Manager, Global Packaging, Technical Consumer Data Research

Manager of Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) Global Packaging Reports to the Senior Director, Corp and leads Global Packaging by delivering front-end, consumer-centric technical insights that drive a prioritized global packaging innovation pipeline and enable right-first-time, high-impact outcomes. This role uniquely integrates consumer research leadership with deep technical packaging expertise to inform design, material, and format decisions grounded in both engineering feasibility and consumer desirability across TCCC beverage categories. Organizationally, the TCDR function sits within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, ensuring strong integration of consumer insights into broader innovation and strategic decision-making processes. Serving as a critical business partner, this role leads packaging-focused, end-to-end consumer-centric innovation learning agendas across global beverage categories. It collaborates closely with Marketing, Human Insights, Global Development & Innovation, Research to Experimentation and Packaging Research & Engineering to embed consumer insights into packaging engineering design, material innovation, new format development and OU packaging and product Innovations. The role ensures that packaging research from exploration, ideation through to commercialization are optimized through rigorous consumer development and validation of technical excellence, delivering future-forward, right-first-time solutions that drive superior consumer experiences and sustainable business growth. Global Packaging Related Activities / Key Responsibilities Lead end-to-end consumer-centric packaging research and learning agendas, translating insights into actionable design, usability, and technical requirements that guide global innovation pipelines. Integrate consumer insights with packaging engineering design to optimize ideas from exploration through commercialization for performance, feasibility, and consumer acceptance. Provide leadership in innovation of materials, new formats, design, aligning consumer desirability with processing, and manufacturing capabilities. Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Human Insights, Packaging R&D / RTE, Sustainability, and Innovation teams to embed consumer-driven insights into technical packaging decisions. Identify and scale next-generation packaging technologies and formats through collaboration with external partners and internal networked teams. Drive right-first-time, high-impact packaging innovation by de-risking decisions through integrated consumer validation, technical rigor, and clear linkage to business growth and sustainability goals. Function Related Activities / Key Responsibilities Managing end-to-end delivery of research projects and initiatives. Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, alignment, and adherence to established governance, while supporting the adoption of best practices across markets and categories. Act as a strategic partner to the business by contributing to the Innovation, Renovation and Productivity pipeline, collaborate with cross-functional teams (SRA, HI, Marketing, GDI, RtE, ITS, Packaging Research & Engineering, OU Packaging, Strategy) to incorporate a consumer-first mindset and support insight-led decision-making. Lead key innovation research initiatives, partnering with stakeholders to deliver high-quality, consumer-centric research. Ensure strong execution of TCDR projects with a 'right-first time' approach and contribute to driving measurable business outcomes. Translate business questions into actionable sensory and consumer research plans. Develop and execute end-to-end research learning plans using appropriate methodologies and digital tools to generate insights that inform business decisions. Apply functional expertise across TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, consumer research, and data analysis, leveraging advanced methodologies (e.g., AI/ML, statistical modeling) where appropriate to enhance research impact. Design and execute robust research studies using sound statistical and analytical approaches. Analyze and synthesize data into clear insights and actionable recommendations to support business decision-making. Deliver data-driven recommendations by integrating consumer insights with business and competitive context. Identify potential risks, support solution development, and communicate findings clearly through structured, insight-led storytelling. Contribute to the TCDR Global community by supporting research-on-research initiatives and sharing learnings to help strengthen functional capabilities with an emphasis on Packaging. Stay externally aware of emerging research methodologies and tools, partnering with capability teams to pilot and implement relevant approaches within projects. Support continuous improvement of TCDR practices by adopting new tools, approaches, and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Maintain strong working knowledge of Packaging, Sparking & Stills Beverage Categories, including sensory and consumer evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscape. Data Analytics & Synthesis Proficient statistical analysis of sensory & consumer research, to include interpretation of research data, and application of appropriate methods, adopting appropriate risk management. Proficient use of statistical software (SPSS, SAS, JMP) and tools for analysis / modelling (Python, R, SQL, PLS Regression, ANOVA, factorial analysis, LLM, ML) and visualization (Power BI), with knowledge of Azure Platform for global data business use case analysis. Apply advanced analytics and statistical modeling to solve complex business problems. Translate data into clear, actionable insights that support business decision-making. Develop and adopt innovative, data-driven solutions to drive competitive advantage. Demonstrate hands‑on experience applying analytics to real‑world business challenges with measurable impact. Stay current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with internal and external resources. Technical Risk Management Skilled in identifying and assessing technical risks (Type I Error (alpha) and Type II Error (beta), collaborate with the Global TCDR Capabilities team, to understand and mitigate these risks, implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity, and increasing confidence in final business decisions. Build Packaging