Manager, Stills, Technical Consumer Data Research

Coca-Cola · Brussels

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Job Description Summary:

The Manager, Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR), reports to the Senior Director, TCDR, and leads sensory and consumer research for the still beverage categories across the EMEA region. In this role, you will apply sensory and consumer science to ensure that products and packaging deliver consistent, superior consumer experiences across diverse markets. 

You will shape the strategic direction of the Still beverage categories innovation agenda by translating deep consumer and sensory insights into front-end, insight-driven strategies that power a prioritized, high-impact pipeline across product and packaging—enabling right-first-time execution, accelerating speed to market, and strengthening competitive advantage. As a critical business partner, you will develop and lead end-to-end, consumer-centric learning plans and research strategies that connect present-forward insights with future-back innovation opportunities. 

Working cross-functionally with Marketing, Human Insights, Global Category, and Global Development & Innovation teams across the EME, Europe, and Africa operating units and global innovation centers, you will ensure alignment with evolving consumer trends, category strategies, and regional business priorities. Embedded within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, this role ensures consumer insights are fully integrated into broader innovation and strategic processes. 

Functional Related Activities / Key Responsibilities 

• Act as a strategic partner to the business by contributing to the innovation pipeline. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (SRA, HI, Marketing, GDI, ITS, Strategy) to incorporate a consumer-first mindset and support insight-led decision-making. 

• Develop and execute sensory and consumer research plans aligned with still beverage category strategies and EMEA business priorities, defining clear success criteria for product experience and consumer acceptance. 

• Translate business questions into actionable sensory and consumer research plans. Develop and execute end-to-end research learning plans using appropriate methodologies and digital tools to generate insights that inform business decisions. 

• Managing end-to-end delivery of research projects and initiatives. Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, alignment, and adherence to established governance, while supporting the adoption of best practices across markets and categories. 

• Lead key innovation research initiatives, partnering with stakeholders to deliver high-quality, consumer-centric research. Ensure strong execution of TCDR projects with a “right-first time” approach and contribute to driving measurable business outcomes. 

• Apply functional expertise across TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, consumer research, and data analysis, leveraging advanced methodologies (e.g., AI/ML, statistical modeling) where appropriate to enhance research impact. 

• Design and execute robust research studies using sound statistical and analytical approaches. Analyze and synthesize data into clear insights and actionable recommendations to support business decision-making. 

• Deliver clear data-driven recommendations by integrating consumer insights with business and competitive context. Identify potential risks, support solution development, and communicate findings clearly through structured, insight-led storytelling. 

• Contribute to the TCDR Global community by supporting research-on-research initiatives and sharing learnings to help strengthen functional capabilities. 

• Stay externally aware of emerging research methodologies and tools, partnering with capability teams to pilot and implement relevant approaches within projects. 

• Support continuous improvement of TCDR practices by adopting new tools, approaches, and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. 

• Maintain strong working knowledge of Beverage Categories, including sensory evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscape. 

• Mentor and train colleagues on new methodologies and skills to continuously improve the competence of the team. 

Data Analytics & Synthesis 

• Proficient statistical analysis of sensory & consumer research, to include interpretation of research data, and application of appropriate methods, adopting appropriate risk management. 

• Proficient use of statistical software (SPSS, SAS, JMP) and tools for analysis / modelling (Python, R, SQL, PLS Regression, ANOVA, factorial analysis, LLM, ML) and visualization (Power BI), with knowledge of Azure Platform for global data business use case analysis. 

• Apply advanced analytics and statistical modeling to solve complex business problems.  

• Translate data into clear, actionable insights that support business decision-making.  

• Develop and adopt innovative, data-driven solutions to drive competitive advantage.  

• Demonstrate hands-on experience applying analytics to real-world business challenges with measurable impact. 

• Stay current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with internal and external resources.  

Technical Risk Management 

• Skilled in identifying and assessing technical risks (Type I Error (alpha) and Type II Error (beta), collaborate with the Global TCDR Capabilities team, to understand and mitigate these risks, implementing proactive measures to ensure project continuity and system integrity, and increasing confidence in final business decisions.  

Build Still beverage category knowledge to support the Present-Forward and Future-Back innovation pipeline for the  EMEA operating unit: 

• Contribute to Still beverages research planning by generating product, sensory, and consumer insights that inform regional innovation, portfolio optimization, and growth opportunities. 

• Conduct competitive evaluations and track the still beverages category, consumer, and market trends to identify risks, growth opportunities, and whitespace across EMEA. 

• Conduct competitive benchmarking across products and packaging to identify drivers of consumer preference, market differences, and whitespace opportunities. 

