Director, Functional Platform Leader

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-centric 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.