Scientist, Product Development

Job Purpose Summary:

Located in Atlanta, GA, the Global Development and Innovation (GDI) Center is pivotal to The Coca‐Cola Company's innovation in beverages across multiple categories (such as sparkling, teas, and hydration) focused on product development, packaging & equipment development. As a Product Developer, you will support and lead (under supervision of your manager) projects across the Tea Category, contributing to our portfolio's growth by developing new or enhancing existing beverages. This role offers a unique blend of local and global impact, demanding technical knowledge, creativity, and an eye for future trends. Strong digital and collaboration skills are needed 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) on projects assigned by manager to deliver product enhancements and innovations primarily focused on the Tea Category.
• Project Execution: Execute new recipe development or adaptations (assigned by and under supervision of manager) assisting sometimes more senior product development manager, ensuring projects meet quality, timing, and budget targets. Employ a 'design to value' and E2E approach to incorporate sustainability, regulatory requirements, consumer preference, and supply chain considerations from the start, as per guidance of manager.
• Innovation and Prototyping: Coordinate and develop lab-scale prototypes applying GMPs in place, conduct analytical / sensory tests, and facilitate/ follow up pilot-scale productions and support the scale up trial run in bottler plants. Apply statistical methods and design of experiments to enhance product development efficiency and learning. Leverage digital tools to document formulas and mixing instructions.
• 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.
• System and Market Understanding: Gain insights into Coca-Cola's system dynamics, from bottling operations to global supply chains, and translate trends and the science of taste into compelling product propositions.
• 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.
• Risk management: 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 support piloting novel propositions that can give our brands or products a competitive edge. Consider new technologies and ingredients and evaluate their potential for our purposes.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• 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 foundation in 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).
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and experimental design.

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:
Product Development; Chemistry; Leadership; Kaizen (Continuous Improvement); Continual Improvement Process; Environmental Science; Researching; Problem Resolution; Communication; Food Safety and Sanitation; Data Entry; Laboratory Testing; Data Compilation; Quality Control (QC); Green Solutions; Environmental Regulatory Compliance; Recordkeeping