Senior Director, Sweetener Research, Validation and Application

Role Overview

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.