Director, Product, GDI

Job Purpose Summary 

As Director, Global Juice Category, GDI, you will lead and develop a team of talented product developers, setting the strategy and innovation priorities in your category and prioritizing resources to deliver key initiatives to accelerate bottom and top line growth. You will oversee a portfolio of high‑impact beverage innovations, ensuring concepts are translated into commercially viable products through strong technical rigor and cross‑functional collaboration. You will also build and drive a robust 3–5‑year global innovation pipeline in close partnership with OU Regional Leads and OU Innovation Hubs.  The global pipeline will be implemented in partnership with the GDI Regional Leads, for the North America OU this role carries full end-to-end accountability from ideation through scale-up, commercialization and post-launch optimization.  This role balances strategic leadership with technical stewardship, coaching leaders, building team capability, and shaping critical decisions across formulation, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing readiness. 

What You’ll Do: 

• Own the global strategy development and pipeline creation for the global juice category and end‑to‑end execution of the NA juice portfolio, in partnership with brand and strategy teams to enable a robust, consumer-driven and efficient portfolio.  Create and execute global technical roadmaps and platforms, where appropriate, to enable locally resonant, consumer‑led products, packaging, and processes, aligned with regulatory and system requirements. 
• Apply deep understanding of Coca-Cola’s system dynamics, OU business models, Global Procurement, CPS and syrup manufacturing and bottling operations to global supply chains to enable scalable advantaged global solutions and NA OU executional excellence. 
• Align and execute prioritized category initiatives (innovation, superiority, productivity, regulation) with OU Innovation Hub, OU TISC, Marketing/Strategy partners and RtE, with direct accountability for delivery in NA and partnership‑based implementation outside NA. 
• Prioritize portfolios and resources to deliver committed plans, productivity gains, and continuity solutions and reduced complexity across the juice portfolio, balancing global pipeline sufficiency with NA OU delivery commitments.  
• Lead end‑to‑end innovation from ideation through scale‑up, including lab prototypes, sensory testing, equipment compatibility validation, pilot production, and bottler/manufacturing trials for the NA OU juice portfolio; applying robust scientific methods (DOE, statistical analysis) and leveraging digital tools to accelerate learning and efficiency.  
• Collaborate closely with Research to Experimentation team to design and develop scalable solutions for next generation of category products via rigorous due diligence (consumer research and other scientific studies), ensuring global transferability and NA execution readiness.  
• Ensure technical development is informed by consumer insights, market and competitor trends, business models, and emerging technologies to deliver differentiated, consumer-centric and system-advantaged solutions.   
• Ensure Stage Gate governance, rigorous due diligence, and disciplined project execution across quality, timing, and budget, with direct decision rights for NA OU programs and governance leadership for global initiatives. 
• Anticipate, assess, and mitigate risks across formulation, food safety, ingredients, equipment compatibility, process design, and regulatory compliance to enable flawless launch execution. 
• Transfer critical technical knowledge, digital documentation, and process clarity to plants and market teams to enable first‑time‑right execution at scale. 
• Drive post‑launch reviews, track performance, and translate learnings into actionable continuous improvement, owning post‑launch accountability in NA and feeding insights back into the global pipeline.  Utilize this information to identify efficiencies across juice global portfolio to maximize reach and minimize complexity.  
• Build and sustain a robust 2-5  year global innovation pipeline in partnership with Marketing and Strategy Leads, GEP, RtE, Global Procurement, OU Hub and OU Category Leads, with responsibility for successful execution of that pipeline in NA. 
• Leverage digital tools, data, and AI across the innovation lifecycle to accelerate ideation, prototyping, learning, risk management, and decision‑making while reducing complexity. 
• Influence and collaborate across Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Scientific Affairs, bottlers, syrup plants, and global SMEs to deliver impact at scale through product development and commercialization.   
• Communicate with business leadership utilizing effective communication approaches on complex topics of significant business impact. Elevate project outcomes, share learnings, provide technical leadership in cross-functional teams, and provide insights and data to guide decisions and innovations 
• Develop next‑generation technical talent by embedding core product development skills, data fluency, design thinking, inclusive leadership, and an entrepreneurial mindset within the innovation center, while strengthening global category technical capability through partnership and influence 

What You’ll Need: 

• At least 10 years product development experience in the beverages industry, or 10-12 years in the food industry with technical expertise in beverage development.  Juice experience is preferred. 
• Proven experience in leading successful innovation projects leading global innovation strategy and pipeline creation, with hands‑on end‑to‑end innovation delivery responsibility within a major operating unit 
• Enterprise and strategic mindset 
• Demonstrated ability to connect across organization lines, regardless of reporting relationships. 
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in food science, chemistry, or related field. 
• Fluent in English. 
• Regional or global travel up to 10-15% annually. 

Desired Skills and Competencies: 

• Technical knowledge of beverage and juice product development, science foundations, ingredient & processing, formulation design, equipment dispensing and industry standards.     
• Adeptness in stakeholder influencing, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and fostering a positive work environment. 
• Business acumen and enterprise mindset.  
• Analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities.  
• Effective communication skills.  
• Flexibility and adaptability to evolving circumstances and pivot strategies as needed. 
• Agility, resilience, and creativity in navigating new product development projects. 
• Ability to operate effectively in a dual‑mandate role: global category strategist and NA OU execution leader. 
• Advanced digital skills in data analytics, AI, and digital prototyping. Data integrity and cybersecurity awareness. 
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and experimental design. 
• Ability to guide and inspire more junior team members.