knowledge to support Present-Forward and Future-back Innovation pipeline and OU LRP business planning Contribute to Global Packaging research planning by generating sensory, and consumer insights that inform innovation, portfolio optimization, and growth opportunities. Conduct competitive benchmarking across Packaging and Product, to identify drivers of consumer preference, emerging trends, and whitespace opportunities. Execute front-end exploration research to identify key drivers of consumer choice and translate findings into actionable sensory and consumer insights that strengthen early-stage Packaging innovation. Technical Communication & Data Storytelling Translate business needs into actionable plans using established processes and best practices. Communicate insights clearly using data-driven storytelling to inform decisions and engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Develop reports and dashboards to analyze consumer behavior and translate data into practical, actionable insights. Apply structured storytelling frameworks and tools to communicate technical product insights effectively across teams. Influencing & Stakeholder Management Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners (e.g., suppliers, academia) to support innovation and business objectives. Collaborate across a complex organization, using effective communication and stakeholder management skills to support alignment and delivery of business outcomes. Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, and Human Insights to deliver consumer‑centric insights and support category growth. Support the Global Packaging agenda by working with GDI and RtE leadership and contributing to Global and Regional priorities across Packaging, and Product. Mentor and train colleagues on new methodologies and skills to continuously improve the competence of the team. Qualifications & Requirements Educational Requirement: Bachelor Science Degree or Masters Degree, BSc /MSc from an accredited University in Food or Sensory Science, Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, or related field, and technical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics and AI, Data Science, User Experience, to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches. Work Related Experience: 8+ years of experience within FMCG Beverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in Sensory and Consumer research, delivering consumer‑centric results working in a matrix FMCG organization including R&D, Marketing and Human Insight, translated into successful business impact. Expertise in Packaging (material science, design) and FMCG Packaging research is required for the success of this role. Desired Skills and Competencies Technical: As the manager of TCDR to require an understanding of TCDR Sensory & Consumer Science methodologies and applied Statistics & AI experience and Packaging knowledge. Strong understanding of consumer‑centric innovation frameworks and their application to support current and future business needs (e.g., Packaging Superiority Frameworks). Expertise in Packaging (material science, design) and FMCG Packaging research, including sensory evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscape and superiority benchmarking. Solid experience in sensory and consumer research methodologies, to include AI assisted, with the ability to apply statistical approaches to generate insights. Applied knowledge of social and behavioral science principles to inform consumer understanding in the beverage category. Familiarity with demand spaces, need states, and psychographic approaches, with the ability to partner effectively with Human Insights teams. Experience using digital tools and data‑led approaches to analyze sensory and consumer data and support business decisions. Working knowledge of advanced analytics (e.g., unstructured data analysis, AI/ML, NLP, GenAI tools) and their application in research. Ability to create clear data visualizations and apply structured storytelling; proficiency in tools such as Power BI. Human-Centered Design Sensory Science & Consumer Science, Qualitative and quantitative research, AI assisted. Social, behavioral human science Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitative research. Foundations of technical risk management User experience Brand knowledge to include Product and Package (Brand Playbooks, Demand Spaces) Technical Communication Develop clear, insight-led storytelling and business recommendations from data. Apply technical knowledge to support credibility and contribute to informed decision‑making. Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, tailoring messages to both technical and non-technical audiences. Excellent communication skills. Demonstrate effective influencing skills to support alignment and outcomes. Creative and curious. Utilize digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance communication & efficiency. Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data Excellent statistics and data analysis skills. Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles, demonstrating an eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively. Understand and work in data management tools (Azure) and proficiency in visualization (Power BI or other) Business Partnerships Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (R&D, Marketing, Human Insights, etc.) to execute project work and deliver business priorities. Provide relevant market and business context to support informed decision‑making. Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners to support business performance. Engage and align stakeholders across functions to achieve shared objectives. Apply critical thinking and problem‑solving skills to address business challenges. Drive effective execution through strong planning, organization, and prioritization. Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge and supporting capability development. Process Improvement Recommend more effective ways of working to execute and drive value. Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with external resources. Travel Travel will fluctuate and is projected to be a maximum of 10% of the time. Direct Reports 0 Pay Range United States of America: 109,000 USD - 129,000 USD Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage 15 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 No Job Posting End Date July 3, 2026 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Coca-Cola Company