Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Packaging & Sustainability R&D Scientist/Engineer is responsible for innovating new packaging materials, technology and system capability for The Coca-Cola Company. The role will include leveraging external technology from other markets, guiding current and new suppliers, and implementing new concepts in a scalable fashion. Additionally, the candidate will work closely with the Technology Center and external vendors to bring concepts through functional prototype stage to validated package, and with Engineering to enable implementation within an Operating Unit.

This position reports to the Global Director of Packaging and Sustainability R&D and will work with extended team members from the Global Engineering organization.

What are some of the key responsibilities of this role?

Lead & perform research activities to conceive, demonstrate and establish breakthrough sustainable packaging technologies for next generation beverage portfolio to enable a winning consumer experience.

Design, prototype and assess (e.g., through lab or pilot plant experimentation) technologies and engineering concepts to product and process specifications (e.g., functionality and operational feasibility), as well as develop value chain and economic feasibility analysis for candidate technologies.

Drive business growth by working in cross-functional global / regional development teams to identify innovative and differentiated packaging material and functional technologies.

Work with internal or external partner(s), managing confidentiality, licensing or development agreements, to secure and develop (novel) experimental methods, processes, or equipment in order to refine technology concepts, develop prototypes and operating parameters, and produce cost estimates.

Act as a subject matter expert for sustainable packaging and materials technologies, providing executive-level assessments and guidance for The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling network, and input to existing and developing strategies.

The right candidate for this role should fulfill the following requirements and preferences:

* A Ph.D. is required for the role with a strong understanding of materials used in packaging applications, like polymers, metals, paper and glass. Due to the nature of the work, an educational background in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/ Engineering, Polymer Science/ Engineering or Chemistry is preferred. Equivalent technical disciplines (e.g., overseas equivalents) will be considered, and niche degrees with equivalent technical depth in a specific materials-related subject matter (e.g., Metallurgy, Forestry) are also encouraged to apply. While there are many opportunities for talented Packaging, Design, Mechanical, Sustainability, Electrical, Computer and Plastics Processing Engineers in The Coca-Cola Company, this position requires a different skillset. This position requires an applied rather than a simulation background.
* Related Work Experience: At least 3 years of relevant industry work experience is required for this role, and 6+ years is preferred. Working in the value chain of CPG/ packaging materials or equipment is preferred, including chemicals manufacturing. Postdoctoral work sponsored by a company in the value chain will be considered for some of the experience if the work was completed on-site at the industry location, but the candidate must have some experience working in an industrial rather than academic environment. Relevant experience includes rheology, pulping, recycling, molding, extrusion, other processing/ converting, prototyping, forming or other exploitation of structure-property relationships for specific applications. Adjacent industries will be considered.
* The preferred candidate will have an established reputation in the field, and will have a strong network-in-progress, including packaging suppliers, brands, materials or equipment suppliers.
* The preferred candidate has a track record of developing and commercializing significant new products and technologies to drive business growth.
* The candidate is required to have experience in leading large projects across functions and/or geographies with high levels of ambiguity. The preferred candidate should have experience effectively communicating to non-technical senior managers.
* The preferred candidate will have an understanding of cost expectations in a CPG environment and/or ability to develop cost estimates with varying levels of assumptions.
* The preferred candidate has demonstrated scientific excellence through evidenced by significant IP development, technical publications and/or presentations outside of an academic setting. For trade secrets rather than IP development, please be prepared to discuss examples of commercialized products or processes.
* The candidate must have high level writing and analytical skills because this is a critical requirement of the role. There will be a writing assignment prior to being offered an interview.

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 whats 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.

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