Senior Director, Beverage Process Research and Capabilities

The Coca-Cola Company • Atlanta, GA

3d • $176,000 - $205,000

About The Position

The Senior Director, Beverage Process Research and Capabilities is a leadership role within Flavor & Ingredient Research and Application (FIRA) and Research to Experimentation (RtE). The role leads process research and beverage applications across ingredient and flavor teams, partnering with GDI’s process innovation team to identify, develop, select, and apply scalable process technologies that deliver robust beverage performance from early research through commercial readiness. It bridges science, application, and scalable manufacturing technologies in collaboration with Global Development and Innovation (GDI), Technical Innovation & Supply Chain (TISC), and process innovation partners.

The role also builds and strengthens FIRA’s cross-functional capabilities, including digital capability and application and at-risk ingredient research and application. It shapes the research agenda to address consumer, customer, and regulatory needs and support short-, medium-, and long-term growth. The position provides scientific and strategic thought leadership, advances relevant technologies and tools—including AI/ML tools—and influences internal and external partners to accelerate innovation.

The Senior Director partners across RtE, GDI, TISC, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, marketing, and category leadership, as well as with suppliers, universities, and technology partners. Responsibilities include building business cases, implementing structured processes from early experimentation through commercial delivery, tracking milestones, budgets, and success metrics, and communicating progress to senior leaders. The role is based in Atlanta, United States, with 0%–25% travel and relocation provided. The Coca-Cola Company does not offer employment visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, or a related field.
• 10 or more years of relevant experience.
• Ability to influence without authority across research, supply chain, and innovation organizations.
• Deep understanding of beverage systems, ingredient functionality, and process-driven performance outcomes.
• Track record of translating science and research into commercially scalable solutions.
• Strategic thinking, hands-on problem-solving capability, and interest in advancing technical innovation.
• Understanding of system economics, value chains, risk management, and mitigation, with an agile and iterative mindset.
• Proficiency in project management principles and ability to plan, manage, or execute projects within timelines and budgets.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-influence skills, including the ability to align senior-level internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of current AI/ML and molecular discovery technologies and tools.
• Deep expertise in a scientific field such as food science, chemical engineering, or material science.
• Knowledge of global regulatory frameworks for ingredient approval and use.
• Industry network and external collaboration experience.
• Digital fluency.
• Currently authorized to work full-time in the United States without requiring Coca-Cola Company sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (PhD, MS, or equivalent experience) in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate beverage process technologies for applications involving new flavors and ingredients, especially functional ingredients, and recommend and select scalable technologies in collaboration with the GDI Process Innovation Team.
• Monitor external process technologies and identify those that can improve beverage applications, functional benefits, and taste; partner with GDI to develop or adopt technologies for scale-up in the Coca-Cola System.
• Identify and update the skills and competencies needed by the team and collaborators to leverage external technologies and digital tools.
• Build an at-risk ingredient research pipeline in collaboration with GDI and other functions.
• Build and strengthen FIRA cross-functional capabilities, including digital capability and application and at-risk ingredient research and application.
• Shape the future research agenda to meet consumer, customer, and regulatory needs and support short-, mid-, and long-term growth.
• Provide thought leadership to inform global flavor and ingredient research and application strategy.
• Influence industry, academia, and research institutes to develop relevant technologies and tools, including AI/ML tools.
• Partner with stakeholders across RtE, GDI, TISC, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, marketing, and category leadership to align process research strategy and execution.
• Influence external stakeholders, including suppliers, universities, and technology partners, to pursue joint development.
• Build business cases to secure investment and organizational support.
• Implement structured processes for early-stage experimentation through commercial delivery.
• Track milestones, budgets, and success metrics through clear operating routines.
• Communicate progress and achievements to senior leaders across the organization.
• Lead, build, and motivate global teams and bring stakeholders together across functions, geographies, and disciplines.

Benefits

• Opportunity to shape next-generation beverage process and application capabilities.
• Collaborative global environment that values scientific excellence and bold innovation.
• Professional growth through leadership opportunities and exposure to enterprise-level impact.
• Medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position.
• Relocation provided.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior