The Coca-Cola Company is hiring: Senior Manager, Product Development in Atlanta

Join to apply for the Senior Manager, Product Development role at The Coca‑Cola Company. 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 and 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 SME’s, 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 or department lead and marketing.
• 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 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, 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, track performance of innovation and 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 to senior leaders.
• Translate Coca‑Cola’s system dynamics from bottling operations to global supply chains and map trends and the science of taste into compelling product propositions. Strong knowledge of bottler capabilities.
• Integrate sustainability principles and digital tools (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, including managing allergens, microbial risks and sensitivities of products and raw materials.
• Identify and pilot novel propositions that can give our brands or products a competitive edge, evaluate new technologies and ingredients, and co‑create the innovation pipeline.
• Maintain a strong interest in competitor strategies and overall market trends, shaping category strategy with imaginative, technically feasible solutions.
• Harness digital tools, technologies and platforms to gather insights for product development such as market trends, consumer preferences and social media information. Use AI to aid ideation, accelerate new idea creation and digital prototyping to speed innovation and enhance product quality.

Qualifications & Requirements

• At least 8 years successful product development experience in the beverages industry or 4–6 years of successful experience in the 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 impacts.
• 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 navigating within diverse ways of working, embodiment of empathy and adept 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.

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% (market‑based competitive value for your role).