At The Coca-Cola Company, we are passionate about creating the world's best beverages. Our Ingredient Quality department plays a critical role in ensuring the highest quality standards are met, from sourcing to production. As a Senior Lab Analyst, you will be a key member of our Ingredient Quality team, responsible for safeguarding the integrity of our ingredients through rigorous scientific analysis. You will demonstrate leadership and leverage your expertise in analytical chemistry and quality control to drive continuous improvement in our laboratory processes, ensuring accurate and timely results that support critical business decisions. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of our global beverage brands by ensuring the quality and safety of the ingredients that go into every product we make.

This job requires you to work on-site during business hours, 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Occasionally, you may need to work earlier or later hours and weekends to meet business needs.

What you’ll do for us

Once the successful candidate has received appropriate training, they will be expected to perform at a trainer-level proficiency and will:

Maintain a safe working environment: Be part of a team that looks out for each other's safety. Adhere to all laboratory safety protocols, including proper handling and disposal of chemicals, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
Conduct comprehensive routine quality testing: Independently use sophisticated instrumentation (e.g., GC-MS/LC-MS) to perform a wide range of chemical, physical, and sensory analyses, including taste and odor, on a variety of ingredients. You will make decisions regarding the acceptability of ingredients for quality and, potentially, food safety purposes.
Ensure data integrity and compliance: Adhere to strict quality standards (ISO 17025, GLP), maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with all relevant company practices regarding confidentiality.
Drive innovation: Identify and lead projects to implement new analytical methods, improve laboratory efficiency, and enhance data accuracy.
Effective Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams and external clients (e.g., R&D, Production, Procurement) to address quality issues and support business objectives.
Train, mentor, and lead: Lead an area/workflow and learn from others. Train and mentor colleagues in an environment that fosters continuous learning and personal growth for everyone.
Maintain laboratory equipment: Perform routine maintenance and calibration and determine the next steps in troubleshooting analytical instrument performance.
Demonstrate leadership across the global network: Fostering collaboration, empowering individuals, and cultivating a growth mindset within the team to achieve shared business objectives.

What we can do for you

Technical Excellence: Gain valuable experience within a globally recognized organization, learning to operate state-of-the-art laboratory technologies. Gain experience working in an ISO 17025 accredited lab and knowledge of quality systems. Learn from industry leaders in cutting-edge flavor quality control testing methodologies.
Industry Expertise: Develop a deep understanding of ingredient quality, including flavors and their applications within the food and beverage industry.
Career Development: Collaborate with key stakeholders, including manufacturing teams, flavor R&D, and other global functions that may become part of your career path in a global beverage company.
Benefits: A competitive benefits package that starts on day one of employment.

Qualification / Technical Competencies / Skills

Analytical Expertise:

Chromatography: Proven proficiency in Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS); experience with Liquid Chromatography (LC) is preferred.
Spectroscopy: Expertise in Infrared (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy.
Analytical Techniques: Prior experience is preferred with other analytical, chemical, and physical property measurements such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA, Specific Gravity (SG), Viscosity, Turbidity, Melting Point, Solubility, and Titration.

Data & Laboratory Skills:

Data Management: Experience using Sample Manager as a Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) is preferred.
Laboratory Proficiency: Proven track record of safe and effective handling of chemicals in a laboratory environment

Quality & Compliance:

Quality Systems: Experience working in an accredited lab, such as ISO-17025:2017, including knowledge of root cause analysis, method auditing, control charting, and evaluating instrument performance and data quality.

Communication & Collaboration:

Technical Writing: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly document experimental procedures, data analysis, and technical reports.
Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Problem-Solving & Decision-Making:

Troubleshooting: Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex analytical quality issues effectively.

Relevant Experience / Educational Requirements

Must possess a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry
3 years’ industrial experience working in a laboratory environment

Cultural Diversity

We embrace creative tension, knowing an essential ingredient to our growth is the diversity of our backgrounds, perspectives and collective knowledge. We recognize, learn from and elevate one another as we work toward our shared purpose and goals.

Working Conditions

This position is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Working hours are generally 9-5 but may be modified depending on business needs.
Work is on-site (not remote).

Travel Requirements

There may be some business travel (<10%)

Skills

Leadership; Product Development; Chemistry; Kaizen (Continuous Improvement); Continual Improvement Process; Environmental Science; Researching; Problem Resolution; Communication; Data Entry; Food Safety and Sanitation; Laboratory Testing; Data Compilation; Quality Control (QC); Green Solutions; Environmental Regulatory Compliance; Recordkeeping