and concept development, accelerate the creation of new ideas, and utilize digital prototyping to speed up innovation and enhance product quality. Employ data and software tools for managing sustainability from the design phase and assessing risks more effectively. Propose and drive continuous improvement for the category / department.

Qualifications & Requirements :

At least 8 years successful product development experience in the beverages industry or 4-6 successful experience in food industry.

Bachelor's, Master's, or Post-Graduate degree in food science, chemistry, or related field.

Fluent in English, with proficiency in an additional language preferred.

Willing to travel up to 20% annually.

Desired Skills and Competencies :

Strong knowledge of beverage development, ingredient knowledge, and industry standards.

Digital literacy : Advanced digital skills to employ data analytics, AI, and digital prototyping in innovation. Data integrity and cybersecurity awareness.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities.

Agility, resilience, and creativity to navigate new product development projects.

Commitment to sustainability and familiarity with science-based targets for eco-design and supply chain (e.g., tracking ingredient sourcing and lifecycle impacts, and foundational knowledge on circular economy).

Stakeholder management, innovation leadership and strategic decision making.

Proficiency in statistical analysis and experimental design.

Ability to guide and inspire more junior team members.

Proficiency to navigate within diverse ways of working. Embodying empathy and adeptness in conflict resolution.

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 is 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.

Skills : Leadership; Product Development; Chemistry; Continual Improvement Process; Environmental Science; Researching; Microbiology; Waterfall Model; Food Sciences; Food Technology; Communication; Laboratory Testing; Data Compilation; Quality Control (QC); Green Solutions; Food Safety Management; Sensory Testing

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. Pay Range : $131,000 - $153,000 Base 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 : 15 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. 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.