At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative supply chain projects and ensure seamless product launches.
- Company: Join BAT, a global leader committed to creating A Better Tomorrow™.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, performance bonuses, and flexible work options.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values diversity and offers excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of supply chains while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain management and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
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! Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together!
Role Summary
The Supply Chain Initiative Manager is responsible for assessing, designing, and governing supply chain requirements from Brief to Launch. This role ensures stage gate Supply Chain results are met, supports decision-making and risk management, and serves as the main contact for upstream supply chain, Plan and SND protocol/checklist related to innovation, working with cross-functional teams to establish fit-for-purpose supply chain setups. Role is based in the UK with flexibility to be based in either London or Southampton office.
Accountabilities
- Own the assessment of supply chain and manufacturing complexity, capacity, and feasibility for projects across early PLM stages (POP, POC, POA, DP, SP).
- Act as the single point of accountability for all Supply Chain checklist items within the GSCA protocol, ensuring early identification and mitigation of supply risks, and alignment to cost, service, and launch readiness objectives.
- Lead the development, validation, and approval of contingency sourcing strategies for finished goods (FG), WMS, and critical components to ensure uninterrupted supply.
- Lead detailed, end-to-end global supply network assessments to identify structural gaps, capacity constraints, and configuration risks.
- Define and align global inventory strategies in line with demand variability, pipeline requirements, and supply risk exposure.
- Establish and align optimized transportation strategies for both launch and steady-state supply, proactively handling logistics risk and cost.
- Assess global demand scenarios against available manufacturing and supply chain capacity, including ramp-up and scalability considerations.
- Develop, maintain, and govern detailed supply plans for leaf materials, WMS, and components, ensuring end-to-end readiness across all critical paths.
- Validate contingency strategies through structured readiness and activation reviews to ensure rapid response capability in the event of primary supply disruption.
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely, In-Full (OTIF) delivery of upstream supply chain assessments and results.
- % of projects passing stage gate reviews with complete supply chain documentation.
- Compliance with Supply chain protocol and governance standards for Breakthrough projects.
- Partner happiness with supply chain assessment processes & Efficiency of risk mitigation.
Essential Experience, skills, knowledge
- Experience in operations / supply chain management within FMCG or sectors passionate about innovation.
- Consistent record in upstream supply chain assessment and innovation project management.
- Experience in manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, or supply network build.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Effective collaboration and communication across matrix organizations.
- Solid knowledge of the PLM process and deep understanding of the new categories business.
Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
- Project management certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2, Agile) is highly desirable.
What we offer you?
We offer 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.
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.
Supply Chain Innovation Manager employer: BAT
British American Tobacco UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Southampton where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong commitment to employee development, we provide access to online learning platforms and personalised growth programmes, ensuring that your career progression is not just a goal but a reality. Our inclusive culture, coupled with competitive benefits such as a market-leading performance bonus and flexible holiday plans, makes BAT a fantastic place to build a meaningful and rewarding career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Innovation Manager
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at BAT, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Supply Chain Innovation Manager.
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Innovation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at BAT. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research BAT and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at BAT
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at BAT.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by BAT
Look into any unique supply chain challenges BAT might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
