Job Description
The Manager of Foodservice andOn-Premisechannels (FSOP) within the Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) function reports to the Senior Director, TCDR, and leads consumer research for the Food Service Division of the North America Operating Unit (NAOU) and Beverage Categories. In this role, you will lead the application of sensory and consumer science to ensure that product, packaging, and equipment across FSOP channels deliver consistent, superior experiences.
You will shape the strategic direction of the FSOP innovation agenda by translating deep consumer and sensory insights into front-end, insight-driven strategies that power a prioritized, high-impact pipelineacross product, packaging, and equipment—enabling right-first-time execution, accelerating speed to market, and strengthening competitive advantage. As a critical business partner, you will develop and lead end-to-end, consumer-centric learning plans and research strategies that connect present-forward insights with future-back innovation opportunities.
Working cross-functionally with Marketing, Human Insights, and Global Development & Innovation teams across innovation centers, you will ensure alignment to evolving consumer trends and business priorities, driving integrated strategies that inform decision-making and deliver differentiated consumer experiences and sustainable business growth. Embedded within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, this role ensures consumer insights are fully integrated into broader innovation and strategic processes.
FSOPRelated Activities / Key Responsibilities
- Lead TCDR Strategy: Develop and execute sensory and consumer research plans aligned with FSOP business priorities, defining success criteria for taste,consistency,and experience.
- Evaluate Real-World Experience: Assess beverage performance across FSOP conditions (fountain systems, equipment variability, ice, serving formats) to ensureoptimalconsumer experience.
- Design & Analyze Research: Execute quantitative and qualitative studies (CLT, HUT, in-outlet),leveragingdigital tools for data capture and digitization to ensure high-quality, consistent datasets. Apply statistical methods to generate actionable insights and support data-driven decision-making.
- Influence the System and Collaborate broadly: Partner by providing consumer-driven technical direction to GDI, Equipment, Quality, Customer and Supply Chain teams shaping decisions.
- Benchmark & Identify Opportunities: Conduct competitive evaluations and track FSOP trends toidentifyrisks and growth opportunities.
- Drive Decision Confidence: Deliver clear, data-driven recommendations and highlight risks related to consumerperceptionand in-market variability.
FunctionalRelated Activities / Key Responsibilities
- Managing end-to-end delivery of research projects and initiatives. Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, alignment, and adherence toestablishedgovernance, while supporting the adoption of best practices across markets and categories.
- Act as a strategic partner to the business by contributing to the innovation pipeline.Collaborate with cross-functional teams (SRA, HI, Marketing, GDI, ITS, Strategy) to incorporate a consumer-first mindset and support insight-led decision-making.
- Lead key innovation research initiatives, partnering with stakeholders to deliver high-quality, consumer-centric research. Ensure strong execution of TCDR projects with a “right-first time” approach and contribute to driving measurable business outcomes.
- Translate business questions into actionable research plans. Develop and execute end-to-end research learning plans usingappropriate methodologiesand digital tools to generate insights that inform business decisions.
- Apply functionalexpertiseacross TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, consumer research, and data analysis,leveragingadvanced methodologies (e.g., AI/ML, statistical modeling) whereappropriate toenhance research impact.
- Design and execute robust research studies using sound statistical and analytical approaches. Analyze and synthesize data into clear insights and actionable recommendations to support business decision-making.
- Deliver data-driven recommendations by integrating consumer insights with business and competitive context.Identifypotential risks, support solution development, and communicate findings clearly through structured, insight-led storytelling.
- Contribute to theTCDRGlobal community by supporting research-on-research initiatives and sharing learnings to help strengthen functional capabilities.
- Stay externally aware of emerging research methodologies and tools, partnering with capability teams to pilot and implement relevant approaches within projects.
- Support continuous improvement of TCDR practices by adopting new tools, approaches, and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Maintain strong working knowledge ofBeverage Categories, including sensory evaluation fundamentals,trends,and competitive landscape
Data Analytics & Synthesis
- Proficientstatistical analysisofsensory& consumerresearch,to includeinterpretation of research data, and application ofappropriate methods,adoptingappropriate riskmanagement.
- Proficient useofstatistical software(SPSS, SAS, JMP)andtools for analysismodelling(Python, R, SQL, PLS Regression,ANOVA, factorial analysis,LLM,ML) and visualization (Power BI),withknowledgeofAzurePlatformfor global data business use case analysis
- Apply advanced analytics and statistical modeling to solve complex business problems.
- Translate data into clear, actionable insights that support business decision-making.
- Develop and adopt innovative, data-driven solutions to drive competitiveadvantage
- Demonstrate hands-on experience applying analytics to real-world business challenges with measurable impact.
- Stay current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with internal and external resources.
Technical Risk Management
- Skilled in identifying and assessing technical risks(Type I Error (alpha) and Type II Error (beta),collaboratewith the Global TCDR Capabilities team, tounderstand andmitigate these risks, implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity, andincreasingconfidence in final business decisions.
