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Job Description Summary:
Our NA Innovation Center sits at the heart of The Coca-Cola Company’s next chapter of growth. We are committed to transforming and evolving our organization and ambitions — bringing our people closer to the consumer, continuously raising the bar, and embracing digitalization to enable sustainable growth.
We are looking for a highly driven individual contributor who thrives on ownership and impact, and who fuels the innovation pipeline with bold ideas that translate into real-world results. This role is not about maintaining the status quo; it is about challenging assumptions, unlocking opportunity, and personally driving valuable breakthrough innovation.
As a Scientist on the Product Development team, this role will support both product development & strategic research initiatives to protect bottom and top-line growth. The candidate will be responsible for the implementation of new products and/or technologies or the improvement of existing products and/or technologies, and will prepare and coordinate projects according to established schedules and costs. The candidate will have horticultural expertise to support internal and external research initiatives, and will help drive business continuity efforts in support of our North America business in close partnership with cross functional teams. Individual contributor role with comprehensive knowledge across multiple technical areas.
What You’ll Do for Us
Apply knowledge of food and beverage ingredients, formulations, and processing to develop safe, high-quality beverages while ensuring compliance with technical, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Conduct laboratory, research, and process experiments to support new product development, business continuity, productivity improvements, and cost avoidance initiatives by evaluating ingredients, materials, products, and processes.
Perform wet chemistry and instrumental analytical techniques to determine the composition of ingredients and finished products, and to measure and monitor their performance over time.
Support the execution of product development and research projects by collaborating closely with Product Development, Analytical Science, Consumer Insights, and other key functional disciplines.
Support and co-lead citrus research experiments requiring horticultural knowledge, understanding of best practices in orange groves, fruit harvesting, extraction, and processing expertise.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Procurement, Marketing, Supply Chain, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, and Quality teams to successfully deliver product launches and business continuity initiatives.
Partner with citrus industry organizations, suppliers, and internal subject matter experts to help develop and execute short-, mid-, and long-term strategies that support a sustainable domestic orange juice supply.
Gather, analyze, and organize technical information under tight timelines to support decision-making by senior leadership and industry partners.
Manage analytical work requests from multiple scientists by prioritizing and scheduling work for maximum efficiency while providing clear, proactive communication on project timing and progress.
Qualification and Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry or related field is required, Master’s degree is preferred
Must possess 2-4 years successful experience in product development in the beverage industry.
Strong understanding of horticulture and biotechnology.
Must have strong knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Strong skills in data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication of results
Ability to:
Apply technical know how to deliver high quality work.
Adapt and learn new processes, tools, and procedures.
Help solve complex problems while anticipating downstream impacts.
Make timely decisions within scope, balancing speed and quality, and in consideration of interdependence of other priorities.
Fluent in English; regional languages a plus
Regional travel up to 10%.
Location: Apopka, FL
Skills:
Chemistry, Communication, Continual Improvement Process, Data Compilation, Environmental Science, Food Safety Management, Food Sciences, Food Technology, Green Solutions, Horticulture, Laboratory Testing, Leadership, Microbiology, Product Development, Quality Control (QC), Researching, Sensory TestingPay Range:
United States of America: 91,700 USD - 110,000 USDBase 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:
7.5Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.
Location(s):
United States of AmericaCity/Cities:
ApopkaTravel Required:
00% - 25%Relocation Provided:
NoJob Posting End Date:
July 31, 2026Our 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’s 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.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.