The Senior Director II,Sweetener Research, Development and Applicationis a pivotal leader in the Flavor & Ingredient Researchand Application(FIRA) organization and a key member of the Research to Experimentation (RtE) Leadership Team. This rolewill set the research agenda forend to endsweetener discovery, validation and development, and work with and across our system todevelopmentsweetener system application todeliver superior taste to drive the growth and ensure our licensetowin
Key Responsibilities
You will lead a high-performingtalentedteam of scientists to:
Developend to end sweetener discovery,validationand development strategy
Identifyand collaborate with world leading expertsto advance the sweetener system research
Identityandupdatesthe skills and competencies of the team and collaborators toleveragethe latest external technologies and digital tools forthe researchand development.
Buildfoundationscience and knowledgein sweet taste area
Developa robust sweetener systempipeline that will enable solutions to address consumer,marketand regulatory demands
Translate research into breakthrough, consumer-centric applications
Provide thought leadership to the industry, academia and research institutes on sweetness, and sweetenersystem
Provide The Center of Excellence on sweetener system application.
You will collaborate globally across Technical Innovation & Supply Chain (TISC), Human and Consumer Insights, Global Categories, and regional R&D centers to shape Coca-Cola’ssweetener research strategy, influence industry direction, and forge partnerships with universities, suppliers, and technology leaders.
Strategic Leadership & Innovation
Shape the future research agenda on sweetenersystemto meet consumer,customerand regulation needs,drive short-, mid-, and long-term growthand ensure our license towin
Provide inspirational thought leadership to guidesweetener systemresearch and application strategy globally.
Influence industry,academiaand research institutes to develop relevant technologies and tools (including AI/ML tools) to furtherthescientificadvances.
Global Collaboration & Stakeholder Influence
Partner with internal stakeholders across RTE, R&D, technical functions (including Scientific & Regulatory Affairs), marketing, and category leadership to align strategy and executionon sweetenersystemapplication
Influence externalstakeholders—including suppliers, universities, and technology partnersfor joint-development
Build compelling business cases to secure investment and organizational buy-in.
People Leadership
Directly lead and develop an organization of approximately nine (9) people, including six (6) direct reports, with full accountability for performance management, capability building, succession planning, and engagement
Build and sustain ahigh performingglobal community of sweetener discovery, research, and application experts
Allocate resources strategically, manage budgets, and set clear performance expectations.
Foster a high-impact culture focused on innovation, agility, and continuous learning.
Serve as a mentor, role model, and advocate for talent development.
Operational& ExecutionExcellence
Implement structured processes for early-stage experimentationthroughcommercial delivery.
Maintain clear routines to track milestones, budgets, and success metrics.
Communicate progress and achievements to seniorleadershipacross the organization.
Leadership Profile
Strategic Thinker: Capable of envisioning future possibilities and integrating science, consumer insights, and business priorities.
Influence & Business Acumen: Ability to shape and implement strategic agendas across the Coca-Cola system, while influencing industry standards.
Agile Innovator: Comfortable taking calculated risks and pivoting based on market and science-led opportunities.
Inspiring People Leader: Proven ability to lead, build, and motivate global teams.
Connector: Strong ability to bring stakeholders together across functions, geographies, and disciplines.
Qualifications & Experience
Ph.D. in the field ofscience and engineering including but not limited to: Chemistry, Biology,Bio chemistryChemical Engineering, Bio-chemical engineering, Physics,etc.
Minimum 15 years of experience in industry, minimum 10 years of leading deep technical experts.Preferred experience in food & beverage, ingredient suppliers,or pharmaceutical industry. Demonstrated ability toset and drive research agenda, develop research strategies,andbuild successful R&D pipelines,take innovations from scientificconceptsto commercialreadiness
Proventrack recordinprivate / public collaboration,cross-functional, multi-market collaboration with tight timelines.
Experience influencing senior leadership and shaping organizational strategies.
Experiencein engaging and influenceglobal leading experts (such as Member of National Science Academy, well recognized industry experts etc.)
Demonstrable leadership skills, with a proventrack recordof leading cross-functional teams and platforms, especially without direct management authority.
Deep understanding of system economics, value chains, risk management, and mitigation, coupled with an agile and iterative mindset.
Proficient in project management principles, with the ability to apply these principles to plan, manage, or execute projects ensuring completion within set timelines and budgets.
Strong communicationskills and the capacity to influence and align with senior-level stakeholders internally within Coca-Cola and externally across the system.
Knowledgeableof latest AI/ML and molecular discovery technologies and tools.
Technical Competencies
Deepexpertisein one of the scientific fields such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and materialscience.
Deep understanding ofmolecular discovery, ingredient research and development, sensory optimization, and technological integration.
Knowledge ofa regulatoryframework for ingredient approval and use globally
Industry network and external collaboration experience.
What We Offer
Purpose-Driven Work:Help shape products that deliver both pleasure and functional benefits to consumers worldwide.
Global Connections:Work at the center of a worldwide network of innovation and technology leaders.
Culture of Belonging:Join an organization where diverse perspectives are valued and innovation thrives.
Impact:Directly shape the functional ingredient platform that will define the next generation of Coca-Cola beverages.
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:
July 31, 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.
From our roots at the counter of a local Atlanta pharmacy, to our current portfolio of more than 200 beverages, The Coca-Cola Company is one of the most globally-recognized brands in the world. Today, our lineup features beloved beverage brands, including
Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, smartwater, Dasani, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Goldpeak, Minute Maid, Simply, fairlife and more.
The Coca-Cola Company is committed to bringing about real change – to our industry, to our local economies, and to the world around us. Through constant evolution, we continue to reimagine the way we refresh the world and make a difference.
We're innovating our portfolio with products that give people more varieties that meet our consumers where they are.
We're working with global partners to transform our business, and grow it in more sustainable ways.
And we're providing jobs and opportunities to the local economies where our people live and work, employing 700,000 people throughout our global system alongside bottling partners.
If you're a changemaker looking to make a change, come join us in our mission to refresh the world and make a difference.
Learn more at: www.coca-colacompany.com/careers
