Function: Global Development & Innovation
Department: Global Sparkling Flavors Category
Title: Manager, Product Development
The ideal candidate is a product development scientist with demonstrated skills in developing and/or reformulating food and beverage products from ideation through commercialization. A variety of scientific backgrounds are acceptable including but not limited to Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, and Biology. The primary job responsibility is planning and managing of ingredient and product development projects for sparkling and still products for The CocaCola Company.
The candidate must have a solid technical background with creative bench skills, the ability to manage projects from concept to execution, understand consumer research, and be able to work collaboratively across functions (technical and non-technical).
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Project activities are related to product development innovation, brand maintenance and evaluation of new technologies, all requiring a high level of attention to detail.
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Key internal interactions will be with Ingredient Quality, Commercial Product Supply, Regulatory Affairs, Technical Consumer Research, field based technical, commercialization teams. Key external interactions are primarily collaborating with ingredient suppliers.
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Protect the Company and all Company information against unauthorized disclosure, eavesdropping and legal exposure.
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Design, develop, conduct and/or review experiments (e.g., laboratory or process experiments) in order to deliver new products; evaluate ingredient, product or packaging safety, efficacy or claims; or evaluate new ingredients, materials, products or processes.
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Record data from analyses or experiments in a computer, log book or laboratory notebook.
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Write detailed & accurate reports for analyses, experiments or projects (e.g., equipment validation, evaluation of new processes). Communicate clearly in email and verbally with technical, non-technical, domestic, and international audiences.
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Prepare samples and sampling plan for ingredients, intermediate or finished products, or other materials in order to perform analyses (e.g., chemical, physical, sensory, microbiological).
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Gather and organize information under tight timelines to support senior management's decision-making.
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Apply knowledge of sensory and consumer testing techniques and principles to influence consumer test design and collaborate intelligently with sensory team.
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Identify, select, authorize and/or manage relationships with vendors or suppliers to ensure proper capabilities, conformance with Company standards and appropriate products and services (e.g., ingredients, materials, testing services).
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Protect information provided in confidence from outside sources (bottlers and other business partners) and ensure this information is not disseminated to those not directly involved.
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Develop quality standards, specifications or requirements (e.g., concentrate/beverage base, ingredients, packaging, beverage, processes, and new technology) in order to ensure quality and integrity of products, and to protect the trademarks of the Coca-Cola Company.
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Manage documentation and records in order to ensure that they are complete, current, secure and easily retrievable. This may include designing, organizing or maintaining technical or regulatory records (e.g., digital formula files) and reports.
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Provide support to customers to identify, manage or resolve incidents (e.g., critical emergencies, product withdrawals/recalls, disasters, potential business threats) in order to maintain the integrity of our products and trademarks and to minimize interruptions to Company or customer operations.
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Conduct review of scientific or other literature in order to maintain and improve laboratory knowledge/skills.
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Use and maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation (e.g., troubleshooting, conducting preventative maintenance, calibrating and repairing).
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Build relationships and facilitate work effectively through a networked organization
Job Requirements - The following is a listing of minimum indicated requirements for this job.
Education:
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PhD with 0-3+ years related work experience
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Master's Degree with 3-7+ years related work experience
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Bachelor’s Degree with 5- 10 years related work experience
Technical Skills - The following is a list of the top Technical Skills needed for the job.
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Product Development: Deep knowledge and practical application of the product development process. Flexible and creative development skills with a strong attention to detail.
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Project Management: Knowledge of project management principles and the ability to apply the principles, tools and techniques to develop/plan, manage or execute projects or work plans to ensure successful completion (e.g., on time, within budget).
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Building Technical Relationships: Ability to apply technical knowledge and establish credibility with highly technical audiences in order to build technical relationships that will benefit customers or the Company.
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Ingredients: Knowledge of and experience with key ingredients used in production of concentrates and beverage bases (e.g., emulsifiers, citric acid, sodium benzoate, juice, natural flavors).
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Beverage Manufacturing: Knowledge of and ability to apply carbonated and non-carbonated beverage processing techniques (e.g., proportioning, carbonating, syrup manufacturing, filling).
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Basic Flavor Chemistry: General knowledge of the organic chemistry of essential oils and other flavor compounds relevant to Company products.
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Flavor Industry Knowledge: Knowledge of flavoring materials, the flavor industry and the trade organizations that represent them.
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Digital Skills: Knowledge of Microsoft suite of programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), formula/database type systems, and capable user. Proficiency with data connection and visualization tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau) and data analytics is preferred.
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Basic Organic Chemistry: Knowledge of basic organic structures, reactions, functional groups and properties needed to understand the reactions of organic compounds in Company products. This includes the understanding of moderately complex principles in order to problem-solve package or ingredient related issues.
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Endurance: Willingness and ability to occasionally function effectively over extended periods of time. Ability to be flexible and adjust priorities based on business needs.
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External Knowledge Gathering: Knowledge of Internet search techniques used to find required information (e.g., technical facts) and monitor sites of interest to the department.
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Laboratory Practices: Knowledge and application of Good Laboratory Practices (e.g., handling of chemicals and glassware, preparation of standards and reagents, proper measuring techniques, data management, housekeeping).
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Proprietary Composition Information: Ability to recognize and protect proprietary information as it relates to formulas and ingredients