Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer

Company: The Coca-Cola Company

Location: Atlanta, GA, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-31

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and shape product strategy for complex digital supply chain capabilities, driving vision and roadmap from discovery through delivery.

• Ensure coherence, quality, and user-centricity across multiple product areas and user types by defining and evolving UX direction and design systems.

• Drive innovation by integrating AI-enabled and intelligent product experiences, championing new design approaches, tools, and methodologies.

• Build and govern design practices, including accessibility standards and experience frameworks, to ensure scalable and consistent product quality across a global portfolio.

• Mentor and develop design talent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration to elevate design's impact within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Staff Product Designer, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant influence over design strategy and practice. While the title is "Product Designer," the description heavily emphasizes operational impact within the supply chain, cross-functional leadership, and strategic influence, aligning it with GTM Operations and Product Operations functions that support business processes and digital transformation. The focus on supply chain, operational platforms, and data-driven decision-making highlights its connection to the operational backbone of the business.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Co-create and influence product strategy in collaboration with product management and engineering partners, shaping vision and roadmap for supply chain transformation initiatives.

• Craft cohesive UX direction across multiple product areas, ensuring seamless, scalable, and user-centric solutions for planning, manufacturing, logistics, and customer fulfillment.

• Establish and evolve the company's design system and shared experience frameworks, ensuring coherence and quality at scale across a global product portfolio.

• Champion the adoption of AI-assisted design, intelligent systems, and new design methodologies to enhance team efficiency and product innovation.

• Develop and maintain governance practices for design systems, accessibility, and experience standards to ensure consistent high-quality product delivery.

• Partner with leadership to define and refine design team rituals, frameworks, and ways of working to maximize effectiveness and scalability.

• Mentor and develop design craft and experience strategy for team members, actively investing in the growth and evolution of design capabilities.

• Lead critique, feedback, and review processes to elevate the quality of design work and develop design judgment across the organization.

• Build deep, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders in product, engineering, data, and research to drive alignment and secure buy-in.

• Represent the design organization in strategic business conversations, advocating for user-centered approaches with clarity and credibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize strategic design leadership, practice building, and cross-functional influence, which are critical for senior operations roles. The focus on "operational platforms," "decision-support tools," and "digital supply chain capabilities" directly links this design role to enhancing business operations and GTM efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 8-10 years of product design or UX experience, with a minimum of 2 years operating at a staff, principal, or design lead level.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating strategic design leadership on complex, high-impact digital products with measurable business and user outcomes.

• Proven ability to co-own product strategy alongside product management and engineering, shaping direction from the top down.

• Experience contributing to or significantly evolving a design system and its governance practices, with a focus on how embedded AI components function within and across platforms.

• Deep understanding of traditional UX, AI in UX, and Agentic UX principles, with clear examples of their application and impact.

• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to any audience and earn alignment from senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrated success in mentoring or peer-coaching designers and influencing team capability beyond personal output.

• Deep fluency in user-centered design principles, accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), and interaction design across web and mobile platforms.

• Proficiency in Figma, Claude Code, Claude Design, and other modern (AI) prototyping tools, with clear examples of AI integration into workflows and evaluation of AI capabilities. Preferred Skills:

• Background in complex B2B SaaS or enterprise software, CPG, retail, or e-commerce environments that span multiple user roles, geographies, and touchpoints.

• Expertise in designing for or alongside AI-enabled and intelligent systems, including agentic or generative experiences.

• Experience operating across both consumer-facing and internal tooling product contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for experience with AI-integrated workflows, design systems evolution, and a strong portfolio showcasing measurable outcomes is crucial for operations-focused roles that drive efficiency and digital transformation. The mention of "Claude Code" and "Claude Design" suggests a specific AI toolset that candidates should familiarize themselves with.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase strategic design contributions to complex digital products with quantifiable business and user outcomes.

• Demonstrate leadership in co-owning product strategy with product and engineering teams.

• Include examples of significant contributions to or evolution of a design system, detailing governance practices and AI integration.

• Present case studies that highlight the application of AI in design workflows and its impact on input/output improvements over the last 18 months.

• Illustrate deep user-centered design and accessibility standards implementation across web and mobile platforms. Process Documentation:

• Detail the process of contributing to or evolving a design system, including governance and accessibility standards.

• Explain how AI capabilities were evaluated and integrated into design workflows for improved efficiency and outcomes.

• Document cross-functional collaboration processes with product management, engineering, and data teams to shape product strategy.

• Showcase experience in leading critique, feedback, and review processes that elevate team quality and design judgment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating strategic impact, AI integration, and measurable outcomes is paramount for a senior role focused on operational efficiency and digital transformation. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process for developing and evolving design systems and integrating AI tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $202,000 - $229,000 USD per year.

Annual Incentive: 30% of base pay (reference value at target performance).

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical insurance.

• Financial benefits package.

• Annual incentive bonus.

• Relocation assistance provided for eligible candidates.

