Job Description Summary:
Scope & Impact
Lead the top and bottom-line growth agenda for multiple fast growing highly segmented and complex Hydration and Advanced Hydration global categories and brands. This role is responsible for building and strongly drive a robust 3–5-year innovation pipeline of global and regional reach in partnership with the GDI Category network, Innovation and Technology Strategy, Global Equipment Platform, Global Marketing Category Lead, OU Innovation Hubs, OU Marketing Innovation Leaders, Strategy, Human Insights, Global Supply Chain, and Research-to-Experimentation.
Global Category Pipelines are expected to deliver sufficiency to drive +$306M Incremental KO GP impact from innovation. This category is one of largest contributors to the revenue and profits for the Company with the biggest projected industry growth, especially on functional space. This leader will be accountable for category product, package, equipment competitive benchmarking in the TOP 15/40 markets, ensuring Global Hydration and Advanced Hydration portfolio remain highly competitive.
Orchestrator of multiple TI&SC function subject matter experts and leaders, such as Flavor and Ingredient Research, Process Development, TCR, Packaging, SRA, QSE, SC, FM, CPS, etc., to identify fit-for-purpose concepts, which could be deployed through viable scalable solutions into the markets by the Innovation Center peers or Innovations teams. This leader will also support the NA Innovation Center leader on Shape the Future Innovation Hub to deliver against Innovation metrics.
This role is a member of the North America Innovation Center Leadership Team.
Focus Areas
Key areas of focus of this role can be summarized as follows:
- Develop innovation strategies (product, package, and equipment) to deliver 3–5-year pipeline for growth plans for Hydration and Advanced Hydration category
- Collaborate closely with Research to Experimentation (RtE) team to design and develop scalable solutions for next generation of category products via rigorous due diligence (clinical trials, consumer research and other scientific studies).
- Responsible for identifying and enabling the execution of the next RtE pipeline that can help step change of the growth of the categories.
- Collaborate deeply with global and regional SRA teams to get ahead of novel ingredients approval through appropriate agencies (FDA, EFSA etc.) and bring bolder competitive claims.
- Deliver impactful programs to deliver against Category Strategy in long range plans and beyond.
- Partner with Innovation Center peers to leverage project management routines to deliver global innovations with local consumer relevance.
- Ensure technical efforts on category are informed by consumer insights, business models and important technology trends to deliver advantaged solutions.
- Establish and maintain process and routines for cross functional inclusion in technical innovation strategy development, planning and project execution.
- Monitor external environment to identify and action on threats and opportunities for the category.
- Define and orchestrate the network for optimal people resourcing to deliver global pipelines.
- Lead and direct a multi-functional technical team (6-8 people) focused on the Global pipeline for the Global Hydration and Advanced Hydration category.
FUNCTION RELATED ACTIVITIES/KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Category Leadership:
- Drive Category Big Bets to deliver against innovation metrics.
- Lead the design and front-end development of global Big Bets and partner with Innovation Center peers for regional solutions as appropriate, to ensure full value of initiatives is captured across the enterprise.
- Provide inspirational thought leadership and enable implementation of Category providing 3–5-year pipelines for competitive advantage.
- Leverage routines to ensure early engagement and inclusion of other TI&SC functions.
- Ensure organizational alignment in the design and execution of Big Bets.
- Maintain value added relationships with multiple constituencies including Coca-Cola system leaders and associates; bottlers; customers; suppliers; external stakeholders at multiple levels and on a global basis.
- Partnering with the R&D peers, ensuring external connection with Bottlers and suppliers to understand needs and share plans, to fully leverage their capability and support internal stakeholders in trade associations to address industry challenges.
- Lead and accelerate the Category Development on Functional space (size > $10Bn, with high growth across markets), driving a transformational change into the Hydration & Advanced Hydration category.
- Active contributor to Shape the Future Innovation Hub together with the NA R&D leader to deliver against Innovation Hub metrics.
People Leadership:
- Build and develop a highly engaged Category GDI network as well as leading a direct team (team size estimate 6-8 employees).
- Manage resources effectively, including leading the allocation and prioritization of activities, budget requirements, performance management and assessing development needs.
- Lead development of clear case for change, desired outcomes, accurate scope, clear roles and decision-making, and effective communication of the change supporting NA Innovation Center leader on change managing and new ways of working.
Stakeholder Management:
- Build relationships and networks with key stakeholders across the organization.
- Facilitate the identification of timelines, dashboards, and financial scorecards for each initiative to keep Global Category Leadership current on progress and potential red flags.
- Ensure effective and efficient information flow between Global Category Leaders and the R&D peers.
Technical Leadership:
- As a key member of NA GDI LT, develop and implement long-term and annual business plans and ensure successful achievement of them.
- Play a key role as a leadership member to ensure the Technical Community provides optimal thought leadership, strong business value and deliver on our commitments to the business from our functional responsibilities.
- Partner in the ownership of key technical talent progress and their development.
- Control and deploy resources appropriately, making sure the category budget is well managed and we deliver against the objectives.
- Communication Focus:
- This role communicates internally with the GDI network, Global Category Marketing, OU teams, and Global TI&SC teams. External communication with Bottlers, suppliers and trade associations.
- Communication and engagement with multiple key stakeholders to gain agreement on the short- and long-term category strategies for TCCC.
- Proactive and clear communication and engagement with all key stakeholders connected with Category R&D agenda.
- Advanced influence and negotiation skills to ensure clear articulation and alignment with stakeholders at senior levels internally and externally for the company category innovation agenda across the globe.
Education Requirements:
- BS/MS in Foos Science/Engineering - 15+ yrs
- Human Nutrition; Health and Exercise Sciences degree/certificate a plus
- Product Design Thinking certificate a plus
- Business and/or Finance certificate/experience a plus
What We'll Do for You:
- Exposure to World-Class Leaders: Gain access and insights from global technology leaders, expanding your network with industry pacesetters.
- Global Connections: Create global relationships to swiftly mirror successful tactics and learn from international expertise.
- Purpose-Driven: Engage with our purpose-driven approach that encourages our teams, allowing them to champion environmental and community initiatives while providing safe, high-quality products.
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.
Skills:
Cross-Departmental Collaboration, Experimentation, Risk Management, Strategic Leadership, Waterfall Model
Pay Range:
United States of America: 194,000 USD - 228,000 USD
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:
50
Annual 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.
Long-term Incentive Reference Value Percentage:
20
Long-term Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role.
Location(s):
United States of America
City/Cities:
Atlanta
Travel Required:
00% - 25%
Relocation Provided:
Yes
Job Posting End Date:
June 26, 2026
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’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.