MANAGER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (BCP & PRODUCTIVITY)

Scope & Impact

The Manager, Product Development, has full responsibility over a set of projects for Productivity and Business Continuity Programs and act as enabler with other Category Teams. It integrates the former responsibilities of the GDI Category Leader, Product Development, and Innovation & Experimentation (Commercialization).

It is part of this role deliver projects with a high degree of technical robustness, as well as managing the Commercialization timeline of the project.

Focus Areas

Key areas of focus of this role can be summarized as follows:

• GDI Project Execution & Management
• Project Commercialization
• Ensure technical diligence and robustness on each project.

• GDI Project Execution & Management, including Commercialization:

• Lead Productivity and Business Continuity E2E projects.
• Lead commercialization process for the market implementation of new product launches and product reformulations by working collaboratively and networking with all the necessary functions while ensuring compliance with KO standards and policies/ local regulation for the entire OU. Own the project timeline, manage and co-ordinate interactions among several entities (R&D, CPS, G2G, marketing, finance, technical and Bottling partners) to ensure effective process in place for each initiative as agreed standards and timelines.
• Responsible for designing product development approach, for elaborating project plan and for disciplined project execution. Delivers complex new product launches or product reformulations, from desk and benchtop level up to pilot and industrial scaling up, with a high degree of autonomy. Recommend validated product solutions with an informed defined risk and formula cost analysis.
• Responsible to develop set of specifications: Ingredient, Formula, Processing and Manufacturing Instructions (MMI), shelf-life recommendations.
• Leads project meetings within the category, cross-functionally with marketing, customer management or technical groups.
• Participates in team projects, cross-functional committees, or company-wide initiatives to share information, represent the GDI function perspective, or assist with product development, process modification, package development and marketing.
• Drafts detailed & accurate reports for analyses, experiments, or projects. Gathers and organizes information under tight timelines to support senior management's decision-making.
• Connects with Global R&D (research & development) Teams to align on priorities, project scope and resources to support the Latin America plans.

• People Leadership:
  • This role is an individual contributor.
  • Create and contribute to a collaborative network relationship among peers.
  • Leads by influencing more junior developers.
  • Expected to become role-model of the function.

• 3-5 years of deep knowledge and relevant experience in Research and Development roles and/or knowledge on Commercialization roles.
• Experience integrating end-to-end technical scopes for innovation projects.
• Knowledge of expanded Technical Functions as Supply Chain, Quality, SRA, etc.