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is for the US market. The annual incentive is a significant component of the total compensation, reflecting performance-based rewards common in roles driving business outcomes. Relocation assistance is also a valuable benefit for an on-site role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Beverage / Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG).

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Coca-Cola is a global corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide, though specific team sizes may vary).

Founded: 1886. The Coca-Cola Company has a long history of innovation and global reach, which informs its approach to modernizing its supply chain and digital operations.

Team Structure:

• The role operates within a product-centric organization focused on transforming the supply chain through digital capabilities.

• Designers work in small, empowered teams alongside Product, Engineering, and Data professionals, with ownership from discovery through delivery.

• This Staff Designer role is expected to act as "connective tissue" across multiple product areas rather than being siloed into one.

• Collaboration is structured around cross-functional teams and a strong emphasis on influencing senior leadership. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and the integration of AI, advanced analytics, and intelligent systems are core to the supply chain transformation.

• Agile methodologies are implied by the "discovery through delivery and iteration" model.

• User-centered design principles are foundational, aiming to simplify complex systems and create impactful experiences.

• A strong emphasis is placed on building and leveraging a scalable design system.

Company Website: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's scale and history provide a unique context for digital transformation. The emphasis on supply chain operations, data, and AI positions this role as critical for modernizing core business functions, making it highly relevant to operations professionals seeking to drive strategic change.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Designer - This represents a senior individual contributor level, expected to provide strategic direction, technical expertise, and mentorship across multiple product domains. It is a leadership role within the design function, influencing both product outcomes and the design practice itself.

Reporting Structure: The Staff Designer will likely report to a Design Leader or Director within the digital supply chain or product organization. They will collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering leads at senior levels.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the efficiency, resilience, and operational excellence of Coca-Cola's global supply chain. By improving digital capabilities, decision-support tools, and user experiences, the designer directly contributes to faster decision-making, seamless collaboration, and ultimately, business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Practice Leadership: Opportunity to significantly shape and scale the design practice within a large enterprise, defining best practices and influencing organizational design maturity.

• Strategic Product Influence: Deep involvement in shaping the strategy of critical supply chain platforms, offering a chance to drive significant business transformation.

• AI & Emerging Technologies: Hands-on experience designing with advanced AI capabilities and intelligent systems, positioning the individual at the forefront of digital innovation in operations.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong executive communication and influencing skills by partnering with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, and Data.

• Mentorship & Talent Development: Lead and mentor other designers, contributing to their growth and the overall talent pool within Coca-Cola.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" level designation signifies a high degree of autonomy and influence, common in senior operations roles tasked with driving strategic initiatives. The growth opportunities are focused on leadership, innovation, and strategic impact, aligning with career progression in operations and GTM functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in Atlanta, GA, requiring physical presence in the office.

Office Location(s): Atlanta, GA, United States.

Workspace Context:

• The role is part of small, empowered product teams focused on digital transformation within the supply chain.

• Expect a highly collaborative environment working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Scientists.

• Access to modern design tools, including AI-powered prototyping tools like Claude Code and Claude Design, will be available.

• The environment encourages experimentation, continuous learning, and a focus on delivering tangible business and user outcomes.

Work Schedule: Standard 40 hours per week, with an expectation of flexibility to meet project demands, common in strategic roles driving complex initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is critical for this role, suggesting a need for close, in-person collaboration and team integration, which is often preferred for roles involving strategic leadership and practice building within large organizations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, strategic thinking, and craft.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Likely to involve a practical exercise or presentation of a past project demonstrating strategic design influence, problem-solving for complex operational scenarios, and AI integration. This may include a deep dive into portfolio projects.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Data leads to assess collaboration skills, strategic alignment, and ability to influence across disciplines.

• Leadership Interviews: Conversations with senior design and business leaders to evaluate leadership potential, strategic vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Clearly articulate your role and impact on product strategy, not just execution. Emphasize how you shaped vision and roadmap.

• Operational Context: For each project, clearly define the business problem, user needs, and the operational context (e.g., supply chain, manufacturing, logistics).

• AI Integration: Provide specific examples of how you incorporated AI into your design workflow, evaluated AI capabilities, and measured its impact on outcomes. Detail how you understand AI in UX and Agentic UX.

• Measurable Outcomes: Quantify results whenever possible, using metrics related to efficiency, cost savings, decision-making speed, user adoption, or business impact.

• Design System & Governance: Showcase your experience with design systems, including how you contributed to their evolution and governance, and how they ensure quality and coherence at scale.

• Storytelling: Present your work as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving process, decision-making rationale, and collaborative approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Coca-Cola's supply chain transformation initiatives, their operational challenges, and their strategic goals.

• Practice Articulation: Be prepared to discuss your design process, strategic thinking, and how you influence stakeholders. Practice explaining complex operational problems and your design solutions clearly and concisely.

