Product Developer II - Oral Products Development in Southampton

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey!

British American Tobacco UK has an exciting opportunity for a Product Developer II in Southampton.

Key Objectives and Expectations:

• A primary responsibility of Product Developer II will be to develop and deliver products/technology specifications for oral products.
• This role will involve collaboration with various stakeholder groups to ensure that solutions are aligned with our commercial strategy.
• The key deliverable of this role is to deliver on the short term product pipeline leading to manufacturing scale up and product launch, in line with the Research & Development 5-year innovation pipeline.

Direct Impact:

• This role has responsibility for product development and project execution.
• Focus on managing and contributing to one or more projects across one or more product platforms, coordinating and upskilling the team of scientists executing the workstreams within the project.
• A key part of the role is liaising with senior stakeholders to mobilise the appropriate internal/external capabilities and funding.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:

• Acting as the technical lead and/or key product developer for key product commercialisation projects, coordinating project workstreams and the internal scientist capabilities to deliver the 5-year innovation pipeline.
• Delivering one or more product development projects, supporting overall platform pipeline and ensuring developing technologies can be scaled up and have marketability.
• Integrating novel materials and processes in the oral product space to ensure novel requirements are identified and integrated into the development protocol and translated to product functionality.
• Ensuring that all novel developed products are protected by secure IP, partnering with the Legal department for patent work, and that any new technology or process is adequately protected in line with the wider IP Strategy.
• Partnering internally and externally to support in building capabilities and know-how to deliver innovative substrates and products that meet consumer/market requirements.
• Liaising, managing, and influencing internal stakeholders in order to obtain the appropriate resource capabilities, such as headcount or funding, necessary for executing the product development programmes.
• Interfacing with multiple internal departments, such as Operations and Manufacturing teams, for feedback on product scalability.
• Leveraging technical expertise in oral product to upskill internal capabilities in these spaces.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing talent and technical depth and breadth within the product teams.
• Designing, executing and interpreting consumer research and sensory evaluations according to project needs, in partnership with corresponding functions.

Experience Required:

• Technical product development and project management experience (develop and deployment areas).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence internal and external key partners & stakeholders up to senior level.
• Track record of previous work experience in Research & Development product experience with a further background in product development.
• Planning and implementation skills & ability to manage a portfolio of projects.
• Consumer research design and results analysis and interpretation.
• Experience in oral product category, food sciences/technologies, FMCG or relevant category.

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required:

• Planning & ability to manage a portfolio of assigned develop/deployment projects.
• In-depth working experience of the key activities required for a commercial launch and critical interdependencies.
• Decoding of consumer research results into actionable activities to improve product performance.
• Able to influence and coordinate cross-functional teams, including internal and key external partnerships, critical in the delivery of programmes and initiatives to ensure the most effective use of internal/external resource/expertise.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to liaise with multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Understanding of science plan timescales and product launch sensitivities.
• A drive to leverage specialist product knowledge to improve ways of working.

Education / Professional Qualifications / Certifications Required:

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant field of study (Chemistry, Food Science, Technology Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, etc).

What We Offer You:

• A market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility).
• Our range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, initiatives for work-life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives.
• Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations.
• Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement – it's a reality we're eager to build together.
• Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here.
• You’ll have access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills.
• We prioritise continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes.

Why Join BAT?

• We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute – certified in offering excellent employee conditions.
• At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values.
• We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive, irrespective of factors such as gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, skills, experience, education, socio-economic and professional background, as well as diverse perspectives and thinking styles.
• We recognise that our strength lies in embracing talent from all walks of life, empowering us to develop our culture of inclusivity and better achieve our business objectives.
• We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities and encourage everyone, without hesitation, to apply.
• Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce after an extended absence, be it for family care, parental leave, national service, sabbatical, or starting their own venture.
• Come bring your difference and see what is possible for you at BAT.
• We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process to support you performing at your best, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch should your profile be selected for the role you applied for.
• We are wholeheartedly committed to optimising your prospects of success by making suitable arrangements so that you may showcase your full potential.