• Evaluate Consumer Experience: Assess product and packaging performance across relevant markets, consumption occasions, formats, and cultural contexts to ensure a differentiated and consistent consumer experience. 

• Execute front-end exploration research to identify key drivers of consumer choice and translate findings into actionable sensory and consumer insights that strengthen early-stage innovation. 

• Provide consumer-driven technical direction to Global Category, GDI, Marketing, Human Insights, Quality, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams to shape decisions. 

Technical Communication & Data Storytelling 

• Translate business needs into actionable plans using established processes and best practices. 

• Communicate insights clearly using data-driven storytelling to inform decisions and engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Develop reports and dashboards to analyze consumer behavior and translate data into practical, actionable insights. 

• Apply structured storytelling frameworks and tools to communicate technical product insights effectively across teams. 

Influencing & Stakeholder Management  

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners (e.g., suppliers, academia) to support innovation and business objectives. 

• Collaborate across a complex organization, using effective communication and stakeholder management skills to support alignment and delivery of business outcomes. 

• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, and Human Insights to deliver consumer-centric insights and support category growth. 

• Support the still beverage categories agenda by working with GDI and category leadership and contributing to priorities across the EME, Europe, and Africa operating unit. 

Qualifications & Requirements:   

• Educational Requirement: Batchelor Science Degree, Masters Degree, BSc /MSc or PhD from an accredited University in Food or Sensory Science, Engineering, Behavioral Psychology, or related field, and technical mastery of Sensory, Consumer, Applied Statistics and AI, Data Science, User Experience, to include science, methodologies, frameworks, and approaches. 

• Work Related Experience: 8+ years of experience within FMCG Beverage/Food Industry with proven relevant experience in sensory and consumer research, delivering consumer-centric results in a matrix FMCG organization across R&D, Marketing, Human Insights, and global category teams, translated into successful business impact. Prior experience supporting Adult Sparkling, ARTD, or comparable global beverage categories across multiple EMEA markets is preferred. 

Desired Skills and Competencies 

Technical & Category: As the TCDR Manager, the role requires strong knowledge of sensory and consumer science methodologies, applied statistics and AI, and the still beverages categories, including relevant consumer, market, and competitive dynamics across EMEA. 

• Strong understanding of consumer-centric innovation frameworks and their application to support current and future business needs. 

• Solid experience in sensory and consumer research methodologies, to include AI assisted, with the ability to apply statistical approaches to generate insights. 

• Applied knowledge of social and behavioral science principles to inform consumer understanding in the beverage category. 

• Familiarity with demand spaces, need states, and psychographic approaches, with the ability to partner effectively with Human Insights teams. 

• Experience using digital tools and data-led approaches to analyze sensory and consumer data and support business decisions. 

• Working knowledge of advanced analytics (e.g., unstructured data analysis, AI/ML, NLP, GenAI tools) and their application in research. 

• Ability to create clear data visualizations and apply structured storytelling; proficiency in tools such as Power BI. 

• Good understanding of Beverage Categories, including sensory evaluation fundamentals, trends, and competitive landscape. 

Human-Centered Design: Lead holistic research plans to address key questions for specific business research projects.  

• Sensory Science & Consumer Science, Qualitative and quantitative research, AI assisted. 

• Social, behavioral human science 

• Research Design Principles for qualitative and quantitative research. 

• Foundations of technical risk management 

• User experience 

Technical Communication  

• Develop clear, insight-led storytelling and business recommendations from data. 

• Apply technical knowledge to support credibility and contribute to informed decision-making. 

• Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, tailoring messages to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

• Excellent communication skills. Demonstrate effective influencing skills to support alignment and outcomes. 

• Creative and curious. Utilize digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance communication & efficiency. 

Data Analytics & Synthesis of Structured and Unstructured data 

• Excellent statistics and data analysis skills. 

• Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning principles, demonstrating an eagerness to deepen understanding and apply these technologies effectively. 

• Understand and work in data management tools (Azure) and proficiency in visualization (Power BI or other) 

 Business Partnerships   

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Marketing, Human Insights, Global Category, Commercial, and Supply Chain, to execute project work and deliver still beverages priorities across EMEA. 

• Provide relevant market and business context to support informed decision-making. 

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners to support business performance. 

• Engage and align stakeholders across functions to achieve shared objectives. 

• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address business challenges. 

• Drive effective execution through strong planning, organization, and prioritization. 

• Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing knowledge and supporting capability development. 

Process Improvement 

• Recommend more effective ways of working to execute and drive value. 

• Bring the outside in, remain current with relevant scientific literature. Inspire self and the team with external resources.  

Skills:

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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.

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