• AI & Emerging Tech: Be ready to discuss your understanding of AI in design and its practical applications in enterprise environments.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Prepare examples demonstrating your ability to mentor, lead critiques, and build design capabilities within a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is critical. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate not just design skill but strategic thinking, operational understanding, and leadership in the context of complex enterprise systems and AI integration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Claude Code & Claude Design: Specific AI tools for design workflows, requiring proficiency and understanding of their capabilities.

• Modern Prototyping Tools: Expectation to be proficient with contemporary tools that may include AI integration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a design tool, understanding how to leverage data and analytics from systems like those used in supply chain planning and execution will be crucial for demonstrating impact. Candidates should be comfortable working with data-driven insights. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly a designer's tool, but understanding the broader ecosystem of enterprise software, including potential CRM integrations or workflow automation tools within the supply chain, would be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is standard, but the specific mention of "Claude Code" and "Claude Design" indicates a need for candidates to familiarize themselves with these AI-powered design tools. Understanding how design impacts operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curious: A drive to understand complex operational processes, user needs, and emerging technologies.

• Empowered: Taking ownership of strategic design initiatives and driving them to completion.

• Inclusive: Designing for diverse user groups within the supply chain and fostering an inclusive design practice.

• Agile: Adapting to changing business needs and iterating quickly on solutions, especially in a transformation environment.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact on operational outcomes.

• Efficiency-Focused: A commitment to simplifying complex systems and creating experiences that enhance operational efficiency.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Deep collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams is expected, forming integrated product teams.

• Influence and Alignment: Building trust and earning buy-in from stakeholders at all levels through compelling communication and demonstrated value.

• Design Critiques and Feedback: A culture of constructive critique and feedback to elevate the quality of design work and foster continuous learning.

• Shared Ownership: Working collaboratively to define product strategy, design direction, and team ways of working.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated core behaviors (curious, empowered, inclusive, agile) are directly applicable to operations roles focused on transformation and innovation. The emphasis on data-driven approaches and efficiency is paramount for this Staff Product Designer role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working within a large, transforming organization and influencing strategy across multiple complex product areas.

• Balancing Scale and Craft: Ensuring design quality and coherence across a vast global product portfolio while adopting new technologies like AI.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating design strategy and securing buy-in from executives and senior leadership in a data-heavy operational environment.

• Integrating AI: Successfully embedding AI-driven design capabilities into workflows and product experiences, demonstrating tangible benefits.

• Defining Design Practice: Contributing to the maturity and scalability of the design function within a company historically focused on other core competencies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Developing expertise in shaping product strategy for large-scale operational systems.

• AI in Design: Deepening knowledge and practical application of AI tools and principles in design and user experience.

• Enterprise-Level Impact: Gaining experience driving significant digital transformation within a Fortune 100 company's supply chain.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Expanding understanding of supply chain operations, data analytics, and engineering processes.

• Mentorship and Practice Building: Honing leadership skills through mentoring designers and developing scalable design frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges and opportunities for growth, particularly for professionals looking to impact operational efficiency through strategic design and AI integration in a large enterprise setting.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced product strategy for a complex digital product. How did you align stakeholders and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for shaping vision, not just executing it.)

• "How have you integrated AI into your design workflow or designed for AI-enabled experiences? What were the challenges and successes?" (Be ready to discuss specific tools, evaluation methods, and measurable impacts.)

• "Walk us through your process for developing or evolving a design system. How do you ensure governance, accessibility, and scalability across a large product portfolio?" (Highlight your experience with design systems and their operational impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in designing for supply chain operations at The Coca-Cola Company, given your background?" (Connect your skills to their transformation goals.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers and fostering a culture of continuous learning and experimentation within a team?" (Demonstrate your leadership and team-building philosophy.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints, especially when tradeoffs become difficult?" (Showcase your customer-first judgment and negotiation skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate strategic influence, complex problem-solving, and AI integration. For each, clearly outline: the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the measurable outcomes.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project. Emphasize your thought process, decision-making rationale, and how you collaborated with cross-functional teams.

• Metrics & Impact: Quantify achievements wherever possible. Use data to illustrate the business and user impact of your design solutions.

• AI Focus: Explicitly call out how AI was used, its benefits, and how you evaluated its capabilities. Be prepared to discuss AI in UX and Agentic UX principles.

• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Be prepared to present key information efficiently and dive deeper into specifics upon request.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize strategic impact, AI integration, and understanding of operational contexts. Candidates must be ready to articulate their leadership and mentorship capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided career portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating strategic design leadership, complex digital product development, and AI integration. Tailor the project selection to highlight experience relevant to enterprise software, supply chain, or operational platforms.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate 8-10 years of relevant experience, with at least 2 years in a Staff/Lead role. Use keywords from the job description, especially those related to product strategy, design systems, AI in UX, stakeholder management, and mentorship.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions, focusing on quantifiable outcomes and your approach to AI and complex operational challenges.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The Coca-Cola Company's current digital transformation efforts, particularly within their supply chain. Understand their stated company purpose and growth culture to align your responses with their values and objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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