Quality Improvement Manager in Southampton

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better TomorrowTM by Building a Smokeless World. To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey! Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together.

The Quality Improvement Manager is responsible for leading quality performance continuous improvement initiatives, establishing, handling and improving the quality management system. Support compliance with quality and regulatory requirements by closely collaborating with SzIC, Operations, Manufacturing, Suppliers, etc., across all levels of the organization to leverage and implement guidelines. This includes improvement programs, policies, procedures, audits, training and management systems to drive improved quality across the Category and DRBUs.

Support actively and proactively the Consumer & Supply Quality Manager in developing and championing the implementation of a quality strategy for the Category based on Global Quality strategy and enable the End-to-End Category Quality with value-driven continuous improvement programs and initiatives toward improvement on consumer satisfaction, quality consistency and cost of quality.

Core Relationships:

• Global Quality Leadership Team
• Manufacturing, NC R&D, Agri-Business & Product, R&S & Marketing Teams
• Above market & DRBU Quality teams
• DRBU & EM LTs
• Global Manufacturing

External Relationships:

• External suppliers
• Technology suppliers
• Contractors

Geographic Scope: Global

Travel Required: Periodically to manufacturing sites, DRBU or EM.

Accountabilities:

• Representative of the category quality function to lead an End-to-End approach assuring quality of all product categories are commercialized according to specification and consumer requirements.
• Facilitate and support any end market critical issues with responsibility for supervising effective quality management in factories and end markets.
• Lead the delivery of activities related to Quality category management and end to end performance.
• Supervise key performance quality indicators, drive continuous improvements, and provide awareness of the business on improvement opportunities and design and manufacturing countermeasures.
• Ensure capability building across our manufacturing sites and DRBUs to enable effective and efficient quality processes setup for all product categories.
• Handle loss analysis on quality processes and materials/product performance and drive quality improvement initiatives within the Category operations to improve product performance and address processes related losses and cost of quality by investigating root causes.
• Implement preventive and corrective actions where appropriate.
• Implement standard procedures, processes and CBA for identified process related losses or material/product performance losses driving towards the Category improvement.
• Support the Quality improvement programme on the Category focus areas by defining priorities and deployment plan and driving towards the Category improvement.
• Lead Category quality improvement forums with multi-functional teams (Packaging, Product, Factories, EMs) to deliver quality improvements and provide the appropriate level of Quality training and education.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality sub-disciplines such as innovations, performance, and compliance for the effective delivery of Quality strategic objectives and targets by initiating and leading activities supporting the business ambitions within the New Categories network.
• Lead the deployment of Quality processes, systems, applications and tools that enable the organization to ensure our products are fit for purpose.
• Lead end to end consumer quality performance with a focus on customers and consumers experience through performance evaluation and identification of continuous improvement opportunities and ensure implementation of RCA/CAPA for top losses by providing follow up, visibility and effectiveness to LTs and Senior Stakeholders.
• Supervise Quality reporting for analysis, monitor and report progress against agreed targets and proactively develop improvement programmes and initiatives to enable the effective and sustainable delivery against targets.
• Lead and coordinate the new products hyper-care process and key partners management for a prompt resolution, address improvement opportunities and consolidate lesson learned into the innovation and quality management process.
• Manage and cooperate with Quality and Manufacturing teams to enable a smooth transition and handover into manufacturing and DRBUs for new products and launches post hyper-care and countermeasures implementation.
• Provide Quality guidance and support to Above Market Quality and Quality DRBU teams related to Quality incidents and appropriate corrective and preventive actions in collaboration with Operations.
• Identify value driven opportunities through analysis and insights and creative innovative ways to improve the product quality and consumer satisfaction through continuous improvement and effective use of consumer feedback mechanisms (e.g., consumer complaints, PSI cases, Quality Consumer experience, Consumer and customer feedback, social listening, etc.) and industry benchmarking that triggers competitive advantages.

Essential Experience:

• Operations and Quality experience at manufacturing and above market teams.
• Significant product and manufacturing experience with strong Manufacturing Quality knowledge.
• Experience in quality management and supporting innovation and performance continuous improvement.
• Extensive knowledge of PSI management.
• Significant experience working in a FMCG company, preferably in highly regulated environment (e.g., pharmaceutical, healthcare, or personal care).
• Good understanding of consumer-centric quality management principles, design of new processes, standards management, and supply chain models.
• Excellent project management, planning, and operational implementation skills.
• Good experience of contributing to continuous improvement practices with the ability to manage sophisticated issues, work independently, and manage detail as validated by experience.

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required:

• Strong influencing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills across diverse cultures, locations, and time zones.
• Value driven with ability to adapt fast and self-develop within high energy and dynamic fast-paced work environment.
• Good knowledge of statistical / data analysis of quality data and reporting.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable ability to work across functions, locations, and projects effectively.
• Leadership skills with the capacity to influence cross-functional Senior Partners.
• Strong communicator capable of conveying complex requirements across the business in simple ways.

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required:

• Degree or equivalent experience in Applied Science, Industrial, Food Technology, or Engineering management fields.

Benefits:

• Market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility).
• Range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, work‑life balance initiatives, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives.
• Access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture leadership skills.
• Opportunity for continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.