Scientist

Job Description Summary:

Summary

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.

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

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

The position holds responsibility for technical decision‑making and quality leadership, including interpretation and authorization of analytical results, approval of technical reports, and stewardship of elements of the laboratory Quality Management System in alignment with ISO/IEC 17025 and customer requirements.  The role actively leads the evolution and strengthening of laboratory capability, enhancing automation and digitization, while maintaining compliance and data integrity. 

The successful candidate will function as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in chromatography and mass spectrometry, including techniques such as GC/MS, LC‑MS/MS, and GC‑MS/MS.  You will make decisions on how we enhance data analysis and lab work using automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and digitization and will be a part of the implementation. Collaboration is required with Plant leadership and team members.

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:

• 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.

• 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.

• Lead the development, optimization, validation, and transfer of analytical methods, using experimentation and learning within controlled frameworks to optimize performance.
• 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.
• 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 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.
• May serve as a backup to the Lab Director when they are out of office, managing lab operations, authorize sample reports and provide limited staff managerial support.

Required Qualifications/ Educational Requirements

• B.Sc. degree in Chemistry.
• An advanced degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) is preferred.
• Strong practical expertise in LC‑MS/MS, GC-MS/MS and GC‑MS based techniques with flavor ingredients.

Related Skills and Experience

• Hands‑on laboratory experience in the food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, chemical, or another regulated industry.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and integrate qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to investigate complex technical questions and improve system performance.
• Proven experience acquiring new instrumentation, developing and validating methods, troubleshooting, and interpreting analytical data.
• 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.

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.

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:

Compliance, Continuous Improvement, Investigate, Manufacturing Operations, Microsoft Office, organization, Safety Management, Troubleshooting

Pay Range:

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

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:

May 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.