Manager, Packaging, GDI

Our EMEA Innovation Center sit at the heart of The Coca-Cola Company’s next chapter of growth. We are committed to transforming and evolving our organization and ambitions — bringing our people closer to the consumer, continuously raising the bar, and embracing digitalization to enable sustainable growth. 
 
We are looking for a highly driven individual contributor who thrives on ownership and impact, and who fuels the innovation pipeline with bold ideas that translate into real-world results. This role is not about maintaining the status quo; it is about challenging assumptions, unlocking opportunity, and personally driving valuable breakthrough innovation. 
 
You will apply deep packaging development expertise to lead ideas from concept to execution, contributing to a strong and diverse portfolio of meaningful innovation — accelerating growth and helping shape the future of the organization. 

Role Overview:  

The Packaging Manager is responsible for independently leading the development, and optimization of packaging solutions across plastic, metal, glass, and secondary packaging formats for the Operating Units Europe, Africa, Eurasia and Middle East. The role drives initiatives endtoend and ensures alignment with business priorities (bottom line, top line and sustainability), consumer insights, and system capabilities. 

The Packaging Manager applies strong technical expertise to deliver highquality, commercially viable packaging and drives original thinking that brings clear business value. The role includes identifying relevant packaging technologies and trends, assessing their applicability, and developing solutions that strengthen performance, cost, sustainability, and consumer experience. 

This position collaborates extensively with crossfunctional teams including marketing, TISC (Technical Innovation & Supply Chain), quality, procurement, and Bottling Partners to ensure packaging solutions meet technical, operational, regulatory, and commercial requirements. The Packaging Manager influences decisionmaking by providing sound technical recommendations and by building strong relationships across functional areas. 

Scope includes the full packaging development cycle: idea generation, design, prototyping, testing, validation and qualification, handing over to TISC for commercialization. The Packaging Manager solves complex or ambiguous technical challenges, ensures robust risk assessment and mitigation in packaging decisions, and contributes to building technical capability across the Operating Unit through knowledge sharing and best practice transfer. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, apply independent technical judgment, and work proactively across functions to identify opportunities and deliver impactful packaging innovations without direct people management responsibilities. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Packaging Development & Innovation 

• Lead endtoend development of new packaging across plastic, metal, glass, and secondary packaging formats, from idea generation through design, development, pilot, trials, and qualification.  

• Identify and leverage emerging packaging technologies, consumer insights, and technical research to deliver packaging that enhances value, performance, sustainability, and consumer experience.  

• Drives reapplication of proven concepts from the CocaCola Global Packaging network and adapt them for local market needs.  

• Drives original thinking and develops novel concepts with clear business and consumer value 

Technical Expertise & Problem Solving 

• Apply strong, independent technical expertise across packaging materials, performance testing, and machine material interface requirements to ensure robust, manufacturable solutions. material interface requirements to ensure robust, manufacturable solutions.  

• Solve complex and ambiguous technical problems by developing practical, databased recommendations that consider cost, quality, sustainability, and operational feasibility. 

Cross Functional Leadership (Influence-Based)Functional Leadership (Influence-Based) 

• Collaborate closely with key functions and bottling partners to align on packaging needs and ensure successful commercialization.  

• Influence decision making by contributing technical assessments, risk evaluations, and solution recommendations across multiple functions.making by contributing technical assessments, risk evaluations, and solution recommendations across multiple functions. 

People Leadership 

• Leads by example; Coaches and supports others, sharing expertise and constructive feedback. 

External Collaboration & Technology Scouting 

• Engage with design agencies, universities, consultants, suppliers, and innovation partners to explore new materials, formats, and enabling technologies.  

Sustainability & Compliance 

• Ensure packaging solutions meet safety, regulatory, and sustainability standards and support the Operating Unit’s broader sustainability objectives. 

Project & Portfolio Management 

• Manage multiple packaging development projects simultaneously, ensuring milestones, risks, and deliverables are tracked and communicated. 

• Prepare technical documentation, trial plans, test protocols, specifications, and qualification records to support commercialization. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Packaging Engineering, Materials/Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field. 

• At least 5y of relevant experience  

• Advanced Project Management: Developing ability to lead complex projects that involve cross-functional teams. Includes the ability to manage large budgets, broad scopes, multiple suppliers and/or team members from partner companies. 

• Advanced Packaging: Developing advanced knowledge of packaging materials and the related production processes. This includes knowledge of material compatibility, supplier processes, standards and specifications. 

• Demonstrated ability to innovate and think strategically. 

• Excellent communication skills and a global mindset. 

• Basic understanding of safety and regulatory affairs. 

• Clear understanding of intellectual property laws and patent interpretation.  

• Language proficiency: Native or Business fluency in English & a local language. 

What We Can Do for You:

• Purpose With Impact - We take a purpose driven approach that empowers our people to protect the environment, strengthen the communities we serve, and deliver safe, high-quality products every day. Your work will contribute directly to creating positive change. 

• Global Collaboration & Learning - You’ll be part of a globally connected organization where ideas, expertise, and innovation flow freely across regions. This environment enables you to learn from others, accelerate your growth, and contribute to solutions that scale worldwide. 

• A Community of Belonging - We foster a culture where people feel safe, valued, and empowered to bring their best selves to work. We believe that diverse perspectives and an inclusive environment drive better outcomes—for our people and our business. 

• Competitive Rewards & Benefits - We offer a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package, with core benefits beginning on your first day. We are committed to supporting your wellbeing, growth, and long-term success.