Scientist, Product Development

Scientist, Product Development

Team: Global Development & Innovation (GDI) Global Hydration & Advanced Hydration Innovation

Role Overview: The Scientist, Product Development will be part of the GDI Global Hydration & Advanced Hydration Innovation team, leading global innovation in hydration categories. This role involves conducting research to generate or improve prototypes, analyzing formulas for harmonization potential, and tracking competitor products. The ideal candidate is a product development scientist with experience in developing and reformulating food and beverage products from ideation through commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct fundamental or applied research to generate or improve prototypes.
• Facilitate global category consumer insight understanding.
• Analyze formulas from a global perspective to identify harmonization potential.
• Track and analyze competitor products to identify learnings for TCCC.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of ingredients and prototypes from taste, stability, cost, and commercialization angles.
• Perform stability evaluations of prototypes and ensure accurate, timely reporting.
• Collaborate across functions (technical and non-technical) on product development innovation, testing, pilot trials, prototyping, consumer evaluations, and new technology assessments.
• Prepare and coordinate projects according to established schedules and costs.
• Provide strong technical support for global expansion and apply expertise to grow the business.
• Communicate technical and business concepts to diverse audiences.

• Receive, verify, and log prototype requests with detailed formula info and improvement recommendations.
• Handle stability evaluations related to shelf-life prediction for new beverage bases, syrups, and beverages.
• Organize competitor product analysis and prepare samples for consumer tests.
• Apply defined protocols for illumination and temperature chamber tests.
• Follow up on visual evolution of samples and report observations.
• Ensure enough samples are stored for tasting and manage bottle inventory
• Request analytical tests from internal labs and update results in databases.
• Write reports summarizing test results and organize internal tasting sessions.
• Lead tasting sessions, create tasting sheets, and capture results.
• Design and develop new products from bench top to commercialization within specified cost and label claims.
• Act as a scientific, regulatory, technical, or quality expert and consultant.
• Develop new ingredient and product specifications and manage formula entries.
• Investigate and execute new product/process improvements and cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage documentation and records to ensure completeness, security, and retrievability.
• Stay abreast of developing technologies, lifestyle, and nutritional trends.
• Share knowledge of risks and opportunities to build competitive advantage

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, or Biology.
• At least 1 year of work experience required.
• Experience in Product Development preferred.
• Strong lateral thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to recognize and protect proprietary information related to formulas and ingredients.
• Knowledge of project management principles and ability to apply them.
• Ability to build technical relationships and collaborate with cross-functional partners.
• Willingness and ability to function effectively over extended periods.
• Proficiency in computer systems and data management.