Mgr., Product Development

Manager, Product Development

Location : Onsite at the Atlanta Office Center

This is an individual contributor role

Job Purpose Summary

The Global Development and Innovation (GDI) center is pivotal to The Coca-Cola Company's innovation in beverages across multiple categories (sparkling, juices, dairy, teas...), covering product development, packaging & equipment development. As a Manager Product Developer, you will lead projects within the nutrition category, driving growth through the creation of new beverages and the enhancement of existing ones. You will formulate and execute strategic initiatives for the nutrition category. This role offers a unique blend of global and local impact, requiring technical expertise, creativity, forward-thinking, digital savvy, and collaboration skills. You will lead key nutrition project charters and enablers, while developing and implementing comprehensive learning plans aligned with the category strategy. These efforts will steer our long-term plans and leverage Coca-Cola's extensive global network of expertise. You will have the opportunity to work on one of the most exciting segments of our portfolio, where your contributions will help shape how consumers nourish their bodies through innovative solutions. Join us and be a part of our journey to make a positive impact on people's lives.

Key Responsibilities :

• Project Execution and Management : Plan product development and ensure diligent execution. Manage complex new product launches or reformulations from desk and ideation, through technical pre-work strategy (outlining needs and providing scenarios to approach), benchtop stages, conduct sensory tests, pilot and co-lead industrial scaling with the regions. You will manage the project development working autonomously yet aligning with the category lead's supervision, meeting project milestones and deliverables within quality, timing, and budget targets, that are in line with category strategy. Employ a 'design to value' and E2E approach that focuses on consumer-centric design and considers multiple technical and business aspects.
• Innovation and Prototyping : Lead innovation projects with an E2E approach. Develop detailed learning plans and research strategies navigating uncertain pathways and collaborate with partners for technical solutions aligned with our business goals. Use statistical methods and digital tools for efficient product development. Capitalize learnings and adapt strategies based on feedback and dynamic conditions.
• Strategic Approach : and long-term plans development for innovation to contribute to the Nutrition Category charters and enablers embracing an enterprise mindset.
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management : Effectively managing and nurturing internal and external relationship to support organizational goals and category strategy. Collaborate with cross-functional team, including GDI community, processing, supply chain, SRA, quality, global SME's, and marketing to effectively drive progress and address potential category challenges.
• Communication and Collaboration : Effectively report project outcomes, share learnings, highlight challenges, and provide insights to guide decisions and innovations. Actively collaborate and maximize synergies within cross-functional teams and lead project discussions within technical forums providing assertive contributions and recommendations.
• Business Understanding & System Knowledge : Understand Coca-Cola's business operations, market dynamics, and industry trends. Awareness of bottling operations and global supply chains.
• Risk Awareness : Stay informed about emerging risks, especially those related to agricultural ingredient selection and product design to ensure food safety. Managing allergens, microbial risks, and sensitivities of products and raw materials, as well as processing recommendations. Technical savvy to identify potential headwinds and lead effective discussions for assessing risk management.
• External Focus and Innovation : Bring external insights, monitor market trends and competitor activities. Translate new possibilities into technically feasible solutions. Ability to use this information to help shape category strategy. Proactively identify and evaluate new technologies and ingredients partnering with RtE.
• Digital Savviness for Innovation : Harness digital tools and platforms for product development (e.g. market trends, consumer preferences, predictive models associated with product stability and beverage matrix interactions, and social media information). Use artificial intelligence to aid in ideation development and digital prototyping. Use data and technology in product development and risk management to unlock future opportunities.

Qualifications & Requirements :

Functional Competencies :

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

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 : $109,000 - $129,000 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.