BuildFSOP & Categoryknowledge to support Present-Forward and Future-back Innovation pipeline and OU LRP business planning:
- Contribute toBeverage Category research planning by generating product, sensory, and consumer insights that inform innovation, portfolio optimization, and growth opportunities.
- Conduct competitive benchmarking across product, packaging, and equipment toidentifydrivers of consumer preference, emerging trends, and whitespace opportunities.
- Execute front-end exploration research toidentifykey drivers of consumer choice and translate findings into actionable sensory and consumer insights that strengthen early-stage innovation.
Technical Communication & Data Storytelling
- Translate business needs into actionable plans using established processes and best practices.
- Communicate insights clearly using data-driven storytelling to inform decisions and engageboth technical and non-technicalstakeholders.
- Develop reports and dashboards to analyze consumer behavior and translate data into practical, actionable insights.
- Apply structured storytelling frameworks and tools to communicate technical product insights effectively across teams.
Influencing& StakeholderManagement
- Build andmaintaineffective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners (e.g., suppliers, academia) to support innovation and businessobjectives
- Collaborate across a complex organization, usingeffective communicationand stakeholder management skills to support alignment and delivery of business outcomes.
- Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, and Human Insights to deliver consumer-centric insights and support category growth.
- Support theBeverage Categoriesagenda by working with GDI leadership and contributing to regional OU priorities across Product, Packaging, and Equipment.
- Mentor and train colleagues on new methodologies and skills to continuously improve the competence of theteam.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Educational Requirement: Batchelor Science Degree orMastersDegree, BSc /MScfrom an accredited University in Food or Sensory Science, Engineering,BehavioralPsychology, or related field, andtechnical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics and AI, Data Science,User Experience,to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches.
- Work Related Experience: 8+ years of experience withinFMCGBeverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer research,delivering consumer centric results working in a matrix FMCG organization including R&D, Marketing and Human Insight,translated into successful business impact.Priorexperience inTechnicalConsumerDataResearchwithintheFood ServiceIndustry,is preferred.
Desired Skills and Competencies
Technical & Category As the manager of TCDR to require an understandingofTCDR Sensory & Consumer Science methodologies, Applied StatisticsAI experience,Categoryand Food Serviceknowledge.
- Strong understanding of consumer-centric innovation frameworks and their application to support current and future business needs.
- Solid experience in sensory and consumer research methodologies,to includeAIassisted,with the ability to apply statistical approaches to generate insights.
- Applied knowledge of social and behavioral science principles to inform consumer understanding in the beverage category.
- Familiarity with demand spaces,needstates, and psychographic approaches, with the ability to partner effectively with Human Insights teams.
- Experience using digital tools and data-led approaches to analyze sensory and consumer data and support business decisions.
- Working knowledge of advanced analytics(e.g., unstructured data analysis, AI/ML, NLP, GenAI tools) and their application in research.
- Ability to create clear data visualizations and apply structured storytelling;proficiencyin tools such as Power BI.
- Good understanding ofBeverageCategories, including sensory evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscape.
Human-Centered Design:Lead holistic research plans to address key questions for specific business researchprojects.
- Sensory Science & Consumer Science,Qualitative andquantitative research, AIassisted
- Social, behavioral human science
- Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitativeresearch.
- Foundations of technical risk management
- User experience
- Develop clear, insight-led storytelling and business recommendations from data.
- Apply technical knowledge to support credibility and contribute to informed decision-making.
- Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, tailoring messages to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Excellent communication skills.Demonstrate effective influencing skills to support alignment and outcomes.
- Creative and curious.Utilize digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance communication&efficiency
Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data
- Excellent statistics and data analysis skills.
- Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles,demonstratingan eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively.
- Understand and work in data management tools (Azure) andproficiencyin visualization (Power BIor other)
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Marketing, Human Insights, etc.) to execute project work and deliver business priorities, including FSOP
- Provide relevant market and businesscontextto support informed decision-making.
- Build andmaintainstrong working relationships with internal and external partners to support business performance.
- Engage and align stakeholders across functions to achieve sharedobjectives
- Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address business challenges.
- Drive effective execution through strong planning, organization, and prioritization.
- Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge and supporting capability development.
- Recommend more effective ways of working to execute and drive value.
- Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with external resources.
Travel:Travel will fluctuate and is projected to be a maximum of10% of the time.
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:
Chemistry, Communication, Continual Improvement Process, Data Compilation, Environmental Science, Food Safety Management, Food Sciences, Food Technology, Green Solutions, Laboratory Testing, Leadership, Microbiology Laboratory, Product Development, Quality Control (QC), Researching, Sensory Processing, Waterfall Model
Pay Range:
United States of America: 109,000 USD - 129,000 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:
15
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.
Location(s):
United States of America
City/Cities:
Atlanta
Travel Required:
00% - 25%
Relocation Provided:
No
Job Posting End Date:
July 3, 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.
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