Director, Technical Consumer Data Research

Job Description Summary:

Role Type: Individual Contributor

The Director, Technical Consumer Data Research (TCDR) reports to the Senior Director, TCDR, APAC and leads consumer research for Japan and South Korea Operating Unit (JSK OU) and Global Categories, delivering front end, consumer centric insights to drive a prioritized innovation pipeline across Product, Packaging, and Equipment for right first time, high impact outcomes. Organizationally, the TCDR function sits within the Innovation, Technology & Strategy team, ensuring strong integration of consumer insights into broader innovation and strategic decision-making processes. This role serves as a critical business partner shaping strategic, end-to-end consumer centric innovation learning plans for the OU and Global categories whilst collaborating closely with Marketing, Human Insights, Global Development & Innovation teams, within the innovation centers to deliver present-forward and future-back research strategies, that drive exceptional consumer experiences whilst delivering business growth.

What You’ll Do for Us:

• TCDR Leadership of JSK OU, Global Categories and Global Community.

• Be a strategic business partner by leading and influencing the innovation pipeline for the OU, Global Categories and the Global TCDR Community, whilst shaping cross-functional alignment across TCDR, SRA, HI, Marketing, GDI, PD, ITS, Strategy, adopting a consumer-first mindset and with a deep understanding of the business environment.

• Identify strategic global and local category needs to develop and implement research plans to gain actionable sensory and consumer insights, providing technical guidance to the development team, Operating Unit and Global Category teams.

• Design and lead strategic enterprise-wide consumer research focused on human-centric design, for product, packaging, and equipment, applying sensory science expertise, data analysis, and insight interpretation to inform business recommendations and product solution development.

• Adopt a transformational, future-forward mindset leveraging digital, technology, AI/ML, and modeling to design agile consumer research plans and champion best-practice, innovative methodologies that solve complex challenges in collaboration with the Global TCDR team.

• Collaborate and partner with cross-functional internal and external experts, to include consumer researchers, experts of consumer, human, behavioral, shopper insights, external agency partners, academia, inclusive of AI technology data partners, to deliver best in class research for the local OU.

• Demonstrates deep functional expertise across TCDR disciplines, including sensory science, human behavioral science, consumer research, and advanced statistical and data science methodologies and sophisticated modeling techniques (e.g., AI, ML, LLMs, PLS regression) leveraging AI capability, to advance beverage category insights with strong business acumen.

• Utilizes rigorous statistical methodologies and advanced analytical techniques (e.g., AI, ML, LLMs, PLS regression) to design studies, analyze data, and interpret results with precision; synthesizes findings into robust, evidence-based conclusions and delivers clear, actionable technical and business recommendations to inform decision-making.

• Deploy standardized TCDR Global Capabilities across our frameworks, methodologies, approaches, as required, ensuring best-in-class functional expertise within the OU, adopting appropriate risk management, safety, and compliance.

• Lead and champion best practices, research methodologies, and develop creative solutions to complex challenges. Be curious to identify innovative alternative methods, frameworks, approaches.

• Global Beverage Category knowledge and understanding, with a trained palette for sensory evaluation thereof.

Data Analytics & Synthesis

• Perform advanced statistical analysis for sensory & consumer research, to include interpretation of research data outcomes, and application of appropriate methods (e.g., ANOVA, parametric/non‑parametric, modeling), adopting appropriate risk management.

• Proficient usage of Statistical software and tools such as JMP, SPSS, SAS, Python, R, SQL, Power BI, and Azure ML, parametric and non-parametric methods, ANOVA, factorial analysis, and modeling tools.

• 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, >Location(s):

  Japan

  City/Cities:

  Tokyo

  Travel Required:

  00% - 25%

  Relocation Provided:

  No

  Job Posting End Date:

  July 17, 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.