Manager, Innovation & Commercialization

Role Purpose

Lead the end‑to‑end commercialization of innovation and renovation initiatives across Sparkling, Hydration, Nutrition, and Dairy categories within the INSWA Operating Unit.

The role integrates across the Coca‑Cola system, partnering with R&D, Marketing, CPS, G2G, Finance, Technical, OU PMO, Bottlers, and Suppliers to ensure flawless, compliant, and on‑time product and packaging launches aligned with KORE, Quality & Food Safety standards, and local regulatory requirements.

Job Discerption

• Own the New Product Commercialization (NPC) lifecycle from concept approval through post‑launch stabilization, ensuring delivery against  timeline , Cost, Quality & Food safety commitments.

• Lead networked ways of working, acting as the single point of integration across Functional, OU, and Franchise stakeholders.

• Drive program governance and execution discipline, including GANTT plans, milestone tracking, and OU commercialization calendar alignment with PMO.

• Ensure alignment of launch volumes, capacity readiness, and supply capabilities with CPS, Marketing, Franchise Operations, and Bottling partners.

• Provide technical leadership during innovation strategy development, feasibility assessment, and claims validation.

• Partner with R&D and Technical teams to deliver formulation development, PAR, trials, scale‑up, and stability studies in line with approved design intent.

• Ensure manufacturing, packaging, and supplier readiness at bottler plants and co‑packers, supporting site trials and first production runs.

• Lead structured troubleshooting and issue resolution related to formulation, quality, food safety, or operational readiness.

• Govern KORE compliance, quality specifications, formula management, food safety and regulatory alignment, including engagement with TISC counterparts for New Products.

• Develop and maintain Technical Notes and commercialization documentation, and continuous process improvement.

Leadership Impact

• System Leadership: Builds trust and drives results through strong franchise and network collaboration.

• Consumer & Customer First: Delivers scalable innovations that meet consumer needs and enable bottler execution excellence.

• Bias for Action: Accelerates speed to market while maintaining safety, quality, and compliance rigour.

• Accountability & Ownership: Owns outcomes end‑to‑end across the commercialisation lifecycle.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in New Product Development, Commercialisation, Innovation, or Project Management within Food & Beverage.

• Demonstrated capability to lead complex, cross‑functional programs in matrixed and franchise environments.

• Strong exposure to Quality, Food Safety and Manufacturing Operations.

• Working knowledge of project management tools (MS Excel, MS Project or equivalent).

• Experience within a bottler/franchise system/ dairy strongly preferred.

Communication Focus

• Communication is highly complex and critical, requiring leadership across multiple stakeholders including Brand teams, R&D, Bottlers, Suppliers, Finance, Franchise Operations, CPS, and OU functions.

• The role demands strong ability to influence without authority, align diverse priorities, and resolve conflicts.

• Clear, structured communication is essential to drive end‑to‑end commercialization execution across the system

Location(s):

India

City/Cities:

Gurugram

Travel Required:

26% – 50%

Relocation Provided:

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

May 8, 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.