Senior Manager, Product Development Job at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta

Overview

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 covers 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’s global network of expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a cross‑functional team (regulatory affairs, quality, global SMEs, marketing) to plan and manage a program of projects to deliver product enhancements and innovations.
• Contribute to and influence the product portfolio strategy in collaboration with GDI global category manager and/or regional category/department lead and marketing.
• Execute and oversee new recipe development or adaptations, ensuring projects meet quality, timing, budget targets and alignment within the category strategy. Employ a ‘design to value’ and end‑to‑end approach to incorporate an innovative mindset with a focus on consumer‑centric design, sustainability, regulatory requirements, and supply chain considerations from the start.
• Develop and/or supervise development of lab‑scale prototypes, conduct sensory tests, 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, track performance of innovation/renovation launched and prioritize and communicate efficiently.
• Drive the implementation of change when needed.
• Report project outcomes, share learnings, participate in cross‑functional teams, and provide insights and data to guide decisions and innovations. Present program outcomes and request steering from senior leaders.
• Translate trends and the science of taste into compelling product propositions, demonstrating in‑depth knowledge of bottler capabilities.
• Integrate sustainability principles and digital tools (e.g., AI, digital prototyping) early in the development process to map impacts and accelerate innovation.
• Stay informed about emerging risks, especially those related to agricultural ingredient selection and product design, to ensure safety (allergens, microbial risks, sensitivities).
• Identify and pilot novel propositions that can give our brands or products a competitive edge, co‑creating the innovation pipeline.
• Maintain strong awareness of competitor activities and overall market trends, using this information to shape category strategy.
• Harness digital tools and platforms to gather insights for product development and manage sustainability from the design phase.

Qualifications & Requirements

• At least 8 years of successful product development experience in the beverages industry or 4‑6 years in the food industry.
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Post‑Graduate degree in food science, chemistry, or related field.
• Fluent in English; 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.
• Advanced digital literacy to employ data analytics, AI, and digital prototyping in innovation.
• 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.
• Stakeholder management, innovation leadership and strategic decision making.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and experimental design.
• Ability to guide and inspire junior team members.
• Empathy and adeptness in conflict resolution.

Our Purpose and Growth Culture

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture 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 – curiosity, empowerment, inclusiveness and agility – 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.

Skills

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

Employment Details

Full‑time – Senior Product Development Manager (Atlanta, GA – hybrid)

Salary range: $131,000 – $153,000 (base). Pay may vary with geography, experience and knowledge. A full range of medical, financial and other benefits is offered.

Annual Incentive Reference Value: 15% (market‑based competitive value). This refers to performance at target.

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.