Scientist

Job Description Summary:

Our vision is loved brands, done sustainably, for a better shared future. Our technical teams ensure we start with facts, based in science, to grow our business while reducing our sugar and be water balanced, improving water security and sourcing sustainably and ethically. We’re seeking an experienced professional with a Quality Assurance background to join our team as a QA Analyst II.  You’ll collaborate with our R&D teams, concentrate plants and commercialization teams to ensure that all formulas are optimized to add value to the overall supply chain from the early stages of product development through the life cycle of the product.

What You’ll Do for Us

• Prepares and conducts independent, compliance and systems-based audits of our bottling operations to verify conformance to the health and safety, and environmental sustainability requirements.  Conducting rigorous reviews of key environmental, occupational health and safety performance indicators for information that enhances the assessment of business risk to improve the overall audit process. Leverages investigative skills and techniques to quickly identify risk situations and areas of non-conformance.
• Facilitates the development and reporting of organizational metrics that lead to enhanced audit organization/system performance. Ensures all relevant information is captured accurately and entered in a timely manner into the company’s on-line reporting and data warehouse system. Interacts and communicates regularly with bottler and company senior management in the reporting of business risks
• Assesses and provides feedback on the quality of corrective action plans to ensure the effective completion and mitigation of all risks and identifies manufacturing, procurement, and regulatory concerns.
• Continuously seeks insights and knowledge on industry trends and technology that will further improve the organizations value proposition and performance.  Utilizes subject matter expertise to participate in the review, development and enhancement of company standards, policies, and procedures
• Leverages business relationships and influence leadership and operations to support, communicate and drive the execution of current and future program for regulatory compliance as well as provide technical expertise
• Works in collaboration with R&D in order to reduce time to market, improve productivity and flexibility, reduce complexity, logistics cost reduction, re-apply ideas & leverage intellectual property across the System, minimize write-offs, optimize product and packaging and increase equipment utilization.
• Works closely with R&D ensuring supply and manufacturing effectiveness is considered from prototype selection phase.
• Proactively works with R&D to rationalize formulas and conducts routine meetings with R&D on prototypes to ensure knowledge sharing with regards to processes and capabilities and to identify and resolve potential issues with formulas.

Qualification & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Life/Health Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field is required, Master’s degree is preferred
• At least 5 years of experience in Quality Assurance or similar technical field including at least 3 years working with manufacturing operations is a must with knowledge and application of concentrate and beverage base manufacturing processes
• Qualified candidate must possess knowledge with the following systems: SAP, PICASSO, Clarity
• Must possess the ability to apply technical knowledge and establish credibility with highly technical audiences with the ability to break down or modify complex technical information as needed to communicate it orally or in writing to non-technical company staff.
• Must possess the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and coordinate efforts around process improvement, as well as the ability to analyze business processes and develop systems-based solutions that will improv

  You will be part of the Ingredient Quality Department (IQD) that assures the quality and integrity of flavor ingredients used in Company products. Working closely with internal and external flavor producers, you will be part of a team that applies analytical, sensorial, and quality‑system knowledge to support manufacturing operations and to confirm ingredient suitability for release.

  IQD Vision: To be a world-class quality assurance organization that confirms our ingredients are always of unquestionable integrity.

  IQD Mission: We ensure the quality of key ingredients for the best beverage brands in the world.

  Summary

  This role is responsible for technical decision-making and quality leadership within the laboratory. Key duties include the interpretation and approval of analytical results, authorization of technical reports, and oversight of critical components of the laboratory Quality Management System in alignment with ISO/IEC 17025 standards and customer requirements and backing up the Lab Director with laboratory activities.

  The role will serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in chromatography and mass spectrometry, including techniques such as GC/MS. This position plays a key role in advancing laboratory capabilities by guiding the adoption of instrumentation, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital solutions to enhance data analysis and laboratory operations, while ensuring compliance and maintaining data integrity.

  Strong collaboration with plant leadership and cross-functional team members is essential to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

  What you’ll do for us

  Flexibility is expected; the following represents the core technical and leadership accountabilities of the role. Once the successful candidate has received appropriate training, they will be expected to perform at a high level and will:

• Interpret complex analytical data, act as a final technical approver, and authorize sample release, applying sound scientific judgement to ensure results are compliant with defined specifications and quality requirements.
• Act as technical owner for analytical instrumentation, learning from performance trends to guide verification, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and ongoing optimization.
• Serve as a senior technical resource and mentor, supporting capability building through shared learning, coaching, and constructive challenge within the analytical team.
• Translate complex analytical data and conclusions for both technical and non‑technical audiences, strengthening shared understanding and informed decision‑making.
• Provide technical leadership for routine and non‑routine Quality Control investigations and analytical activities, applying validated chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods while developing deeper understanding of analytical performance and system behavior.
• Lead the development, optimization, validation, and transfer of analytical methods, using experimentation and learning within controlled frameworks to optimize performance.
• Identify, justify, and execute capital investment projects, shaping future laboratory capability through evidence‑based evaluation and long‑term thinking.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, learning from deviations, data trends, and operational experience to strengthen analytical quality, service delivery, and efficiency.
• Monitor emerging scientific, analytical, and industry developments, critically evaluating and integrating relevant advances that enhance laboratory effectiveness, digitization and automation while maintaining regulatory and quality system compliance.
• Provide leadership in maintaining and evolving compliance with the IQD Quality Management System, ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, and customer expectations.
• Enable laboratory‑wide adherence to quality system requirements, supporting training, documentation, quality records, internal audits, and inspection readiness, and acting as an SME during audits and assessments.
• Lead Root Cause Investigations and Risk Assessments, using them as opportunities to increase system understanding and to implement effective, sustainable corrective actions.
• Serve as a backup to the Lab Director when they are out of office, managing lab operations, authorize sample reports and providing limited staff managerial support.
• 
  Required Qualifications/ Educational Requirements
• B.Sc. degree in Chemistry.
• An advanced degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) is preferred.
• Minimum 7 years’ hands‑on laboratory experience in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, or another regulated industry with direct experience with ingredients and/or finished product usage decisions and authorization.
• Strong practical expertise in GC and GC‑MS based techniques with flavor ingredients, including acquiring GC, GC-MS instrumentation, troubleshooting and interpreting analytical data.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and integrate qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to investigate complex technical questions and improve system performance.
• Proven track record of implementing laboratory process improvements, digital transformation initiatives, and automation solutions that enhance operational effectiveness while maintaining regulatory and quality system compliance.

• Related Skills and Experience

• Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems, with demonstrated experience applying ISO/IEC 17025 principles in practice.
• Advanced understanding and practical application of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
• Experience supporting the growth of technical capability through training, coaching, and mentoring.
• Sound analytical judgement, curiosity, and problem‑solving capability, with confidence making technical decisions in dynamic environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration across teams and global functions.
• Collaboration with stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while remaining focused on learning, quality, and risk awareness.
• Hands‑on experience with a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Preferred experience with flavor and/or fragrance ingredients.
• Preferred experience working in, or supporting, a manufacturing environment.
• Preferred experience with developing and validating methods.

• Working Conditions

• Normal manufacturing plant/lab/office working conditions apply. This position is subject to the hazards and risks of a food manufacturing plant and its working environment.

• Cultural Diversity

• Required to work and leverage in a multicultural setting (including multi-generational, multi-ethnic, different educational backgrounds, etc.)

• Travel Requirements

• The position is based in Apopka, Florida. Business travel seldom occurs.
• e current state.
• Knowledge of data in the Formula Management System, including reasonable value ranges and calculations origin, and the ability to recognize inconsistencies is needed
• Knowledge of process operating conditions and requirements leading to the safe manufacture of products (OSHA) as needed, this includes the implementation of and assessment of performance to these requirements in areas such as loss time injury rates, lock out, tag out, hearing conservation, fall protection, work at heights, safe operation of forklifts and trucks, and confined space entry management
• Knowledge of project management principles and the ability to apply these principles, tools, and techniques to develop/plan, manage or execute projects or work plans to ensure successful completion is needed
• Experience with implementation and oversight of environmental and safety management systems such as ISO14000/18000 is needed
• A proven track record of driving improvement in Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) performance indicators is highly preferred
• National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) Certification and Green Belt Six Sigma are preferred

What We Can Do For You

• Purpose Driven: Purpose driven approach that empowers our people to protect the environment and communities we serve while delivering safe & quality products.
• Global Connections: Allows you to develop, enhance and maintain global connections that allow us to move faster and learn from others.
• Community of Belonging: We’re an organization that believes our ability to continually grow and build the right atmosphere where people feel safe and empowered, lets you bring your best self to work.

The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Skills:

Analytical Instrumentation, Analytical Method, Analytical Techniques, Chemistry, Chromatography, Collaboration, Communication, Compliance, Continuous Improvement, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), Decision Making, Food Manufacturing, Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Health and Safety, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Processes, Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS), Leadership, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Microsoft Office, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Technical Knowledge, Troubleshooting

Pay Range:

United States of America: 109,000 USD - 125,000 USD

Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Location(s):

United States of America

City/Cities:

Apopka

Travel Required:

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:

No

Job Posting End Date:

July 14, 2026

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 what’s 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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.