Director, Functional Platform Leader

coke; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 149,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The Coca-Cola Company seeks a Director of Functional Ingredient Research & Application to lead neuroscience-driven platform projects for beverage innovation, cognition, relaxation and sleep benefits. The role translates advanced science into consumer-ready functional beverages with global scope.

Candidates demonstrate leadership, deep scientific expertise, and a proven track record in applying research to ingredient development while partnering with internal teams and external networks to drive

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Neuroscience, Life science, Molecular biology, Cell biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of related research experience.
• Expertise in molecular & cellular neuroscience, neurochemistry, cognitive neuroscience, neurology, or sleep cycle and mood regulation.
• Strong leadership capability with experience developing, driving and implementing research strategy and managing high-impact projects.
• Proven curious and innovative mindset with the ability to turn scientific insights into actionable solutions.
• Strong communication skills to convey complex science to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Attention to detail and passion for Science with curiosity about consumers and business.
• Project management knowledge to plan and execute projects on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and form scientific hypotheses as research exploration directions based on consumer needs.
• Explore, identify and translate neuroscience knowledge for functional ingredient solutions through collaborations with internal and external networks.
• Develop and land the platform research strategy and pipeline for functional ingredients innovation.
• Develop clinical studies, test protocols, and experiments to validate efficacy and enable substantiation with high-quality data.
• Drive end-to-end collaboration with cross-functional teams to translate research into consumer-centered ingredient solutions.
• Identify, recommend, and manage external research partners.
• Stay ahead of cutting-edge developments in functional ingredient science and identify novel technologies or partnerships.
• Enable innovation solutions with beverage applications and global scaling up feasibility.
• Advise on technology investments to enable future success.
• Foster an innovation mindset and accountability within the team and collaborations.

Skills

Chemistry

Communication

Continual Improvement Process

Data Compilation

Environmental Science

Food Safety and Sanitation

Food Sciences

Food Technology

Green Solutions

Laboratory Testing

Microbiological Test

Product Development

Quality Control

Research and Development Operations

Sensory Testing

Waterfall Model

Education

PhD preferred in Neuroscience or Life Sciences

Job description

Job Description Summary:

Director, Functional Platform Leader

About the Research Team:

The Research to Experimentation (RtE) function in TI&SC delivers scalable and impactful innovations in the areas of ingredients, packaging, and dispensing (package-less) that grow, sustain, and protect our business. The Flavor and Ingredients Research Application (FIRA) team is part of RtE and creates a compelling consumer holistic experience through flavor & ingredients.

Our Functional ingredient Research, Application and Ingredient Delivery team (FRAD) is researching, developing, and validating the edge creation functional ingredient solutions for beverage application in order to address consumer wellness and functional benefit need.

Job Description Summary:

The Director of Functional Ingredient Research & Application will explore, identify and translate the relevant neuroscience knowledge and advance including molecular & cellular neuroscience, neurochemistry, cognitive neuroscience, or neurology, into functional ingredient solution and beverage innovation for cognition, relaxation and sleep benefits. This role will also advance our knowledge and expertise in areas such as (but not limited to) brain and gut axis, and healthy aging areas, striving to unlock transformational opportunities for differentiation in functional beverages.

This role has global scope, and we are looking for a thought leader with technical subject matter expert and influencing skills. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in combining deep scientific and academic expertise with hands-on experience in application or ingredient industry and will bring leadership acumen to develop and execute a robust research strategy and pipeline across short, mid, and long-term horizons.

The individual will play a pivotal role in driving innovation in functional ingredient research while collaborating across global internal and external networks to deliver impactful technical innovation, aligned with The Coca-Cola Company's strategic vision and OU innovation need.

What You’ll Do for Us

Key Responsibilities:

• Initiate and form scientific hypothesis as research exploration direction based on consumer’s needs and problem to solve.
• Explore, identify and translate the relevant science in neuroscience for functional ingredient solution for beverage application, through the collaboration with internal and external technical network, including universities, institutes, start-ups, technical providers, and ingredient suppliers.
• Develop, execute and land the platform research strategy and pipeline (short-mid-long-term) for functional ingredients innovation under manager’s guidance, with consumer centric approach from insights to communication, to deliver differentiated and transformational solutions for functional beverages.
• Work with appropriate internal and external experts to develop clinical studies and test protocols and experiments to validate efficacy of functional ingredients and technology, and enable claim substantiate with high quality data.
• Drive end-to-end collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Global Development & Innovation, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Technical consumer Research and external partners, to translate research into consumer-centrically ingredient solutions to address consumer problems and bring value to system.
• Responsible for identifying, recommending, and managing external research partners.
• Stay ahead of cutting-edge developments in functional ingredient science and proactively identify novel technologies, partnerships, or methodologies to maintain competitive advantage.
• Enable innovation solutions with beverage application and global scaling up feasibility to bring value to system.
• Access and make recommendations for technology investments today that will enable future success.
• Foster an innovation mindset and accountability culture within the team and external collaborations to deliver measurable results.

What You’ll Need

Job requirements & Related Work Experience:

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Neuroscience, Life science, Molecular biology, Cell biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of related research (and application) experience.
• Expertise in key focus areas such as molecular & cellular neuroscience, neurochemistry, cognitive neuroscience, neurology, or sleep cycle and mood regulation.
• Strong leadership capability with experience of developing, driving and implementing research strategy, managing high-impact projects, innovating new solutions based on science, and influencing diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proven curious and innovative mindset, with the ability to turn scientific insights into actionable, consumer-relevant solutions.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex science to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong attention to detail. Great passion in Science. Curiosity on consumers and business.
• Project Management: Knowledge of project management principles and the ability to apply the principles, tools and techniques to develop/plan, manage or execute projects or work plans to ensure successful completion (e.g., on time, within budget). Prioritization skills.
• Proprietary Information: Ability to recognize and protect proprietary information as it relates to formulas and ingredients. Form patent strategy and file patent application to protect proprietary information.
• Endurance: Willingness and ability to occasionally function effectively over extended periods of time. Ability to be flexible and adjust priorities based on business needs. Resilience and agility to the challenges from business, technology and commercialization.

What We Can Do For You

• Purpose-Driven Work: Contribute to a purpose-driven organization focused on protecting the environment, supporting the communities we serve, and delivering safe, high-quality products.
• Global Connections: Develop, strengthen, and maintain global connections that help teams move faster, share knowledge, and learn from others across the organization.
• Community of Belonging: Be part of an organization that supports continuous growth and fosters an environment where people feel safe, empowered, and able to bring their best selves to work.
• Growth Opportunities: Work with talented colleagues on meaningful projects that create business impact and support professional growth.

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 and Sanitation (Inactive), Food Sciences, Food Technology, Green Solutions, Laboratory Testing, Microbiological Test, Product Development, Quality Control (QC), Research and Development Operations (Inactive), Sensory Testing, Waterfall Model

Pay Range:

United States: 149,000 - 173,000 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:

30

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:

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

October 11, 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.