Address Position Overview:
This Product Development Manager role plays a crucial part in the company's innovation efforts within the alcoholic beverage industry, responsible for overseeing new product initiatives, reformulations, and the application of cutting-edge technologies. The candidate should bring a minimum of 5 years of Product Development experience and possess a strong educational background in food science, chemistry, or engineering. The successful candidate will ensure products meet the highest standards through chemical analyses, production trials, and adherence to company and industry regulations, all while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners. Fluent English and the capacity to manage multiple projects are essential, with up to 10% travel required.
Focus, Scope, & Impact:
- Execute the Product Development pipeline initiatives for the Alcohol Ready To Drink (ARTD) portfolio: new products, reformulations and application of new product/ingredient/alcohol base technologies.
- Provides expertise and recommendations of best practices for production of alcoholic beverage finished products during production trials with the plants or bottling partners, which includes consulting line managers as appropriate on milestones and general guidelines and proactively provides advice inside & outside Research & Development (R&D) community.
- Performs chemical analyses using instrumental methods in order to determine the composition of samples and prepares samples and sampling plan for ingredients, intermediate or finished products, or other materials in order to perform analyses.
- Design, develop, conduct and/or review experiments (e.g., laboratory or process experiments) to deliver new products; evaluate ingredient, product efficacy or claims; or evaluate new ingredients, materials, products or processes. Write detailed and accurate reports for projects and plant trials (e.g. equipment validation, evaluation of new processes)
- Support pre-commercialization test runs to ensure production capability as needed.
- Accountable for the product formulation aspect of the project delivery (Quality, timing & cost)
- Able to manage and deliver on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Able to make routine decisions independently. Consults line manager as appropriate on key milestones & general guidelines.
- Able to resolve technical challenges linked to formulation, process, ingredient variabilities, scale-up.
- Able to translate consumer test results and product sensory attributes into winning product propositions.
- Able to identify areas of improvement on Product Development, process, and communication routines
Experience
5 years successful experience in Product Development in the beverage industry Educational requirements / qualifications: Bachelor's degree or Post Graduate in food science, chemistry, engineering or related field.
Functional Competencies:
- Proficient - Food Science /Technology
- Competent - Alcoholic Beverage Technology
- Competent: Beverage Processing
- Competent - System dynamic
- Working knowledge - Marketing
- Working knowledge - Alcoholic beverage regulations
- Competent - Project management
- Competent - Communication
- Working knowledge - Sensory science / Consumer.
Cultural diversity:
- Fluent in English.
- Additional language is a plus.
Travel Requirements: Up to 10%
Work Focus
Development of prototypes at lab scale, following all good manufacturing practices to ensure safety. Production of samples in the pilot plant, including leading product stability assessments Filling accurately internal databases for stability tracking, formula database, project management tools Precise description of manufacturing conditions, following strictly The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) guidelines and recommendations from R&D Microbiologist. Provide input of best practices for production of finished products during production trials, identifying ideal process and risks in case capabilities at the plant are not in place, with the support of manager and R&D microbiologist when applicable. Lead discussions on manufacturing instructions to plan trials and first productions with copackers, bottler, equipment supplier with support of line manager Work in cross functional team with Consumer Guidance to assure prototypes are developed leveraging science of taste. Be updated on the "New World of Risk" and take this into consideration in ingredient selection, formula and process design to ensure safety (eg. allergen management, micro risks, product and raw materials sensitivities). Be externally focused, helping to identify new partners, technologies and ingredients that can bring competitive edge and screen/assess them internally, with manager support. Continuous curiosity on competition activities and strategy and trends in the category, identifying growth opportunities with the support of manager. Strictly follows and understands good lab practice (5S) and internal procedures, following as a principle "safety first" in all that we do.
Communication Focus
Clear communication between R&D and the project team (project status, communicate potential issues, potential hurdles) with the support of the category manager as appropriate. Proactively provides advice within R&D community and project stakeholders Develop and maintain internal and external network in area of responsibility. Cultivate good relationship with Marketing, Technical and Supply Chain functions, locally and globally.
Skills:
organization; Compliance; Six Sigma; ISO 14000; ISO 18000; Microsoft Office; Troubleshooting; Project Management
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.
