Innovation Design Manager - Make&Filter in Southampton

British American Tobacco (BAT) is looking for an Innovation Design Manager Make&Filter based in Southampton, UK.

Key Objectives and Expectations

• Breakthrough Innovations – 2 per category per year
• Strategic Innovations – 8 per category per year
• Tactical Innovations – 27 per category per year
• All product changes – >50 per year per category

Key Responsibilities

• Be the technical lead to translate product innovation into technology design and solutions.
• Be the SPOC for R&D led innovations at the tech block stage to design solutions that can be commercialised at scale.
• Actively link R&D innovation from the Tech block stage to the POA stage and offer machine solutions that can be commercialised.
• Ensure all machine solutions are designed keeping COGS, quality, scalability and speed of delivery.
• Partner with OEMs technical teams to work on solutions for the tech block stage of product design.
• Develop technical solutions for ensuring direct material adaptation on existing or new machine platforms.
• Ensure global platform teams have visibility of short‑term and long‑term product innovation to scope the right OEM ecosystems.

Qualifications

• Technical and manufacturing expertise with experience in BAT manufacturing technologies and factory operations, including hands‑on engineering exposure.
• Strong product design experience with a solid understanding of multiple product categories and their associated manufacturing technologies.
• Knowledge of direct materials, including quality standards, supplier management and specifications.
• Proven project management capability, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment.
• Credible stakeholder manager with a track record of influencing senior leaders and proactively driving best practices.
• Strong communicator able to clearly articulate complex concepts to diverse, global stakeholders and operate effectively within a matrixed organization.
• Resilient and adaptable professional capable of working at pace in a dynamic environment, with proven ability to manage and mitigate risks and issues.
• Graduate or higher.

Benefits

• Market‑leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility).
• Range of benefits varying by country, including diverse health plans, work‑life balance initiatives, transportation support and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives.
• Access to online learning platforms and personalised growth programmes to develop leadership skills.
• Continuous improvement focus within a transformative environment, with opportunities for ongoing change.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We consider the following characteristics when evaluating applicants: gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, civil partnership or marital status, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, religion or belief, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.