Manager, Innovation & Commercialization

Role Purpose

Lead the end-to-end commercialization of innovation and renovation initiatives across Sparkling, Hydration, Nutrition, and Dairy categories within the INSWA Operating Unit.

The role integrates across the Coca-Cola system, partnering with R&D, Marketing, CPS, G2G, Finance, Technical, OU PMO, Bottlers, and Suppliers to ensure flawless, compliant, and on-time product and packaging launches aligned with KORE, Quality & Food Safety standards, and local regulatory requirements.

Job Discerption

• Own the New Product Commercialization (NPC) lifecycle from concept approval through post-launch stabilization, ensuring delivery against timeline , Cost, Quality & Food safety commitments.
• Lead networked ways of working, acting as the single point of integration across Functional, OU, and Franchise stakeholders.
• Drive program governance and execution discipline, including GANTT plans, milestone tracking, and OU commercialization calendar alignment with PMO.
• Ensure alignment of launch volumes, capacity readiness, and supply capabilities with CPS, Marketing, Franchise Operations, and Bottling partners.
• Provide technical leadership during innovation strategy development, feasibility assessment, and claims validation.
• Partner with R&D and Technical teams to deliver formulation development, PAR, trials, scale-up, and stability studies in line with approved design intent.
• Ensure manufacturing, packaging, and supplier readiness at bottler plants and co-packers, supporting site trials and first production runs.
• Lead structured troubleshooting and issue resolution related to formulation, quality, food safety, or operational readiness.
• Govern KORE compliance, quality specifications, formula management, food safety and regulatory alignment, including engagement with TISC counterparts for New Products.
• Develop and maintain Technical Notes and commercialization documentation, and continuous process improvement.

• System Leadership: Builds trust and drives results through strong franchise and network collaboration.
• Consumer & Customer First: Delivers scalable innovations that meet consumer needs and enable bottler execution excellence.
• Bias for Action: Accelerates speed to market while maintaining safety, quality, and compliance rigour.
• Accountability & Ownership: Owns outcomes end-to-end across the commercialisation lifecycle.

• 5+ years of experience in New Product Development, Commercialisation, Innovation, or Project Management within Food & Beverage.
• Demonstrated capability to lead complex, cross-functional programs in matrixed and franchise environments.
• Strong exposure to Quality, Food Safety and Manufacturing Operations.
• Working knowledge of project management tools (MS Excel, MS Project or equivalent).
• Experience within a bottler/franchise system/ dairy strongly preferred.

• Communication is highly complex and critical, requiring leadership across multiple stakeholders including Brand teams, R&D, Bottlers, Suppliers, Finance, Franchise Operations, CPS, and OU functions.
• The role demands strong ability to influence without authority, align diverse priorities, and resolve conflicts.
• Clear, structured communication is essential to drive end-to-end commercialization execution across the system