R&D Scientist Product Development

Located in Mexico City, the Global Development and Innovation (GDI) center is pivotal to The Coca‐Cola Company's innovation in beverages across multiple categories (sparkling, juices, iced teas, ...) and covering product development, packaging & equipment development. As a Product Developer, you will lead (under supervision of your manager) projects across various categories, contributing to our portfolio’s growth by developing new or enhancing existing beverages. This role offers a unique blend of local and global impact, demanding technical knowledge, creativity, and an eye for future trends as well as strong digital savvy and collaboration skills to leverage Coca-Cola's global network of expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Work as part of a cross-functional team (regulatory affairs, quality, global SME’s, marketing) on projects assigned by manager to deliver product enhancements and innovations.
2. Project Execution: Execute new recipe development or adaptations (assigned by and under supervision of manager), ensuring projects meet quality, timing, and budget targets. Employ a 'design to value' and E2E approach to incorporate sustainability, regulatory requirements, consumer preference, and supply chain considerations from the start, as per guidance of manager.
3. Innovation and Prototyping: Coordinate and develop lab-scale prototypes applying GMPs, conduct analytical/sensory tests, and facilitate/follow up pilot-scale productions and support the scale-up trial run in bottler plants. Apply statistical methods and design of experiments to enhance product development efficiency and learning.
4. Communication and Collaboration: Report project outcomes, share learnings, participate in cross-functional teams, and provide insights and data to guide decisions and innovations. Create accurate and complete scientific documentation that is easily understood, retrievable, and supports project needs.
5. System and Market Understanding: Gain insights into Coca-Cola’s system dynamics, from bottling operations to global supply chains, and translate trends and the science of taste into compelling product propositions.
6. Sustainability and Technology: Integrate sustainability principles and digital tools (e.g., AI, digital prototyping) early in the development process to map impacts and accelerate innovation.
7. Risk management: Stay informed about emerging risks related to agricultural ingredient selection and product design to ensure safety. This includes managing allergens, microbial risks, and sensitivities of products and raw materials.
8. External Focus and Innovation: Identify and support piloting novel propositions that can give our brands or products a competitive edge. Consider new technologies and ingredients and evaluate their potential for our purposes.
9. Market Insights and Competitor Awareness: Maintain a strong interest in the activities and strategies of our competitors, as well as overall market trends.
10. Digital Savviness for Innovation: Harness digital tools, technologies, and platforms to gather insights for product development, such as market trends, consumer preferences, and social media information.

Qualifications & Requirements:

1. Bachelor's, Master’s, or Post-Graduate degree in food science, chemistry, or related field.
2. Fluent in English, with proficiency in an additional language preferred.
3. Willing to travel up to 20% annually.
4. 1-3 years of industry experience.

Desired Skills and Competencies:

1. Strong foundation in beverage development, ingredient knowledge, and industry standards.
2. Digital literacy: Advanced digital skills to employ data analytics, AI, and digital prototyping in innovation.
3. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities.
4. Agility, resilience, and creativity to navigate new product development projects.
5. Commitment to sustainability and familiarity with science-based targets for eco-design and supply chain.
6. Proficiency in statistical analysis and experimental design.

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 and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves.

Skills: Product Development; Scientific Research; Beverage Development; Experimental Development; New Product Development; Creativity; Project Management; Mental Agility; Problem Solving; Individual Resilience; Statistical Analysis; Digital Literacy; Analytical Thinking