Senior Manager, Customer Innovation, Global Development & Innovation

Job Description Summary:

Our   GCM   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.  
 
You will apply deep   product development   expertise   to   lead   ideas from concept to execution, contributing to a strong and diverse portfolio of meaningful innovation — accelerating growth and helping shape the future of the organization.

Job Purpose Summary

As a   Senior Manager,   Customer Innovation , GDI   you will lead the execution of the most impactful product development initiatives   to accelerate   bottom- and top-line   growth , bringing concepts to life through advanced formulation, testing, and commercialization. As the most senior individual contributor on the team, you will support the team lead by coaching and guiding scientists, sharing deep technical   expertise , and helping shape team strategy and ways of working. You will partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders   including Global Equipment Platform, SRA, QSE, Marketing, TCR teams   to drive local and regional projects, applying strong technical judgment, market insights, and digital tools to ensure products meet consumer expectations, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing realities. This is a highly hands-on role for a trusted technical leader who influences through   expertise , mentorship, and collaboration while delivering high-impact beverage innovations .

What   You’ll   Do

- Product Design -   Work as part of functional team to align on   objective   ( new product launch, superiority,   equipment,   tax and regulation, productivity) and success   criteria’s   with OU Innovation Hub, OU TISC and Global category Leads

- Create Prototypes & Formulations  –   Coach scientists and develop lab-scale recipes driven by consumer insights and technical/supply chain requirements, following GMP and company protocols. Incorporate local insights, new ingredients, and regulatory needs into final product design.

- Test, Learn,   Improve   –   Conduct sensory,   analytical, and shelf-life testing together with the   appropriate cross   functional TISC teams; use data, digital tools and basic statistics to guide optimization and manage risk .    Ensure rigorous experimental design and data integrity.

- Scale Up for Market  –   Lead support from   GDI   for product development execution of pilot and   commercial production trials, ensuring processes and packaging compatibility.

- Risk Awareness : Proactively   identify   and manage technical and business risks (allergens, microbial, food safety, supply chain ) and   communicate mitigation actions clearly.

- Collaborate Broadly   -   Partner with   Global Equipment Platform,   Marketing, SRA, Supply Chain, Packaging, and Quality for seamless delivery; connect with global technical experts to import best practices.   Maintain effective communication of project insights, challenges, and technical recommendations.

- Maintain Excellence  –   Over the full process , k eep lab equipment in top condition; follow safety, compliance, and documentation standards.

- Business understanding & System knowledge : Strong understanding of Coca-Cola’s business operations, market dynamics, and industry trends. Awareness of bottling and syrup operations and global supply chains .

What   You’ll   Need

- Bachelor’s/ Master’s in Food Science , Chemistry, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or similar.

- 8-10   years in product development for beverages/food

- Strong technical understanding of ingredient functionality within beverage systems.

- Experience managing multiple projects from ideation to launch in fast-paced environments.

- Familiarity with sensory evaluation, consumer testing, and data interpretation for decision-making.

- Ability to

- Think end-to-end across   initiatives   with integration of commercial and business acumen into technical decisions   and influence   pr iorities aligned with strategy.

- Understand and apply the technical domain trends/   new technology   at work

- Encourage creativity within the team and removes barriers to idea generation.

- Leverage internal and external resources smartly

- Act as a subject-matter expert and sets technical direction or standards.

- Solve complex, ambiguous problems and   anticipates   downstream impacts.

- Coach and supports others within and outside of the team   including   cross functional influence , sharing   expertise   and constructive feedback.   Guide and inspire more junior team members, fostering a positive and collaborative environment

- Make   timely   decisions with incomplete information while managing risk

- Adapt quickly to changing market or project needs, showing resilience and flexibility

- Fluent in English;   additional   language a plus.

- Regional travel up to   10–15%.

Skills:
Chemistry, Communication, Continual Improvement Process, Data Compilation, Environmental Science, Food Safety Management, Food Sciences, Food Technology, Green Solutions, Laboratory Testing, Leadership, Microbiology, Product Development, Quality Control (QC), Researching, Sensory Testing, Waterfall Model

Location(s):
China

City/Cities:
Shanghai

Travel Required:
00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:
No

Job Posting End Date:
October 30, 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.